NIU Huskies overcome adversity, overpower Temple 31-17
by Mike Breese on Oct 10, 2010 9:42 AM CDT
in Football
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PrintThe Northern Illinois Huskies dominated the game against the Temple Owls in Huskie Stadium on Saturday. The score should have even been more lopsided than it was. We gave the Philly faithful all the chances in the world, but the Huskies still came out on top.
Act I: The Opening Fumble
All week, Coach Kill talked about how the Huskies couldn't turn the ball over in this game if we wanted to win. Then what happens on the first play of the game? A Chad Spann fumble. It wasn't the fault of the QB or RB, the Temple defender just made a good play on the ball. The defense was rattled and a Matt Brown 25-yard TD completed a short drive for the Owls that started on just the NIU 29 yd line.
This was pretty much like giving Temple seven points right off the bat to start the game. Against a lesser opponent I thought we could survive this, but at least the Huskies wouldn't turn the ball over again this game. 7-0 Temple.
Act II: The Drive(s)
It was up to the offense to make a statement at this point, and Harnish and co. did exactly that with a 15 play, 80 yard drive that took up 7:39 of time off the clock and resulted in a TD by true freshman Akeem Daniels on an end-around. The first drive had four different converted 3rd down conversions, an appearance by Jordan Lynch running the wildcat/option and DeMarcus Grady playing decoy WR. 7-7.
It was offensive genius and efficiency that we hadn't seen this season against a team with top-talent like Temple had on their defense.
The next drive? 18 plays, 82 yards and 8:51 off the clock. NIU only got a field goal, but this was instrumental in not only giving our defense a rest, but keeping the Temple offense off of the field. 10-10.
Act III: The Helmet Removal
After neither team could force the other to make a single stop in the first half, the Huskies came out amped up on defense on the first series after halftime. Temple gets one first down, but then they try to go for it on 3rd and 4 on their own 41 yard line.
Then BAM, a 9-yard sack by Devon Butler or is it? OH NO!! He got a 15-yarder for taking his helmet off on the field. All the momentum in the world then shifted right back over to Temple and the defense could have felt deflated at that point. However, the defense rallies and ends up stopping Temple at the 25-yard line resulting in a missed 42-yard field goal by Brandon McManus.
Butler is only a true sophomore and he's played phenomenal so far this season. He'll learn and move on. 17-17.
Act IV: The Not So Special Teams (or secondary)
The first breakdown was the kickoff after NIU's 2nd big drive that was returned 55 yards to the NIU 45 yard line. That gave Temple a good enough field position to punch it in for seven and go up 17-10.
Josh Wilber had a punt blocked late in the 3rd quarter. This was Temple's chance to score as the Huskies were only up 24-17. Helped out by three different false start penalties, the drive by the Owls was halted. Oh and on 3rd and 14, Temple had a wide open receiver downfield, but Chester Stewart overthrew him. 24-17 Huskies.
As time was winding down, Wilber also booted a kick that was returned 38 yards to the NIU 25. Come on now, why can't our special teams just be able to put teams out of even coming close to getting back in the game?
Act V: Putting it Away
After a Chad Spann superman TD to put the Huskies up 31-17, Chester Stewart comes out and throws an interception to Chris Smith to pretty much seal the deal for this game.
The next drive by Temple results in an 8 yard sack by Corporal Jake Coffman and a tackle by Pat Schiller off of his miraculous return from an ACL injury. Talk about an epic way to end things.
Epilogue
So that's it. We just beat the best team in the MAC. I kind of feel weird right now, because by nature we're supposed to lose these games. I just don't get it. Where did this dynamic offense come from? The problem in 2006 when we were picked to win the division was that Garrett Wolfe was our only offensive option.
Now we have Harnish, Clark, Palmer, Cox, Moore, Ashford, Daniels, Crider, Lynch...the list goes on. They kept the Temple offense off the field and that may have been the biggest difference in this one (38:10 to 21:50). The defense pitched a shutout in the 2nd half. The only way the Huskies are going to lose is if they beat themselves.
What are your thoughts on the game?
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I agree that our suddenly balanced offense is our key to success. The rush and pass offense was evenly split. In the past all a team had to do to shut down the HUskies was contain the run. Not any longer.
And Harnish is only a junior. If he stays healthy we have quite the team. We’re fortunate that Temple’s QB is only fair.
Two thoughts
1. I guess with Butler being from South Florida when he said, “he lost his mind” it wandered to him thinking he was a University of Miami Hurricane back in the early 90’s.
2. Where are all the Jerry Kill and Chandler Harnish haters now?
Impressed.
I’m happy and surprised to see them turn this around as quickly as they did.
I do think it’s funny you are trying to call out the “haters” when last week I already said I was very happily eating my words. Kinda lame to call someone out when they’ve already called themselves out.
Seriously though, after watching Harnish last year and in his first game back, he didn’t look good. To argue that is just being dumb. He didn’t. He does now, and I’m a big enough boy to admit and be very happy about it.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Actually
If you go back and review the post, I called you out directly after the Minnesota game. You either didn’t see it or chose not to respond. You took this one personal even though it wasn’t directed at you. Why is that?
Glad to see that your coming around though.
by BobbyBoucher9 on Oct 11, 2010 7:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Well...
maybe because I was the main “hater”. Although, after watching Harnish loft the ball around the field for a half and then Kill completely abandon just about everything but the QB draw against North Dakota it’d be very difficult to assume anything had improved.
And, no, I didn’t see you calling me out after the Minnesota game. But….really? The Minnesota game? At least I was basing my criticisms on over a year of bad play. You wait until he has one good game against an absolutely horrible team, and you feel that justifies or proves anything?
Well….whatever.
I’m not “coming around” on anything. He played poorly for over a year. Hadn’t improved at all since his freshman year (and kind of got worse since teams had a book on him), and was voicing my displeasure of him. Honestly though, there really wasn’t a better option. I just don’t like how Grady was handled.
If Harnish was the QB all along, just say it. Don’t go through this bs with Grady.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Actually Pt. 2
We will agree to disagree. Harnish has shown flashes over the last couple of years. Purdue & Ohio last year. Minnesota, Kent State & CMU in 2008. Problem is just as he was putting it together he got hurt both years.
North Dakota was his first start after not taking many snaps with the 1’s all training camp and without the benefit of spring ball. What did you expect? He has played well at Illinois, Minnesota, Akron and now Temple. You are seeing it coming together because he has gotten some experience and his healthy.
Same goes with Kill! He has installed his system which takes time and has not gotten in some recruiting classes of his players for his style of play. Our biggest concern at this point should be that this team runs the table and wins the MAC at 11 & 2 and we lose Kill and a chunk of the staff to a school like Minnesota. Then we have to start all over. Imagine that????
by BobbyBoucher9 on Oct 12, 2010 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions
It's a good problem to have.
We got spoiled with Novak’s loyalty and lack of desire to go higher.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Temple and NIU are very similar expect for QB
Both teams are very capable of running the ball and playing good defensive. However the game yesterday was won because Harnish is probably right now the best QB in the MAC. The Temple QB (I don’t know his name), is average at best, he was consistently overthrowing his receivers, best example was the touchdown they should have had. If teams have to fear the pass then the 8 man fronts that Spann is used to see will go away making him more dangerous. I believe this is the team that we all thought we see at the beginning of the year and should really now go undefeated in MAC play.
by baseballguru589 on Oct 10, 2010 5:13 PM CDT reply actions
Interesting ratings from Sagarin
63 Toledo
64 Purdue
65 Temple
66 Penn State
67 Northern Illinois
68 Western Illinois
FYI Illinois is at 31, Iowa state is at 53. Toledo has the 12th most difficult schedule, NIU 108.
Here’s the link for Sagarin;http://www.kiva.net/~jsagarin/sports/cfsend.htm
South Florida, who destroyed us in the bowl game, is rank at 100, with a 166 schedule rank. They fell off the radar fast.
The Helmet
One of the stupider penalties I’ve ever seen.. I mean even kids in high school know not to do that. How does that happen? He played well, but goodness.. it’s concerning when your MLB does something that dumb.
by Grinder in Training on Oct 11, 2010 8:57 AM CDT reply actions
Wow!
Just a tad bit overstated don’t you think. Agree it was dumb, but “dumbest you have ever seen?” I am sure if you have been watching football for more than a week you have seen dumber.
The coaches have entrusted this kid with calling the signals for the defense, moved a starter in Schiller to another position to get him on the field without him ever having started a college game prior to this year and he is a true sophmore who just finished his 6th college game as a starter and is probably our 2nd or 3rd best player on defense.
I’ll take the emotion he plays with over an Alex Kube any day of the week!
Great point about Butler
the kid is definitely growing into the job,,,,,
I believe we have a shot at going undefeated in the MAC, but watch out for that Toledo game
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