Two more freshmen make big impact for NIU
KALAMAZOO - Another week, another pair of freshmen making a major impact for Northern Illinois.
A week after Charndler Harnish and Nathan Palmer lit up Minnesota through the air, Me'co Brown and DeMarcus Grady picked up key yards on the ground against Western Michigan.
Brown, a true freshman from Moss Point, Miss., ran for 54 yards on 9 carries. He scored on a 26-yard run in the first quarter, breaking three tackles on his way.
Justin Anderson, who rushed for 1,245 yards a year ago, carried just 4 times for 4 yards.
"Me'co got off to a good start and did some good things and we stayed with him," Northern coach Jerry Kill said. "We felt like he was able to give us some things."
Grady, a redshirt freshman quarterback, didn't come into the game until late in the third quarter. He lined up in the shotgun and carried 6 times for 31 yards on a drive that ended with his 3-yard touchdown run.
Injury woes: Kill wasted no time opening up his bag of tricks, calling a flea-flicker on the first play from scrimmage. Harnish hit Matt Simon for a 45-yard gain.
Harnish, who shared MAC honors this week after throwing for 326 yards last week, only lasted one more series. Senior quarterback Dan Nicholson, coming off right shoulder surgery, took over and finished 16 of 29 for 239 yards.
"It felt great," Nicholson said. "I love playing. I just wish this one would have turned out different."
Kill said he doesn't know how long Harnish will be sidelined.
"For what those kids (Gray and Nicholson) did tonight with the reps they received in practice is remarkable," Kill said. "I'm very proud of them."
Wideout change: Senior wide receiver Britt Davis (illness) did not travel.
Freshman Nathan Palmer started in his place. After a record-setting debut with 170 receiving yards last week in Minnesota, Palmer caught 4 more passes for 78 yards.
Fourth-quarter blues: The Huskies defense recovered a pair of fumbles. Backup defensive end Mike Kritkos forced the second one, corner back Chase Carter pounced on it, and the Huskies offense followed with a 67-yard scoring drive to take a 19-14 lead.
But the same defense couldn't protect the lead, just like they couldn't when Minnesota marched down the field for a late winning touchdown last week.
The Huskies' third straight loss to Western Michigan came on a night they outgained the Broncos 439 yards to 384 and held a 34:20 to 25:40 time of possession advantage.
"The kids are trying so hard right now," Kill said. "They get frustrated. As a head coach i have to do a better job getting across the little things."