Football Escapes with a 21-19 Victory Over Northern Illinois

Box score.

Photo Gallery.

DEKALB, Ill. – The Eastern Michigan University football team overcame a 13 point deficit to post a 21-19 victory over Northern Illinois University Saturday afternoon in Mid-American Conference action here at Huskie Stadium. A Daniel Holtzclaw (Enid, Okla.-Enid) interception setup a Pierre Walker (Detroit, Mich.-Central) game-winning touchdown score with 5:29 left in the game. Then with the outcome still very much in doubt, Eric Young (Shiocton, Wisc.-Shiocton (North Iowa CC)) stepped up to block Chris Nendick's 50-yard field goal attempt as time expired to seal the two-point EMU win.

The victory snaps EMU's six-game losing skid versus Northern Illinois and a four-game string in DeKalb dating back to the 1997 campaign. With the decision the Eagles improve to 1-2 (1-1 MAC) while the Huskies remain winless at 0-3 (0-1 MAC).

Sophomore quarterback Andy Schmitt (St. John's, Mich.-St. John's) was 16-of-24 for 189 yards on the afternoon. On the ground Walker carried the rock 25 times form 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while sophomore DeAnthony White (Kennesaw, Ga.-Kell) picked up 78 yards on three carries and a TD. White was also the Eagles' leading receiver with five catches for 89 yards.

Defensively for EMU, sophomore Andre Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) recorded 13 stops to go along with Holtzclaw's 13 tackles and the interception that setup the game-winning score.

For NIU, Dan Nicholson was 20-of-28 for 160 yards and a touchdown through the air. On the ground Justin Anderson tallied a career-best 28 carries for 168 yards and a score.

Northern Illinois controlled the game's opening stanza, out-gaining Eastern Michigan in net yardage 145 to 23. The Huskies tacked on a 45-yard Nendick field goal on the opening drive of the contest. On the following possession NIU's Anderson found the endzone with 2:30 left in the quarter to expand the lead to 10-0. Following an EMU punt, NIU once again drove 36 yards in 12 plays before Nendick connected on a 47-yard field goal to make it 13-0 with 9:27 left in the period.

Then the tide began to turn in favor of the Eagles, as EMU strung together an eight play, 68 yard drive that was capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Walker with 2:49 left in the second quarter. Red shirt freshman Sean Dutcher (Owosso, Mich.-Owosso) added the extra point to make it 13-7 as the teams would head into the locker room at the half.

Following the intermission the Green and White once again would drive the length of the field in nine plays, however the drive would stall at the 14 yard line as Dutcher missed the field goal attempt. After a defensive stop EMU would take over at its own 11 yard line with 9:18 remaining in the third period. A 68-yard dash to the endzone by White followed by a Dutcher PAT would give Eastern its first lead of the game at 14-13.

EMU's defense would continue to stand up to the challenge of limiting the NIU offense to limit yardage, while EMU's offense was able to move the football. The Eagles missed an opportunity early in the fourth quarter to tack on more points, as Dutcher would miss a 20-yard field goal with 11:55 left in the contest.

With 7:57 left on the clock, Holtzclaw would pick off Dan Nicholson's pass at the NIU 14-yard line. Four plays later Walker would push the ball over the goal line from one yard out with 5:29 left. Dutcher tacked on the PAT to make it 21-13.

But the Huskies would not go quietly as Nicholson would march the Cardinal and Black 58 yards in four plays, capped off with a seven-yard completion to Brandon Davis for the touchdown with 4:20 showing on the clock. Down two points, 21-19, NIU was forced to go for the two-point conversion, but Nicholson's pass was off target.

EMU took over deep in its own territory but were unable to move the ball, allowing Northern Illinois one final drive. With a chance to win the game NIU took over at its own 39 yard line and drove into EMU territory but Nednick's 50-yard field goal attempt was blocked as time expired.

Eastern Michigan returns to the friendly confines of Rynearson Stadium Saturday, Sept. 22 to battle Howard University. The meeting will mark the first time a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has traveled to Ypsilanti. Kick off is set for 3:30 p.m. and can able to seen live on Comcast Local television throughout the state of Michigan and parts of Indiana.

Football Escapes with a 21-19 Victory Over Northern Illinois

Next Event

Team Stats

Andy Schmitt

Players Mentioned

Sean Dutcher

Daniel Holtzclaw

Andy Schmitt

Pierre Walker

DeAnthony White

Eric Young

Players Mentioned

Sean Dutcher

Daniel Holtzclaw

Andy Schmitt

Pierre Walker

DeAnthony White

Eric Young

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Football Escapes with a 21-19 Victory Over Northern Illinois

Related News

Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Andy Schmitt

Players Mentioned

Sean Dutcher

Daniel Holtzclaw

Andy Schmitt

Pierre Walker

DeAnthony White

Eric Young

Related News

Players Mentioned

Sean Dutcher

Daniel Holtzclaw

Andy Schmitt

Pierre Walker

DeAnthony White

Eric Young

Related Videos