Balanced Offensive Attack Lifts Northern Illinois Over Kent State
11/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Northern Illinois (2-8, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) rolled up over 500-yards of offense and held on for a 27-20 win on Saturday evening, despite Kent State (3-7, 1-5 MAC) forcing three turnovers.
On a 16-yard run in the second quarter, sophomore running back Eugene Jarvis broke the Kent State single-season rushing record of 1,325 yards, set by Eric Wilkerson in 1988. Jarvis finished the game with 170 rushing yards in 20 attempts for an average of 8.5 yards per carry. He now has 1,429 yards on the year.
KSU senior Jack Williams recovered a fumble and picked off a pass in the first two possessions for Northern Illinois of the game. The interception was the 13th of his career and ties him for third in career picks with former Golden Flashes Tom McDonald and Pat Cucciardo. It was also the fourth game of his career Williams grabbed an interception and recovered a fumble.
Defensively, linebacker Derrick Burrell recorded a career-high 15 total tackles and 10 assisted tackles
Northern Illinois received the opening kickoff and drove to the Kent State and drove to the KSU 34 where junior Cedrick Maxwell forced and fumble which was recovered by senior Jack Williams.
After Kent State turned over the ball over on downs, the Huskies again drove to Kent State territory. However, Williams intercepted the ball at the 25 and returned the ball to the Northern Illinois 28.
The Huskies quickly responded, scoring 21 unanswered points on three straight possessions. On the first, Northern Illinois quarterback hit Dan Nicholson on a 16-yard pass.
After a KSU punt, the Huskies took their first lead of the game on a four-yard run by Justin Anderson. Northern Illinois extended their lead to 21-7 on Dan Nicholson's second touchdown pass of the game.
Kent State fumbled the ball on the ensuing possession and Northern Illinois drove to the KSU 40 before junior Steven Moss intercepted his first pass of the season.
Kent State responded, cutting the score in half when sophomore quarterback Jon Brown passed for a one-yard touchdown pass to freshman Alan Vanderink for his first career touchdown reception. In the drive, Brown connected on five of six passes for 30 yards.
In the second half, Kent State cut the deficit to 21-17 on a Nate Reed 25 yard field goal. After a five-yard Jon Brown pass on first down, Jarvis broke a 67-yard run to the Northern Illinois seven. The play was Jarvis' longest rush of his career.
The Huskies scored a field goal to hold a 24-17 lead after three quarters.
In the fourth, the Golden Flashes mounted a comeback attempt. Trailing 27-17 and with the ball at their own two. KSU drove to the 23 of NIU and Nate Reed kicked a 40-yard field goal to cut the deficit to seven with 3:02 remaining in the game.
After a failed onside kick attempt, Kent State stopped Northern Illinois on a 4th and one play and took over the ball at their own 34. KSU drove to the Northern Illinois 24 before the Huskies sealed the game with an interception of Brown.
The Golden Flashes are in action again next Saturday (Nov. 17) when they travel to Temple for a noon kick.
On a 16-yard run in the second quarter, sophomore running back Eugene Jarvis broke the Kent State single-season rushing record of 1,325 yards, set by Eric Wilkerson in 1988. Jarvis finished the game with 170 rushing yards in 20 attempts for an average of 8.5 yards per carry. He now has 1,429 yards on the year.
KSU senior Jack Williams recovered a fumble and picked off a pass in the first two possessions for Northern Illinois of the game. The interception was the 13th of his career and ties him for third in career picks with former Golden Flashes Tom McDonald and Pat Cucciardo. It was also the fourth game of his career Williams grabbed an interception and recovered a fumble.
Defensively, linebacker Derrick Burrell recorded a career-high 15 total tackles and 10 assisted tackles
Northern Illinois received the opening kickoff and drove to the Kent State and drove to the KSU 34 where junior Cedrick Maxwell forced and fumble which was recovered by senior Jack Williams.
After Kent State turned over the ball over on downs, the Huskies again drove to Kent State territory. However, Williams intercepted the ball at the 25 and returned the ball to the Northern Illinois 28.
The Huskies quickly responded, scoring 21 unanswered points on three straight possessions. On the first, Northern Illinois quarterback hit Dan Nicholson on a 16-yard pass.
After a KSU punt, the Huskies took their first lead of the game on a four-yard run by Justin Anderson. Northern Illinois extended their lead to 21-7 on Dan Nicholson's second touchdown pass of the game.
Kent State fumbled the ball on the ensuing possession and Northern Illinois drove to the KSU 40 before junior Steven Moss intercepted his first pass of the season.
Kent State responded, cutting the score in half when sophomore quarterback Jon Brown passed for a one-yard touchdown pass to freshman Alan Vanderink for his first career touchdown reception. In the drive, Brown connected on five of six passes for 30 yards.
In the second half, Kent State cut the deficit to 21-17 on a Nate Reed 25 yard field goal. After a five-yard Jon Brown pass on first down, Jarvis broke a 67-yard run to the Northern Illinois seven. The play was Jarvis' longest rush of his career.
The Huskies scored a field goal to hold a 24-17 lead after three quarters.
In the fourth, the Golden Flashes mounted a comeback attempt. Trailing 27-17 and with the ball at their own two. KSU drove to the 23 of NIU and Nate Reed kicked a 40-yard field goal to cut the deficit to seven with 3:02 remaining in the game.
After a failed onside kick attempt, Kent State stopped Northern Illinois on a 4th and one play and took over the ball at their own 34. KSU drove to the Northern Illinois 24 before the Huskies sealed the game with an interception of Brown.
The Golden Flashes are in action again next Saturday (Nov. 17) when they travel to Temple for a noon kick.
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| Kent State Postgame Quotes | |
| Northern Illinois Postgame Quotes |
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