Box Score DEKALB, Ill. - In a game dominated by the defenses, it was a defensive score that made the difference as the Miami University football team picked up a huge 13-7 road victory against Northern Illinois.
Down 7-6 with 7:21 left to play in the third quarter, Miami freshman cornerback
Ja'don Rucker-Furlow intercepted NIU quarterback Marcus Childers and returned it for a touchdown. The RedHawk defense would take care of business from there, sealing the win for the RedHawks (5-6, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) and handing the Huskies (7-4, 6-1) their first conference loss of the season. This sets up a Redbird Rivalry game against Ball State Tuesday at Yager Stadium in which the 'Hawks will play for bowl eligibility and a possible chance to play for a MAC Championship in Detroit, Mich.
A Miami win over BSU, an Ohio win over Akron and a Buffalo loss at Bowling Green would give Miami the tie-breaker and a trip to Detroit.
The RedHawk defense was superb all game, limiting Northern Illinois to just 15 first downs in the game and turning the Huskies over twice. Following the Rucker-Furlow interception midway through the third quarter, Miami would force NIU to punt five times in a row and then seal the game with back-to-back fourth down stops late in the fourth quarter.
Both teams would struggle offensively to start the game. Northern Illinois and Miami each crossed midfield on their first drives before stalling and punting it away. The second set of drives for each team would follow the same pattern, with neither the RedHawks or Huskies able to string together enough first downs.
The Huskies would have the ball in Miami territory as the second quarter began, but would again be forced to punt by the RedHawk defense. Miami would finally break through on their next drive as the 'Hawks would go 75 yards in more than seven minutes, resulting in a 30-yard field goal from Sam Sloman.Â
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The RedHawks would quickly get the ball back after
Sterling Weatherford fell on a Northern Illinois fumble forced by Rucker-Furlow, Miami wouldn't be able to capitalize. The teams went into the break with the 'Hawks holding on to the 3-0 lead.
Receiving the ball after the break, the Miami offense would go three and out to start the game. The RedHawks looked they had recovered another fumble on NIU's next drive on a bad lateral pass, but further review determined that the pass was forward and thus incomplete, reversing the call. The Huskies would go on to march down the field and find their first points of the game on a 29-yard run from Marcus Jones.
Looking to answer back, the RedHawks would take their next drive 53 yards to inside the NIU 25. After coming up short on third down, Sloman would come on to hit his second of the game from 39 yards and narrow the NIU advantage to 7-6.Â
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The RedHawks would score just two plays later when a Marcus Childers pass to the flat was jumped by Rucker-Furlow, who took the interception 29 yards to the end zone with 7:21 left in the quarter. This marked Rucker-Furlow's first career interception and put the RedHawks back on top, 13-7. Neither team would threaten for the rest of the quarter and the score would hold going into the final frame.
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The teams would trade three & outs to start the fourth, with the first six drives of the quarter ending in punts. The Huskies would finally string a few first downs together and get towards midfield before facing a fourth and two with three minutes left to play. NIU would run a trick play, drawing up a pass from wide receiver Jauan Wesley, but the RedHawks defense would hold and Wesley's pass would fall incomplete.Â
After getting the ball back on downs, the 'Hawks wouldn't be able to pick up a first down and the NIU offense had one more chance with 2:28 left on the clock. After two incompletions and one short pass, the Huskies faced a fourth and six with the game on the line. Once again, the Miami defense would hold firm and force an incomplete pass from Childers, turning NIU over on downs. From there, the 'Hawks went into victory formation and sealed the win.
Miami quarterback
Gus Ragland finished the game 15-of-27 for 107 yards.
Alonzo Smith rushed for 40 yards, while
Kenny Young added 33. The RedHawks would grab 16 first downs to the Huskies 15, despite being outgained on the day. NIU would commit nine penalties for 90 yards, compared to just two penalties for 15 yards from Miami.
Miami will close out the regular season Tuesday at Yager Stadium against Ball State in the Redbird Rivalry. A 6-6 record and bowl eligibility will be on the line for the 'Hawks in the game, which is slated for a 7:00 p.m. kick.
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