Winning is a habit Northern Illinois has developed under coach Joe Novak. But this season, a disturbing habit has formed in the opposite direction.
For the third straight week, the Huskies made critical mistakes at pivotal times. They committed two fourth-quarter penalties and threw an interception to turn a 13-point lead into a 21-19 loss to Eastern Michigan in their Mid-American Conference opener.
“They allowed us to hang around and make it a ballgame,” Eastern Michigan coach Jeff Genyk said.
Northern Illinois (0-3, 0-1 MAC) was called for holding on consecutive plays on a potential winning drive, once at the EMU 25 and the second negating a screen pass that would have set up Chris Nendick for a field goal inside 25 yards.
Instead Nendick, who converted from 45 and 47 yards in the first half, had to try a 50-yarder on the final play. But his driving kick was blocked.
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Major elements of the loss were self-inflicted. Eastern Michigan missed a 20-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but two series later, NIU quarterback Dan Nicholson threw an interception to give the Eagles possession at the Northern 16. They scored in four plays for a 21-13 lead.
Nicholson rebounded with a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brandon Davis on the ensuing possession. But his two-point conversion pass, which would have tied it 21-21, was well wide of receiver Greg Turner.
Northern Illinois scored on its first three possessions and appeared to be in complete control against a rival it had beaten six straight times.
But Eastern Michigan converted a fourth down late in the second quarter and followed that with a 39-yard completion against a coverage breakdown, setting up a 1-yard dive by tailback Pierre Walker for a 13-7 halftime NIU lead.
That was an ominous foreshadowing. Despite being dominated for much of the first half, Eastern Michigan then controlled the clock for 13 minutes 17 seconds of the third quarter. The Eagles scored on a 68-yard end-around by wideout DeAnthony White to take their first lead 14-13.
“I still believe in this team,” Novak said. “I told [the players] that there will be no pouting or head-hanging.
“Certainly we’ve got to win our other four division games now.”
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