The Mid-American Conference West race all but ended Saturday for Northern Illinois as the Huskies dug themselves a hole in the first half against Central Michigan and then proceeded to pile dirt on themselves in a crushing 35-10 loss to the division’s defending champions.
NIU (1-4, 0-2) had taken the last nine games from Central Michigan (2-3, 2-0) but now has division losses to the Chippewas and Eastern Michigan with only three division games left.
At risk now is the Huskies’ run of seven winning seasons under coach Joe Novak and three seasons playing in either a bowl or the MAC title game.
Not since 1999, when Northern Illinois finished 5-6 in its last losing season, have the Huskies had only one victory in their first five games.
“We looked slow today,” Novak said. “It looked like we were playing in mud.”
A homecoming crowd of 18,465 enjoyed a first half in which Central Michigan did little wrong building its 35-10 lead and Northern Illinois did less right.
The teams combined for 28 points and 414 yards of offense — in the first quarter. By halftime the Huskies had 334 yards and ended with 521. Wideout Matt Simon amassed 205 receiving yards, and Justin Anderson ran for 157.
Statistics. Nothing but statistics, and not even the ones that really mattered.
“We put 500 yards of offense on the board,” Simon said. “To come away with just 10 points is pretty disheartening.”
Dan Nicholson completed 21 of 41 passes for 293 yards but threw two interceptions, and Ryan Morris replaced him midway through the fourth quarter. Morris was intercepted on his first possession.
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It was frustrating.
“All day we were in a good rhythm,” Nicholson said. “We had a good bead on what they were doing.”
Problem was, the Huskies had a shaky bead on what they themselves were doing. Northern Illinois, with only 18 penalties in its first four games, had four major infractions in the first quarter and six in the first half for a total of 74 yards, many in crucial situations.
Central Michigan had 31 first-half points combined in its first four games; it had 35 by halftime Saturday. The game effectively ended in the first quarter. The Huskies drove inside the Central Michigan 5 on their first two possessions and came away with nothing.
Normally automatic Chris Nendick missed a 21-yard field-goal try on which the ball appeared to hit his holder’s hand as it was kicked.
Central Michigan needed only four plays to turn that into an 80-yard drive for seven points.
Northern Illinois drove the Central Michigan 1, but Anderson had the ball pop loose and the Chippewas recovered at the 1. The subsequent 99-yard drive ended with a 32-yard throwback from wide receiver Duane Brooks to quarterback Dan LeFevour.
The Huskies answered with a 92-yard pass to Simon, but kick coverage broke down and allowed Antonio Brown to break a 90-yard runback for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff.
NIU’s Patrick George then fumbled the kickoff, Central Michigan scored again and Northern Illinois was done.
“We have good kids, so you keep them together and just keep working,” Novak said. “That’s all you can do.”
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Huskies 2-minute drill
Getting offensive: Tailback Justin Anderson posted his third straight 100-yard game with 28 carries for 157 yards, and Matt Simon caught nine passes for 205 yards, sixth-highest receiving total in NIU history.
On the defense: End Larry English collected his seventh sack of the season.
The number: 521. Yardage total generated by NIU’s offense, resulting in only 10 points.
They’re still talking about: Two 90-plus-yard scoring plays in a span of 15 seconds. NIU scored on a 92-yard pass to Simon, and Central Michigan responded with a 90-yard kickoff return by Antonio Brown.
Sick bay: Linebacker Phil Brown, starting at left defensive end, limped off the field just before halftime with an ankle injury but returned to the game. Quarterback Dan Nicholson has a sprained right ankle, and holder Greg Turner injured his thumb. .
Audible: The Huskies seemed to deflate midway through the first quarter, and why not? Two missed scoring chances on the first two possessions. NIU had five possessions inside the CMU 15, four resulting in no points.
Looking ahead: Road trip continues at Temple, an 0-5 team that has lost 47 of its last 51 games, in the second of three straight MAC road games.
— John Mullin
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