Another landmark win: Huskies topple another Big Ten foe with 21-17 triumph at Nebraska

Chronicle Media Staff

The Northern Illinois University Huskies continued its recent string of success versus Big Ten opponents with a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the University of Nebraska, 21-17 last Saturday in front of 89,664 fans at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

After NIU scored the first 14 points of the game on interception return touchdowns, Nebraska put 17 straight points on the board in the second half before NIU responded with a game-winning drive and two defensive stops in the final six minutes of the game.

The win was NIU’s sixth in its last 10 games versus Big Ten opponents since 2009 and the fourth in five games under Head Coach Rod Carey.

“We were able to make enough plays offensively to win the game in the end, and the defense set the tone for the entire team the entire day,” Carey said. “[Defense] got us out to a 14-0 lead, and we really fed off that energy. Things started to turn when they got 17 back on us, but there was never a panic in the defense. I think they got tired because the [Nebraska] offense stayed on the field there for a minute, but then as soon as the offense came back and took the lead, I think the defense fed off of that again. We followed [the defense’s] lead today.”

After Nebraska took its only lead of the game with 11:14 left in the game on a one-yard dive by quarterback Tanner Lee to cap a 17-0 run by the Huskers in the second half, the Huskie offense responded.

From the Huskie 25, sophomore quarterback Daniel Santacaterina came out firing, hitting Christian Blake with a 47-yard bomb to put NIU on the Nebraska 28 yard line. Two Jordan Huff runs netted another first down and a Santacaterina to Blake connection over the middle went to the two-yard line. Huff scored from there, putting the Huskies back on top to stay, 21-17.

“[The completion to Blake] got me into a rhythm, for sure,” Santacaterina said. “We definitely needed that offensively, it got us going. I kept telling the defense on the sideline, ‘We’re going to get one, we’re going to get one. Keep going out there, keep doing your thing. We’re going to get one.’ We didn’t flinch, we were ready to go. We were down 17-14. We knew we were just fine, we were in the game, we were going to go win. We were very confident, and we went and did that.”

Nebraska got two more chances with the ball, advancing to the NIU 33 on the first drive before the Huskie defense – as it had almost all day – stood strong with Mycial Allen defending the fourth and seven attempt and linebacker Kyle Pugh providing pressure. Nebraska got the ball again with 3:09 left after NIU’s offense took two-and-a-half minutes off the clock. On third and six from its 24, Sutton Smith sacked Lee for eight yards, forcing a fourth and 14 play. Defensive end Josh Corcoran ended all suspense when he intercepted Lee at the 24-yard line.

A penalty against Nebraska gave the Huskies a first down and from there, NIU went into victory formation to secure the win.

NIU enjoys an open date next week before returning to action Sept. 30 at San Diego State. The Huskies return home October 7, 2017 for their 111th Homecoming game and MAC opener versus Kent State.