The hosts kept the lead on the next drive after holding Miami University to a field goal. Running back Marcus Jones punched in the football on a 29-yard run to cap the five-play, 80-yard drive on NIU’s first drive of the second half. Getting the ball back, Northern Illinois punched the ball downfield quickly, as quarterback Marcus Childers drew a flag and then hit on a 37-yard connection to Spencer Tears. Miami got the ball first in the second half, and the Huskies forced a quick three-and-out. Northern Illinois fumbled on the ensuing drive in the second quarter and Miami punted before the Huskies ran out the clock to head to the locker room in a 3-0 deficit. That ended up as the only scoring of the first half. The first half proved a defensive affair, as the two teams traded five straight punts to start the game before the RedHawks punched through a field goal. Chuck Martin’s squad followed up their takedown of rival Ohio with a 13-7 win in DeKalb on Wednesday night. But in the end, the RedHawks managed to pull off an upset just like the Bobcats. Unlike the blowout upset by Ohio against MAC East leader Buffalo, the matchup between Northern Illinois and Miami of Ohio was much closer on the scoreboard. It was the RedHawks’ first win over NIU since the 2010 MAC title game. MAC football West leader Northern Illinois lost a defensive battle to Miami of Ohio.

2018 mac football news