Kent State University
7-6 , 6-2
Northern Illinois University
9-4 , 6-2
Kent State Falls In MAC Championship Game
12/4/2021 3:25:00 PM | Football
DETROIT, Mich. – The Kent State football team (7-6, 6-2 MAC) saw its Mid-American Conference championship hopes squandered at the hands of Northern Illinois (9-4, 6-2 MAC) on Saturday afternoon inside Ford Field.
The Golden Flashes struggled to get going offensively in the opening half. Dustin Crum had just 27 yards passing and threw an interception before heading into the locker room trailing 17-0.
Kent State kicked a field goal to open the second half and stopped the Huskies to get the ball back in the third quarter. The first play of the ensuing drive was intercepted by NIU's C.J. Brown and returned for a touchdown to extend the Huskies' lead to 24-3.
The Flashes refused to quit and drove down the field to score a touchdown of their own as Crum hit Nykeim Johnson on a middle screen from 17 yards out to bring it within two scores.
NIU milked the clock and Rocky Lombardi found Travis Rudolph down the sideline on third and long to extend the drive. Lombardi delivered a 5-yard score on a quarterback keeper that all but sealed the Flashes' fate.
Collin Schlee scored two more touchdowns for the Flashes before it was all said and done, but the Huskies went on to win the MAC Championship, 41-23.
Up Next
The Flashes will find out their bowl fate on Sunday as the announcement of all the bowl games will come out on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned to KentStateSports.com, @KentStFootball and @KentStAthletics for full details and information.
Team Stats
KSU 0, NIU 3
NIU - Richardson,John 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 41 yards, TOP 05:10
KSU 0, NIU 10
NIU - Ratkovich,Clint 2 yd run (Richardson,John kick), 10 plays, 78 yards, TOP 04:57
KSU 0, NIU 17
NIU - Lombardi,Rocky 1 yd run (Richardson,John kick), 15 plays, 81 yards, TOP 07:52
KSU 3, NIU 17
KSU - Glass,Andrew 41 yd field goal 9 plays, 56 yards, TOP 03:17
KSU 3, NIU 24
NIU - 0 yd interception (Richardson,John kick)
KSU 10, NIU 24
KSU - Johnson,Nykeim 17 yd pass from Crum,Dustin (Glass,Andrew kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:28
KSU 10, NIU 31
NIU - Lombardi,Rocky 5 yd run (Richardson,John kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:33
KSU 10, NIU 38
NIU - Lombardi,Rocky 2 yd run (Richardson,John kick), 5 plays, 21 yards, TOP 02:48
KSU 17, NIU 38
KSU - Schlee,Collin 4 yd run (Glass,Andrew kick), 10 plays, 78 yards, TOP 02:32
KSU 17, NIU 41
NIU - Richardson,John 30 yd field goal 5 plays, 17 yards, TOP 02:10
KSU 23, NIU 41
KSU - Floriea,Luke 7 yd pass from Schlee,Collin () 10 plays, 92 yards, TOP 01:54
