After slow start, offense wakes up in second half to roll NIU 40-10
Redshirt freshman running back Lew Nichols scores a touchdown against Northern Illinois on Nov. 11 at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.
DEKALB, Ill -- The tone for CMU's first trip on the road wasn't set until the second half.
After a first half that featured both teams turning the ball over on downs, 10 punts and a safety through the end zone, the Chippewas and Northern Illinois jogged into the locker room. Momentum was still at large, with neither team holding a firm grip on it.
Then, on the first drive of the second half, the Chippewas snatched it.
Redshirt freshman Daniel Richardson, who saw three of his passes swatted down in the first half, moved around with confidence and completed a pair of passes. Junior running back Kobe Lewis ran with power and Darius Bracy sprinted through a hole for 43 yards. Lewis capped the drive with a one-yard run on fourth-and-goal, and the Chippewas went up two scores.
On the ensuing kickoff, sophomore safety Willie Reid recovered a fumble. Four plays leader, CMU stretched it's lead to 19-0 on freshman Marshall Meeder's 40-yard field goal.
Coach Jim McElwain and company wouldn't look back. The defense pitched a shutout, the offense got the job done and the Chippewas defeated Northern Illinois 40-10 Nov. 11 at Huskie Stadium.
"We needed that drive right after half offensively," McElwain said. "I think that really took the wind out of their sails."
After the Huskies punted on their first possession, Richardson hit junior Dallas Dixon in stride for a 58-yard score to open the scoring. Yet, after the quick strike, the Chippewas struggled to find their footing on offense. They ran the ball 15 times in the second half, yet gained a net zero yards.
After NIU punter Matt Ference fumbled a snap that would roll through the end zone for a safety, a big return from junior Kalil Pimpleton put the Chippewas in Huskie territory late in the first half. However, Richardson had two passes batted down and another sail high to force a punt.
The Chippewas dominated on the defensive front. Junior defensive back Richard Bowens led the team with nine tackles, while fellow junior George Douglas had eight. Junior Mohamed Diallo forced and subsequently recovered a fumble, and senior Troy Hairston continued to be a nuisance, with the Huskies struggling to block him.
"I felt that the defense had a lot of momentum," McElwain said. "They kept playing and were so excited on the sideline. I felt really good with where they were."
Junior linebacker Troy Brown was helped off the field in the third quarter with a neck injury after a play in which he was ejected after making a tackle leading with his helmet. His status was up in the air following the game, however under NCAA rules he will miss the first half of next week's matchup with Western Michigan.
However, two plays after the ejection, Richardson found redshirt freshman Lew Nichols on a screen for a 58-yard touchdown. Nichols would score again early in the fourth on a 36-yard scamper, and finished with a team-high 91 yards rushing and 58 receiving.
"(The) offensive line, I give a lot of credit to them," Nichols said. "They got up on on their blocks and left me one-on-one with safeties and I just ran."
Richardson finished the game 13-for-19 with 196 yards, two scores and an interception. Lewis carried the ball 16 times for 59 yards. Bracy also carried the ball five times for 55 yards before leaving with an injury. Dixon led the team in receiving with 73 yards on three catches.
Junior quarterback Ty Brock also ran for a 10-yard touchdown in his Chippewa debut.
NIU quarterback Ross Bowers struggled, going 16-of-32 through the air for 139 yards. The Huskies were led in rushing by by Erin Collins, who totaled 43 yards. Tyrice Richie was the team's leading receiver for the second straigh week, catching seven passes for 70 yards.
The Huskies scored their lone touchdown when backup quarterback Andrew Haidet connected with Dennis Robinson with 11 seconds left in the game.
The Chippewas (2-0) will next take the field on Nov. 18 to battle Western Michigan for the Victory Cannon. The Huskies (0-2), meanwhile, will hit the road for the first time to take on Ball State.
