DEKALB --Northern Illinois rallied from a 23-13 fourth quarter deficit to defeat Kansas 30-23 Saturday afternoon. The Huskies (3-1) victory moved its home field winning streak to 17 games, while the Jayhawks (1-3) lost their 16th straight road contest.
Northern Illinois running back Leighton Settle scored on a 2-yard run with 4:33 left to cap a 53-yard drive and the Huskies 17-point fourth quarter. The short field was set up when Huskies defensive back Joe Windsor sacked Kansas quarterback Dayne Crist.
Kansas defensive back Tyler Patmon intercepted Huskies quarterback Jordan Lynch and returned it 54-yards for a touchdown 27 seconds into the fourth quarter. The score gave Kansas a 23-13 lead before Ron Doherty missed the extra point.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
On the ensuing possession for the Huskies, Lynch threw a 9-yard jump pass to Martel Moore over the middle, who ran untouched for a 65-yard score with 14:23 left to make it 23-20.
Huskies kicker Mathew Sims then tied the score at 23-23, when he kicked a 44-yard field goal with 7:58 left in the game.
Lynch had 134 yards on 22 carries, his third 100-plus rushing game of the season. Lynch also completed 23 of 35 passes for 235 yards as the Northern Illinois offense amassed 455 total yards.
For Kansas, James Sims rushed 18 times, totaling 91 yards and two touchdowns.
News
The teams traded scores in the first half, with Northern Illinois holding a 13-10 lead at intermission. Kansas opened the scoring in the first quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Doherty. The Huskies took the ensuing kickoff and reached the end zone on a 4-yard pass from Lynch to wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. But the point after touchdown was wide by Mathew Sims, as the Huskies led 6-3 late in the first quarter.
Kansas grabbed the lead back early in the second quarter when James Sims scored on a 26-yard run up the middle, capping an 86-yard drive. Northern Illinois concluded the first half scoring, as running back Akeem Daniels scored on a 3-yard run with 1:38 remaining.
Kansas took the second half kickoff 71 yards in 14 plays with James Sims scoring his second touchdown of the game on a on a 1-yard run on fourth and goal.
The Jayhawks entered the contest with a two game losing streak, while Northern Illinois had won its previous two contests.
Full RecapBox Score
Southern Illinois 14, Missouri State 6
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --Southern Illinois got big first-quarter plays from Emmanuel Souarin and Mulku Kalokoh to beat Missouri State 14-6 Saturday in a defensive game that featured 20 punts for 738 yards.In the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams, the Salukis (2-2) prevailed despite going 0 for 13 on third-down conversions and managing just 198 yards of offense.
Souarin returned an interception 44 yards for a score in the opening quarter. On Southern Illinois' next possession, Kalokoh broke off a 36-yard run that set up his 12-yard touchdown reception from Kory Faulkner.
The Bears (0-4) managed 362 yards of offense but got only two Austin Witmer field goals in the first half to show for it.
Ryan Heaston rushed for 126 yards for Missouri State, which was hampered by nine penalties for 100 yards. Ashton Glaser completed 20 of 35 passes for 180 yards and two interceptions.
Full RecapBox Score
Illinois State 23, Western Illinois 3
MACOMB --Darrelynn Dunn carried the load for FCS power Illinois State in Saturday's 23-3 victory over Western Illinois, rushing 29 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.The 15th ranked Redbirds (4-0) stayed perfect on the road this season at 2-0 and it is the first time since 1967 Illinois State has started a season with four straight wins.
Dunn gave Illinois State its first score of the afternoon with a 2-yard touchdown run at the 4:02 mark in the first quarter. It was the third 100-plus yards rushing effort in a game this season by Dunn.
Illinois State totaled 373 yards of offense against Western Illinois (2-2), which managed only 137 yards and a field goal themselves. A 21-yard field goal by Pat Smith with five minutes to go in the third quarter was the only drive ending in a score for the Leathernecks.
Full RecapBox Score
Eastern Illinois 50, Murray State 49 in OT
CHARLESTON --Eastern Illinois coach Dino Babers had seen enough, calling for a two-point conversion play in the first overtime Saturday night which gave his Panthers a thrilling 50-49 overtime victory over Murray State.
Having been on the receiving end all night, Eastern Illinois (2-2) receiver Erik Lora had his number called in the huddle once again, but this time to throw, not catch. He found Von Wise in the end zone on the two-point play for the victory.
Down 49-42, Jimmy Garoppolo found Chavar Watkins on a 9-yard touchdown throw to make it 49-48 before Lora's heroics.
Lora had 21 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns Saturday. The 21 receptions were an Eastern Illinois and Ohio Valley Conference record.
Both teams recorded 1,142 yards of total offense, with Murray State (1-3) claiming 574 of it.
Casey Brockman was 43 of 64 for 423 yards and two touchdowns for the Racers.
Full RecapBox Score