AMHERST — Northern Illinois was able to rely heavily on its run game on the way to a 45-3 win over Massachusetts on Wednesday night at McGuirk Alumni Stadium (6,155).
Jalen Macon led the Huskies with 98 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while passing for another and registering 73 yards in the air.
Defensively for the Minutemen, Zeraun Daniel recorded 14 tackles, as Donovan Dyson and Tyler Martin logged nine apiece, Dyson with 1.5 TFLs.
How It Happened
Northern Illinois blocked a UMass punt to start its first drive of the game at the UMass 25-yard line, but the Minutemen defense held the Huskies to a field goal. The Huskies then went up 10 following a 13-yard touchdown run by Jalen Macon at 4:53 of the first quarter.
The Minutemen opened the second quarter with a fourth-and-two lay from the NIU 21, but AJ Hairston just missed Jax Markovich to keep the drive alive and the Huskies were able to convert the turnover on downs to a touchdown drive going the other way, pulling ahead 17-0.
Derek Morris attempted a 49-yard field goal at 8:22 of the second, but his kick went wide right. NIU marched down the field from its own 32 and ended an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a one-yard rush by Chavon Wright to extend the lead, 24-0.
After a fumble sack, recovered by the Huskies, NIU had back-to-back rushes, which included a one-yard quarterback keeper from Jalen Marcon to add to its total.
Northern Illinois started off the third with back-to-back scoring drives to extend its lead. A 36-yard QB keep by Marcon made it a 38-0 contest, before a 31-yard reception for Gary Givens III put the Huskies ahead 45-0.
On its first drive of the fourth quarter, UMass made it a 45-3 game as Morris connected on a 44-yard field goal.
Next Up
Massachusetts hits the road on a six-day turnaround to play a #MACtion game against Ohio University at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18 (CBS Sports Network).
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