Turnovers crush comeback hopes for football team in 55-24 loss to Northern Illinois

Ryan Radcliff’s season-high 332 passing yards were not enough to propel the football team to victory Saturday in DeKalb, Ill.

Central Michigan lost to Northern Illinois 55-24, falling to 0-1 in Mid-American Conference play.

“I thought their offense executed very well, and we obviously didn’t play very well on defense,” head coach Enos said. “I thought their offensive line, their quarterback and their running backs were the difference in the game.”

The win extended NIU’s home win streak to 18 games.

CMU (2-2) had an opportunity to take the lead midway through the third quarter, but receiver Titus Davis dropped a pass that would have been a touchdown.

During the same drive, Radcliff threw an interception and NIU began to pull away.

The Huskies (4-1) capitalized on the turnover with a 9-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jordan Lynch, putting NIU up 34-21.

“That’s the difference in the game when you play against an offense like that,” Enos said.

Lynch finished the day with 215 passing yards and 144 rushing yards.

The Huskies had 626 yards of total offense with 407 being on the ground.

“(NIU’s) quarterback is the main reason, but I was very impressed with their offensive line,” Enos said.  “Coming into the game, I didn’t quite know how good they would be. They’re very good.”

Harman made a 43-yard field goal to bring CMU within 10 with 1:09 left in the third quarter.

The Chippewas defense forced a punt on the Huskies’ next drive and had a chance to cut into the deficit once again.

But a Zurlon Tipton fumble led to another NIU touchdown – one of three NIU scored in the fourth quarter.

For the second straight week, senior Cody Wilson led the team in receiving. He finished with eight catches for 113 yards.

“He’s a very good player,” Enos said.  “He’s one of our best players and we feel very comfortable going to him in a lot of situations.”

Davis had just one catch, but it was a 92-yard score on the first play of the second half, bringing the Chippewas within three.

First half

After going three-and-out on their opening drive, the Huskies scored touchdowns on their next two possessions, taking a 14-0 lead.

Running back Leighton Smith had an 11-yard touchdown rush to make it 7-0.  Then, Lynch found receiver Martel Moore in the back corner of the end zone, from 14 yards out, with 4:30 remaining in the first quarter.

Central Michigan responded with a seven-play, 71-yard drive, capped off by a 37-yard touchdown pass to Tipton.

CMU forced the Huskies into a fourth-and-seven situation from the NIU 35-yard line, but NIU used a fake punt to rush for the first down.  The conversion led to a 43-yard field goal by Mathew Sims to make it 17-7.

NIU added to its lead 3:11 into the second quarter on another Smith rushing touchdown.

Defensive end Alex Smith was injured in the first quarter and did not return.

CMU will finish its three-game road trip at 3 p.m. Saturday against Toledo.