Solid defense on display for NIU

Posted April 26, 2008 11:00 pm

To wrap up Jerry Kill's first spring as Northern Illinois' coach, defense ruled the day for most of Saturday's Red-Black scrimmage at Huskie Stadium.

Not only did the defense keep the offense out of the end zone for the opening two-thirds of the scrimmage, but linebacker Josh Allen produced the day's first touchdown when he returned a DeMarcus Grady pass 40 yards.

Grady, a redshirt freshman, eventually countered by hitting redshirt freshman tight end Jark Marks for a 25-yard score and running 57 yards for the day's final touchdown.

Redshirt freshman Chandler Harnish, the first of three quarterbacks to play on a windswept day, hit 6 of 19 passes for 39 yards.

Junior Ryan Morris clicked on 6 of 12 throws for 28 yards, while Grady finished 4 of 7 for 36 yards and rushed eight times for a scrimmage-high 118 yards.

Several returning starters did not take part in the scrimmage. That list included reigning Mid-American Conference player of the year Larry English, quarterback Dan Nicholson and top receivers Britt Davis and Matt Simon.

-- Lindsey Willhite

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