Oct. 11, 2008
Final Stats | Notes
DeKALB, Ill.--Sophomore receiver/punt returner Eugene Harris returned a punt 63 yards in the second quarter, while senior kicker Nathan Parseghian nailed two field goals to help spur Miami University's football team at Northern Illinois University on Saturday afternoon at Huskie Stadium. It was not enough, however, as the Huskies (3-3; 2-1 Mid-American Conference) escaped with a 17-13 win.
The RedHawks (1-5; 0-2 MAC) fell behind by a 10-0 margin as NIU's Mike Salerno kicked a 38-yard field goal to cap the opening drive of the game. The Huskies padded their lead off a three-yard touchdown pass from DeMarcus Grady to Landon Cox with 10:11 remaining in the second quarter. The Salerno extra point gave Northern Illinois a 10-0 lead.
After the Miami defense forced the Huskies to punt on a three-and-out series, Harris caught the ball at the Miami 37-yard line and sprinted 63 yards for the touchdown. A Parseghian extra point put the RedHawks within three points of the Huskies with 4:49 remaining in the first half, 10-7. It was Harris' second punt return for a touchdown this season and also for his career. Harris recorded his first punt-return touchdown against Charleston Southern on Sept. 13, which was a 44-yard return in the third quarter.
Miami got the ball back on its 22-yard line with 1:53 remaining in the half. After a Miami penalty pushed the RedHawks back to the 12-yard line, the RedHawks proceeded to march to the NIU 43-yard line. A Huskie personal foul moved the RedHawks to the NIU 27-yard line with five seconds remaining, setting up a Miami score. Parseghian took the field and boomed a career-long 44-yard field goal to even the score 10-10 heading into the half.
His previous career-long field goal, a 42-yarder, came at Purdue in 2006. It was Parseghian's second field goal over 40 yards this season, nailing one from 41 yards against Cincinnati on Sept. 20.
A 35-yard field goal by Parseghian with 4:53 remaining in the third quarter catapulted Miami to its first lead of the game, 13-10. Parseghian's second field goal of the game capped an 80-yard scoring drive for the Red and White.
Miami's advantage lasted about two-and-a-half minutes, however. A 36-yard rush by Me'co Brown and a 15-yard carry by Chad Spann helped set up the two-yard touchdown run by Spann followed by a Salerno extra point to give the Huskies a 17-13 lead with 2:32 remaining in the third quarter.
Miami started its final drive of the game with 7:17 remaining in the fourth quarter. The RedHawks found themselves in a fourth-and-two situation on their 39-yard line with 5:52 remaining. After timeouts by both Miami and Northern Illinois, the RedHawks went for it on fourth down, and a pass interference call gave Miami new life. The RedHawks continued to drive and again found themselves in a fourth-down situation, this time a fourth-and-three. Junior quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh completed a six-yard pass to junior wide receiver Dustin Woods for the first down, continuing Miami's drive.
Miami was down to the NIU 12-yard line. The RedHawks lost three yards on a pass and then had two incomplete passes with just over a minute left to halt their scoring threat as NIU escaped with the 17-13 win.
Defensively, senior linebacker Joey Hudson led all players with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops.
Miami continues a two-game road stretch when it heads to Bowling Green, Ohio, to take on the BGSU Falcons at noon on Saturday, Sept. 18.
