Instant replay: Main takeaways from NIU’s 39-38 comeback win against Central Michigan

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — The NIU football team defeated Central Michigan on Saturday, 39-38.

The Huskies improved to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the MAC, picking up their first win in Mount Pleasant since 2013. Meanwhile, the Chippewas fell to 4-4 and 2-2. Here are the main takeaways from the game.

Finishing Strong

For the third time this season, the Huskies found themselves needing a score on their final possession to earn a victory. But had the offense not responded to Central Michigan’s surge at the end of the first half, it never would have been in position to happen.

After falling behind 28-10 with 4:59 to go in the first half, the Huskies made sure to make the most of their remaining drives. On its final six possessions, NIU scored 27 points, cashing in three touchdowns and two field goals to outscore the Chippewas 29-10 over the final 35 minutes of the game. The lone drive in which NIU didn’t score was its first possession of the second half, which saw the Huskies turn the ball over on downs.

Rolling the Dice

That fourth-down play might have backfired on the Huskies, but that was the only time that rolling the dice on fourth-and-short went wrong for NIU. For the rest of the game, NIU went four-for-four on fourth down, including a critical reverse from Trayvon Rudolph on the final Huskie possession that put them in position for what proved to be the winning points.

Balancing Act

A week after attempting just eight passes for the game against Bowling Green, NIU proved far more balanced on offense against Central Michigan. The Huskies still favored the run, but Rocky Lombardi was far more willing to take to the skies against a Chippewa defense that entered ranked next-to-last in the MAC against the pass.

The change in strategy paid off, as Tyrice Richie and Trayvon Rudolph found holes in the Chippewa secondary combined for 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The Huskies’ pass attack proved so effective that NIU actually outgained the vaunted CMU passing attack through the air, as Central Michigan could only muster 259 receiving yards for the game.

Thrust Into Action

Prior to Saturday, Northern Illinois freshman Kanon Woodill hadn’t kicked a field goal in a collegiate game and was pressed into action out of necessity. The Huskies didn’t test him on anything long, but they didn’t need to, as their offense did enough to set him up for three big kicks from 26, 24 and 24 yards, as well as two extra points.

His final field goal, from 26, came with 54 seconds left and gave the Huskies their first lead of the game.

Slamming the Door

While the NIU offense worked its way back into the game, the defense swung the game’s momentum away from the Chippewas by forcing two punts after Central Michigan went ahead 35-18. Three of Central’s final four possessions went scoreless, including the critical final possession that saw the Chippewas fumble the snap on a game-winning field goal attempt, recovered by Jordan Gandy.