5 takeaways from NIU's 40-10 loss to Central Michigan
DeKALB - For the second week in a row, the third quarter proved costly for Northern Illinois in a 40-10 loss to Central Michigan on Wednesday.
The Chippewas (2-0, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) outscored the Huskies, 17-0, in the third quarter, thanks to two NIU fumbles. The Huskies (0-2, 0-2) committed five turnovers in the opener against Buffalo, a 49-30 loss in which the Bulls outscored the Huskies, 21-0, in the third quarter.
Here are the main take-aways from the game.
Inopportune turnovers return:
After Central Michigan scored on the opening drive of the third quarter to open a 16-0 lead,
Trayvon Rudolph - who had more return yards last week than the Huskies had as a team in 2019 - fumbled the kickoff, setting up the Chippewas on a short field.
The defense did hold for a three-and-out, forcing a 40-yard field goal by Marshall Meeder as the Chippewas extended their lead to 19.
The second turnover of the game came two plays later when Mohamed Diallo forced Erin Collins to fumble then recovered it. In the first 9:48 of the third quarter, NIU held possession for 14 seconds.
Central Michigan outgained NIU in the third quarter, 211-47, and held possession for 10:46.
Kyle Pugh makes an impact:
With the Huskies' other senior defensive lineman, Lance Deveaux, a late scratch for the game, Pugh stepped up with 14 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks, including some big plays.
With a 7-0 lead in the second quarter, Central Michigan was driving after converting two fourth downs. The Chippewas faced a fourth-and-1 from the NIU 6, but Pugh sacked Daniel Richardson to keep it a one-score game.
Pugh also was in on a third-down sack late in the second quarter, ending a CMU drive.
NIU misses early scoring chance:
Down 7-0 in the middle of the first quarter, the Huskies put together their only sustained drive of the first half, marching to the CMU 23 but facing a fourth-and-3.
Coach Thomas Hammock eschewed the field goal, but Richard Bowens III stuffed Erin Collins on a run, ending the drive.
Earlier in the drive, NIU faced a third-and-6 on their own 27 when Kumehnnu Willy jumped in front of a Bowers pass for what looked like an interception, but it went off his hands and into Tyrice Richie's for a 17-yard gain.
Offensive numbers on offense:
Although it was a 19-point loss to Buffalo in the opener, the Huskies outgained the Bulls, 397-357. That wasn't the case Wednesday as Central Michigan gained 438 yards and held the Huskies to 234.
Bowers was 16-of-32 passing for 139 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Collins led the team with 15 carries and 43 yards as NIU gained 74 on the ground.
NIU didn't score a touchdown until 11 seconds left in the game, when Andrew Haident found Dennis Robinson on a 31-yard streak, the biggest pass play of the night for the Huskies.