DEKALB, Ill. – A late touchdown lifted Illinois State to a 28-24 victory over the Northern Illinois University Huskies on Saturday night (Sept. 12) at Huskie Stadium. NIU scored 24 consecutive points before the late score gave the Redbirds the victory.
Quarterback
Taron Dickens (Miami, Fla./Northwestern HS) went 22-of-27 passing for 193 yards. Running back
Telly Johnson Jr. (Augusta, Ga./Hephzibah) rushed for 83 yards on 22 carries with a score.
"The energy and grit is there … it comes down to execution, we have to be better as coaches to put them in those situations and get reps to do that," said interim head coach
Rob Harley. "We have a heck of a chance in game three to continue to build on what we need to build on to be a better team."
The visitors led 21-0 until NIU converted a turnover into points as
Andruw Ellis (Roxana, Ill./Roxana) picked off a pass over the middle and weaved his way into the end zone that cut the Redbird lead to 21-7 with 12:39 to play in the second quarter.
Kicker
JJ Schlenhardt (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) connected on a 40-yard field goal, the first of his collegiate career, as the Huskies trimmed the Illinois State lead to 21-10 with 6:32 left to play before halftime.
On the final play of the first half, NIU cut the Redbird advantage to 21-17 as the Huskies converted fourth-and-goal as Dickens flipped a shovel pass to wide receiver
DeAree Rogers (Lexington, S.C./Irmo) who beat everyone to the pylon for the touchdown to cut the deficit to just four heading into the intermission.
Rogers finished with a game-high 11 catches for 74 yards. He also had 59 punt return yards for 133 all-purpose yards.
The Huskies took the lead for the first time in the game with 7:24 left as NIU went 78 yards in eight plays to convert following another Illinois State interception.
Cornerback
Yassine Falke (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) intercepted a Redbird halfback pass, giving the Huskies the ball at their own 22-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Dickens connected with wide receiver
La'Don Bryant (Savannah, Ga./Benedictine Military School) to move the Huskies into ISU territory at the Redbird 42. Back-to-back runs by running back
Elijah Porter (Ankeny, Iowa/Centennial) for a combined 33 yards drove the Huskies to the 2-yard line. Johnson Jr. finished off the drive with a touchdown from the one to give NIU the lead, 24-21.
Illinois State answered right back with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Gage Roy to Alex Herrera to give the lead back to the visitors.
On its final drive, NIU marched down to the Illinois State 20 before a turnover spoiled the late drive for the Huskies.
Roy threw for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-23 passing for the Redbirds. Victor Dawson led Illinois State rushing with 46 yards on 12 carries.
Linebacker
Jack Murray (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) led the Huskie defense with 12 tackles while defensive back
Avery Jones (Baltimore, Md./Mount St. Joseph) had a pair of sacks.
"We're going to work tirelessly with this crew, it's about the work. You have to strap it back up starting tomorrow, adapt, assess, adjust and then you have to go attack," said Harley. "That's what I know these guys are going to do."
The Huskies will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 19, when they travel to Arizona. Game time against the Wildcats is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on TNT and HBO Max.
