Live Football Blog: WMU vs. Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois 38 Western Michigan 3 Final

The Broncos drop to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies improve to 3-2 and 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference.

The Broncos now head to Toledo, Ohio and will play the University of Toledo at the Glass Bowl next Saturday.

Notes:

This is the fewest points WMU has scored since losing to Eastern Michigan University 19-2 on Oct. 27, 2007.

This is only the second time in his career that Tim Hiller has thrown three interceptions. The other was against Ball State University on Oct. 20, 2007.

This is only the third time in his career that Hiller has not thrown a touchdown pass. The other two were against West Virginia University on Sept. 1, 2007 and in Hiller’s freshman season against NIU on Nov. 23, 2005. However, Hiller was injured on the second play of the game against the Huskies in 2005.

The Huskies rushed for 255 yards on 50 carries. Chad Spann had 132 of them for his first career 100-yard rushing game.

Around the MAC:

Central Michigan 20 Buffalo 13 4th Quarter

Ohio 44 Bowling Green 30 4th Quarter

Toledo 37 Ball State 30 Final

No. 10 Cincinnati 37 Miami (Ohio) 13 Final

Temple 24 Eastern Michigan 12 Final

Kent State vs. Baylor 7:00 p.m.

Live Football Blog: Northern Illinois 21 Western Michigan 3, End of the 3rd Quarter

The second half did not start well at all for the Broncos. On the first play from scrimmage in the 3rd quarter, Tim Hiller threw his second interception of the game on a pass intended to Jordan White. White was covered by NIU’s Patrick George, which was his first of the season.

That would be a critical mistake as NIU would take over at the Broncos’ 12-yard line and would score on a Chad Spann 5-yard run for his third rushing touchdown of the day putting NIU up 28-3.

NIU kicker Mike Salerno put the Huskies up 31-3 with a 22-yard field goal.

The WMU offense looked really bad in the third quarter and Hiller didn’t complete a pass until there were 53 seconds left in the third. I’ll have more after the game.

Live Football Blog: Northern Illinois 21 Western Michigan 3, Halftime

By Mark Rudi

Sports Editor

DeKalb, Ill.- Northern Illinois came in to today’s game as the top rushing team in the MAC and they are showing the Broncos why. NIU has been using two backs the whole game and both have been very well. NIU came in today averaging 188.0 yards per game and they already have 153 in the first half. Running backs Me’co Brown and Chan Spann have 78 and 59 yards respectively. Brown came into today second in the conference in rushing and Spann currently has two touchdowns in the game.

As for WMU, it’s offense has struggled. Quarterback Tim Hiller is currently 11 for 20 with 96 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Running Brandon West only has 42 yards on 11 carries.

NIU has 240 total yards of offense (153 rushing, 87 passing), while WMU only has 140 total yards (42 rushing, 98 passing).

The Broncos will need to slow the Huskies’ rushing attack to come back in the second half.

The Broncos finally got on the board with 14:13 left in the second, with a John Potter 40-yard field goal. The drive was eight plays for 32 yards in 2:22.

Northern Illinois would then take the ball down the field and create a 12 play, 69 yard drive in 6:20. The Huskies scored on a 1-yard run by Spann to put NIU up 14-3. The Broncos had NIU on a 3rd and 6 at the WMU 13 on that drive, but Spann would rush nine yards to the get the first down for the Huskies.

On the next drive, Tim Hiller would be intercepted by NIU linebacker Kiaree Daniels. Hiller’s pass was very catchable, but receiver Ansel Ponder tipped the ball with his right hand and it was tipped in the air to Daniels.

Northern Illinois would then take the ball 56 yards on seven plays in 4:13 to score another touchdown. The scoring play was a 20 yard rush by Spann for his ninth touchdown of the season, which is also now his career-high. I’ll have more after the third quarter.

Around the MAC

Central Michigan 13 Buffalo 10 Halftime

Ohio 13 Bowling Green 6 2nd Quaterter

Toledo 37 Ball State 30 Final

No. 10 Cincinnati 37 Miami (Ohio) 13 Final

Temple 24 Eastern Michigan 12 Final

Kent State vs. Baylor 7:00 p.m.

Live Football Blog: Northern Illinois 7 Western Michigan 0, End of 1st Quarter

By Mark Rudi

Sports Editor

The Huskies took its first drive of the game right down the field and looked very in-sync in the passing game. NIU quarterback Chandler Harnish threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Palmer on the Huskie scoring drive. The drive was 9 plays for 74 yards in 4:29.

The Broncos would then take the ball down the field and Tim Hiller looked very good on the first drive of the game. The Broncos went down to the NIU 18, but ran a fake field goal. Holder Robert Arnheim completed a pass to kicker John Potter in the flats, but he only got a 2-yard gain, which was not good enough for the 1st down.

The Broncos currently have 89 total yards of offense (26 rushing, 63 passing), while NIU had 78 yards of total offense (47 ruhsing, 78 passing).

Hiller is currently 7 for 9 with 61 yards passing. I’ll have more after the first half.

By Mark Rudi

Sports Editor

DeKalb, Ill.- Good afternoon everyone. I am live from Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill for today’s football game between Western Michigan University and Northern Illinois University. The Broncos (2-2, 1-0 Mid-American Conference) are coming off a 24-10 win over Division I FCS Hofstra University and the Huskies are coming off a 34-31 loss to the University of Idaho last week here in DeKalb. This the Broncos’ second MAC game of the season and the first against a West Division foe. For NIU, this game is its homecoming and its first conference game of the season.

Northern Illinois (2-2) have been very good this season. They beat Purdue University 28-21 on Sept. 19 and also fought hard against the University of Wisconsin, but lost 28-20 to the Badgers.

The Huskies have one of the best running backs in the conference in Me’Co Brown, who’s second in the MAC averaging 94.2 yards per game. He’s averaging six yards a carry and has three TDs this season. The Bronco defense will have to stop him to win today. NIU is also third in the MAC in scoring offense, averaging 31.5 points per game. The Broncos are tied for fourth with Ohio University in that category, averaging 24.5 points per game.

If you’re in the Chicago area, you can view today’s game on Comcast Sports Net Chicago or if you’re back in Kalamazoo, you can watch the game on ESPN360.com or just follow the blog here on WesternHerald.com. I’ll have more after the first quarter.

Today in the MAC:

Toledo 29 Ball State 4th Quarter

No. 10 Cincinnati 23 Miami (Ohio) 13 4th Quarter

Temple 21 Eastern Michigan 6 4th Quarter

Central Michigan vs. Buffalo 3:30

Western Michigan vs. Northern Illinois 3:30

Ohio vs. Bowling Green 4:00

Kent State vs. Baylor 7:00

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=9107

Posted by heraldstaff on Oct 3 2009. Filed under Breaking, Sports, Sports Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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