DeKalb, Ill. – Starting quarterback Chandler Harnish came back from injury just in time to assure Northern Illinois University of beating Ball State University and their first winning regular season since 2006.
The Cardinals trailed the Huskies by only three after the first half of play, but Harnish entered the game at the start of the second half for the first time in a month. The sophomore completed all nine of his passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in Northern Illinois' 26-20 win.
Ball State effectively limited the best rushing attack in the Mid-American Conference, holding Northern Illinois to 155 yards. But they weren't able to contain the balanced attack after Harnish entered the game.
Ball State opened the game with a four-play, 76-yard drive that Eric Williams finished with a five-yard touchdown run. MiQuale Lewis highlighted the possession with a 52-yard run. Lewis finished the night with 68 yards on nine carries.
But the Cardinals were unable to overcome a 16 unanswered points by the Huskies in the first quarter. In addition to two touchdowns, Northern Illinois added a safety when Tanner Justice fumbled the ball into the end zone. Lewis fell on the ball for the safety.
After a pair of field goals by Ian McGarvey in the second quarter, Harnish and the Huskies' defense pulled away from the Cardinals. Ball State gained no yards in the quarter and picked up two first downs.
The Cardinals scored with 5:27 left in the game when Justice escaped the Huskies' rush and found wide receiver Dan Ifft for a 29-yard touchdown. Justice finished the night 11-of-19 for 139 yards and a touchdown. Ifft's touchdown was his second of the season.
Ball State got the ball back with just under two minutes left at their 12-yard line, but was unable to convert. Northern Illinois got good pressure on all four plays.
The Cardinals committed nine penalties for the second week in a row.
Cory Sykes led Ball State in rushing with 75 yards on 11 carries. Northern Illinois was paced by wide receiver Nate Palmer with 69 rushing yards on three carries.
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