Thomas Hammock had no interest in his underdog Northern Illinois team settling for overtime against Georgia Tech.
Once Rocky Lombardi’s second touchdown pass in the final minute brought the Huskies to within one point, Hammock didn’t hesitate to keep his offense on the field. The NIU coach ordered a 2-point play for the win.
Lombardi’s 2-point pass to Tyrice Richie with 38 seconds remaining survived an officials review and lifted the Huskies to a stunning 22-21 upset victory Saturday night.
Hammock said a potential tying kick wasn’t an appealing option after Lombardi’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Clint Ratkovich cut Georgia Tech’s lead to 21-20.
“Easy decision,” Hammock said. “We came here to win and we expected to win and that’s what we got done.”
Georgia Tech was favored by 181/2 points.
NIU led 14-0 but had to regroup after Georgia Tech backup quarterback Jordan Yates, playing after Jeff Sims suffered an arm injury, rallied the Yellow Jackets with three unanswered touchdowns. Seeing his team rally but then lose in the final minute was a crushing start to Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins’ third season.
“Obviously, it hurts,” Collins said. “There’s a lot of guys in that locker room who are hurt.”
Lombardi, a Michigan State transfer, got one final possession with 2:42 remaining. He made his debut for NIU (1-0) one to remember by directing the go-ahead drive that started with a 38-yard completion to Richie.
On the 2-point play, Lombardi rolled right before passing to Richie, whose leaping catch had to be reviewed. He landed with his hands outstretched and the ball took a small bounce as he hit the field. The replay indicated he kept his left hand under the ball, preventing the ball from hitting the field.
Gavin Stewart’s last-second, 60-yard field-goal attempt for Georgia Tech (0-1) was blocked. The block triggered a celebration by NIU players, who bounced onto the field from the sideline.
Yates’ 4-yard touchdown run with 6:32 remaining gave the Yellow Jackets their first lead at 21-14.
Sims left in the second quarter with a left arm injury. His arm was in a sling as he watched on the sideline in the second half.
Harrison Waylee, who rushed for 144 yards for NIU, fumbled when hit by Wesley Walker in the fourth quarter. Quez Jackson recovered to set up Georgia Tech’s go-ahead touchdown.
NIU linebacker Lance Deveaux Jr. picked up a Jordan Mason fumble and ran into the end zone for an apparent touchdown and 20-0 lead. A long review led to the touchdown call being overturned because Mason’s knee was down before he lost the ball.
The reversal opened the way for Yates to lead a 16-play, 97-yard drive. Yates gained first downs on three third-down runs of 9 yards or longer before completing a 22-yard pass to Kyric McGowan. It was Yates’ first career touchdown pass.
The Yellow Jackets were stopped at the NIU 2 early in the second half when a video review determined McGowan’s left foot was out of bounds on a 2-yard catch initially ruled a touchdown.
Dontae Smith’s 15-yard touchdown run on his first carry of the game tied the score with 7:44 remaining. Yates’ 53-yard pass to Malachi Carter set up the score.
Lombardi’s experience showed as he directed the Huskies’ run-first offense led by Waylee, who had a 35-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Huskies leaned on their physical offensive line.
“He’s a tough guy,” Hammock said of Lombardi, who completed 11 of 17 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. “He showed us what he’s about. He’s a leader. He’s a tremendous warrior on the field. He’s an extension of the coaches.”
The low point for NIU came when safety Devin Lafayette suffered an apparent left leg injury late in the first half and was taken off the field in an ambulance.
The Huskies play Wyoming in their home opener Saturday.
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