Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Northern Illinois
NIU Slips Past Chippewa Gridders, 33-24
10/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 27, 2001
MOUNT PLEASANT -- A 24-7 halftime lead was not enough for Central Michigan as Northern Illinois shut out CMU in the second half and came back to win, 33-24, on Saturday afternoon in Mount Pleasant.
The Huskies improve to 4-4 overall, 2-3 in the MAC and 2-1 in the MAC West. CMU falls to 2-5 on the year, 1-4 in the MAC and 0-2 in the West Division.
Central Michigan appeared to be in control of the game when the teams went to the locker room at the half but NIU's Darrell Hill returned the second-half opening kickoff 75 yards for a TD, immediately giving the Huskies momentum.
Northern Illinois tacked on a field goal in the third quarter and two TDs and another field goal in the fourth.
The Huskies sealed the win in the closing minutes when a CMU pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and then intercepted. Northern drove 41 yards for a TD with 1:21 remaining in the game. Quarterback Chris Finlen scored on a one-yard dive on NIU's fourth try from the one-yard line.
Central Michigan outgained NIU offensively for the game, 493 yards to 412 for the Huskies. But, in the end, it was special teams play that was the difference.
In addition to the kickoff return, Northern Illinois blocked a CMU field goal attempt and returned it 20 yards setting up a Huskie fourth-quarter TD. The 38-yard attempt by Paul Savich was blocked by Anthony Falbo and returned by Mike Spacucello to the 50 yard line. Three plays later NIU found the end zone on a 13-yard pass by Chris Finlen to P.J. Fleck. If the field goal was successful, CMU would have led by 10, 27-17, to start the fourth quarter.
Northern Illinois scored first in the game, taking its opening possession 53 yards for a TD. Thomas Hammock rushed in from 26 yards out for the Huskies' score.
Central came right back three minutes and thirty seconds later with a nine-play, 80-yard drive of its own. Rob Turner capped it off with a six-yard reception from Derrick Vickers.
Central added three more consecutive scores to take the lead. Turner and Vickers hooked up again on a 98-yard TD pass with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter.
The long distance TD was the longest passing play in CMU and Kelly/Shorts Stadium history and it tied Eric Flowers' 98-yard scoring run in 1998 for the longest play in school history.
Central's score came after NIU was stopped four times from the six-yard line. The Huskies had fourth-and-goal from the one but Thomas Hammock was upended by Ron Bartell just in front of the goal line.
CMU received a delay of game penalty that inched CMU back to about the half-yard line. On CMU's first play, Vickers dove out to the two to give Central a little breathing room. Vickers then hit Turner on the second play.
Paul Savich booted a 40-yard field goal to open scoring in the second quarter and workhorse Terrence Jackson rushed for an 18-yard TD on the Chippewas' next possession.
Jackson carried the bulk of the load for CMU, rushing 29 times for 131 yards and a TD and catching one pass for 11 yards.
Vickers completed 18-of-28 passes for 197 yards and two TDs. He was injured late in the game and Derek Gorney replaced him for the final two CMU possessions.
Rob Turner had a career day with five catches for 121 yards and two TDs.
NIU's Hammock rushed 33 times for 195 yards and one TD and Finlen completed 14-of-31 passes for 203 yards and one TD.
Only two Huskie receivers caught passes in the game. Fleck snared 10 balls for 95 yards and one score and Darrell Hill added four catches for 108 yards.
Anthony Tyus and Ron Bartell each led CMU's defense with 11 unofficial tackles each. Tedaro France was active in the secondary with one interception and another two pass break-ups. Central Michigan travels to Ball State next weekend to meet the Cardinals at 1 p.m.
Notes and Quotes
Northern Illinois place-kicker, Steve Azar, missed his first point after touchdown in 24 attempts on NIU's third touchdown of the game at the 14:29 mark of the third quarter.
Central Michigan running back, Terrence Jackson, rushed for his fourth straight 100-yard game. He is the first to amass 100-plus yards in four straight outings since Eric Flowers did it in 1998.
The Huskies are 8-3 when running back Thomas Hammock runs for 100 or more yards in a game. Hammock ran for 195 yards, his 11th 100-plus yard game in his career.
Derrick Vickers' 98-yard touchdown pass to Rob Turner in the first quarter ties the stadium record and set the CMU record for the longest pass play from scrimmage. It tied the CMU record for the longest touchdown from scrimmage (98-yard run by Eric Flowers in 1998).
Northern Illinois Head Coach Joe Novak:
"It's a great victory for our football team. It's been a hard season for our kids and that's why I am so happy about this win."
"At half, I challenged the team and it responded well. (Darrell) Hill's return to start the second half really turned things around."
"That back (Terrence Jackson) is a big load, he is tough to tackle and Mike (DeBord) has a good scheme. They are hard to shut down. "
"We weren't knocked out but were reeling, definitely on the ropes, at halftime. We had chances and didn't take advantage of them but the Chippewas did."
"I figured we had a better chance if we went for it on our final drive because if we didn't make it, Central Michigan would have to drive 99 yards."
Central Michigan Head Coach Mike DeBord:
"It was a game of two halves. In the first half, we dominated everything on offense and defense and on the scoreboard. In the second half, it was the exact opposite and NIU was able to take control of the game. We have come a long way and we continue to improve but it will still take some time to become successful and be able to pull out games like this."
"We can't let this game tear us apart and we must continue to play hard. We have advanced from last year but if we let this loss affect us, it will hamper our advancement."
"We made plays in the first half but couldn't keep converting third downs in the second half. The blocked field goal in the second half was a momentum play."
"We're playing hard and giving great effort and the goal-line stands show that."
