| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMU | 0 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| NIU | 0 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 30 |
NIU rallies from 14-point deficit, tops EMU 30-27 in OT
DEKALB, Ill. -- Marcus Jones had the only touchdown in overtime and Northern Illinois scored on three of its final four drives to rally past Eastern Michigan 30-27 on Thursday night.
Eastern Michigan's Paul Fricano missed three field goals, including a 42-yarder at the end of regulation. He opened the extra period with a 35-yard field goal after the Eagles ran three plays. D.J. Brown gained 12-yards along the right side on NIU's first play of OT and Jones won it with a 9-yard run.
Marcus Childerswas 23 of 40 for 278 yards and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (6-2, 4-0 Mid-American Conference). Brown made seven catches for 104 yards and a score.
NUI took a 7-0 lead after Brown broke a tackle and raced for a 69-yard touchdown reception. On EMU's next offensive play, Sergio Bailey II was left wide open over the middle for a 68-yard TD.
Eastern Michigan (2-6, 0-4) went ahead 14-7 after Mathew Sexton's blocked punt and Jaron Johnson' recovery in the end zone. It was the Eagles' first blocked punt for a score since Nathan Adams' TD against Morgan State in 2014.
Before the game, NIU unveiled a bronze statue of its former Siberian husky mascot Diesel outside of Huskie Stadium. He gained national attention after high-fiving a cheerleader on ESPN in 2013.
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Game Information
2023 Mid-American Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 7-1 | 11-3 |
| Ohio | 6-2 | 10-3 |
| Bowling Green | 5-3 | 7-6 |
| Buffalo | 3-5 | 3-9 |
| Akron | 1-7 | 2-10 |
| Kent State | 0-8 | 1-11 |
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo | 8-0 | 11-3 |
| Northern Illinois | 5-3 | 7-6 |
| Eastern Michigan | 4-4 | 6-7 |
| Western Michigan | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Ball State | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Central Michigan | 3-5 | 5-7 |
NCAAF News