Having lost the first two games of the 2018 season, the Northern Illinois University football team was in need of a victory Saturday against Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference opener for each team. A start of three defeats with non-conference foes Florida State and Brigham Young University looming ahead had the earmarks of a losing season and no bowl appearance for Northern Illinois.
Thanks to a late interception, Northern Illinois held off Central Michigan to claim a 24-16 victory.
Northern Illinois will play at 2:30 p.m. at Florida State Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.. The Seminoles are the third of four power five opponents on the Northern Illinois schedule this season. The Huskies lost to Iowa and Utah. They will be at Brigham Young Saturday, Oct. 27. The non-conference portion of the Northern Illinois schedule is loaded.
Florida State was defeated, 30-7, by Syracuse Saturday.
The Huskies led Central Michigan, 21-3. Central Michigan closed to within 21-16 before Northern Illinois’ redshirt freshman linebacker Vinney Labus’ interception with 0:17 remaining in the game sealed the deal. The Huskies’ Sutton Smith blocked a punt in the second half.
Although it wasn’t easy, Northern Illinois came away a victor last Saturday. Something Illinois and Northwestern did not accomplish!
Illinois was outscored 18-0 in the fourth quarter and lost 25-19 to South Florida at Soldier Field in Chicago. Northwestern fell to Akro,n 39-34.
The Big Ten had a disastrous day Saturday. Seven Big Ten teams lost to non-conference foes. Penn State, Illinois’ next opponent did not lose!
Penn State, 3-0, will play at Illinois at 8 p.m. Friday 8 p.m.. The Nittany Lions beat Kent State, 63-10, Saturday.