RedHawks Run Past NIU in MAC Opener, 25-14

Saturday, October 4

DeKalb, Ill.

3:30 p.m.

Miami University

2-3 , 1-0

Northern Illinois

1-4 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Miami (OH)

NIU

RedHawks Run Past NIU in MAC Opener, 25-14

10/4/2025 7:03:00 PM | Football

Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. – The Miami University football team scored 25 unanswered points to rally for a 25-14 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday to begin Mid-American Conference play. Dequan Finn threw for 170 yards and added 90 yards on the ground in Miami's second straight win (2-3, 1-0 MAC). NIU falls to 1-4 overall (0-1 MAC).

How it Happened:
After Miami was forced to punt on its opening drive, NIU responded with a 76-yard touchdown run on their first play of the contest. The Huskies then marched 60 yards on 11 plays on their next drive to post a 14-0 advantage with 3:23 left in the opening quarter.

Facing a third-and-3, Finn called his own number for a nine-yard rush. On the ensuing play, the seventh-year senior found Kam Perry for a 56-yard reception down to the NIU-3. Three plays later, D'Shawntae Jones sprung into the endzone to cut the deficit in half as the second quarter began.

Following a three-and-out from NIU, Finn drove the RedHawks on a 13-play, 50 yard drive, capped by a 41-yard field goal from Dom Dzioban. Key plays on the drive included a 22-yard completion to Cole Weaver (on 3rd-and-12) and a nine-yard catch from Perry (on 4th-and-5). The field goal trimmed NIU's lead to 14-10 with 4:55 left in the half.

On the Huskies' first play of the third quarter, Silas Walters broke up a pass that deflected into the air, resulting in a Koy Beasley interception. Four plays later, Dzioban made it 14-13 with a 46-yard field goal. Later in the period, Jermaine Agee blocked an NIU punt that went through the back of the endzone for a 15-14 Miami lead with 11:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Miami took over the ensuing drive at midfield. Finn scampered down the right side for 21 yards and Jordan Brunson ran between the tackles for another first down. Three plays later, Finn connected with Deion Colzie for an eight-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone to stretch the lead to 22-14.

The RedHawks put together a methodical 13-play, 68-yard drive to drain more than six-and-a-half minutes from the fourth-quarter clock and tacked on a 24-yard Dzioban field goal with 3:31 remaining to take a two-possession lead.

Miami's defense sealed the deal with a Mychal Yharbrough fumble recovery at the 2:19 mark after James Schott and Bai Jobe met in the backfield and took down NIU quarterback Brady Davidson.

BOB AND WEAVER: Weaver posted career-highs in catches (5) and yards (67) versus the Huskies. His previous highs were three grabs for 35 yards at Wisconsin.

BLOCK PARTY: For the second-straight week, Miami blocked a punt. Last week, Perry blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown by Agee. This week, Agee blocked an NIU punt for a safety. The last time Miami recorded a safety was also at NIU, back in 2022. Combined with the 100-yard kick return from Keith Reynolds versus UNLV, Miami's special teams have scored in three-straight weeks.

SLAMMING THE DOOR: After NIU scored on its first two possessions, Miami held the Huskies to a total of 84 yards on 39 plays the rest of the way (2.2 yards per play).

10,000-YARD CLUB: With 260 total yards on Saturday versus NIU, Finn eclipsed 10,000 total yards for his career. It's the second-straight year a RedHawk has surpassed 10,000 yards after Brett Gabbert finished his career with 11,296 total yards.

SCORE FOR 4: Colzie caught a touchdown for the first time as a RedHawk and found the end zone for the first time since Nov. 9, 2024 with Notre Dame.

NOTES: Perry's 56-yard reception gave him a catch of 40 or more yards for the fourth consecutive game…Beasley's interception was the first of his career…Adam Trick finished with multiple tackles for loss for the second time this season...The RedHawks dominated the time-of-possession battle, holding the ball for nearly two-thirds of the game (39:06)...Miami won its eighth consecutive MAC regular-season game dating to Oct. 12, 2024.