2011 games of the year: Ohio versus Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois 23, Ohio 20        Box Score | Recap

The Northern Illinois Huskies came back from a 20-point deficit at the half to beat the Ohio Bobcats in the MAC Championship game in Detroit, Michigan.

Ohio started the game receiving the kickoff and starting their opening drive on their own 26-yard line. Quarterback Tyler Tettleton hit LaVon Brazill for a 44-yard pass moving the ball to the NIU 30-yard line after one offensive play. The NIU defense settled down and forced a 3rd-and-7 in which Jhony Faustin intercepted Tettleton in the end zone for a touchback.

Three plays later, Ohio had the ball again with Noah Keller intercepting NIU quarterback Chandler Harnish returning the ball to the NIU 19-yard line. The Bobcats were only able to move the back to the NIU 13-yard-line before Matt Weller came on and made a 30-yard field goal to open the scoring at 3-0 in favor of Ohio.

After a three-and-out by the Huskies, Ohio started again with the ball on their own 30-yard line. Tettleton led the Bobcat offense on an 8-play, 70-yard drive that culminated with Donte Foster catching a 24-yard touchdown pass from Phil Bates to extend the lead to 10-0 in favor of Ohio.

Another 3-and-out gave the ball back to Ohio and Tettleton again led the Bobcats on a 69 yard drive that was stalled at the NIU 4-yard line. Weller came on and made a 21-yard field goal to give Ohio a 13-0 lead with 10:55 left in the half. Both teams traded turnovers with NIU making it to the Ohio 3-yard line before losing the ball at the Ohio 13-yard line.

Ohio then went on a 9-play, 87-yard drive that ended with Tettleton rushing 18 yards to give Ohio a 20-0 lead with 2:35 left in the half. NIU was unable to move the ball and punted the ball back to Ohio with :28 left in the first half. The Bobcats downed the ball taking the impressive 20-0 lead into halftime.

The Huskies narrowly averted disaster to start the second half after fumbling on the opening drive and giving Ohio the ball on their own 38-yard line. The Husky defense came up big and forced a 3-and-out with NIU getting the ball back on their own 22-yard line with 10:11 left in the third quarter. Behind the arms and legs of Harnish, the Huskies went on a 10-play, 78-yard drive that was capped by Harnish finding Nathan Palmer for a 39-yard touchdown to cut the Ohio lead to 20-7.

Both teams traded punts, going 3-and-out, with Ohio starting to drive downfield as the third quarter elapsed. The Bobcats moved the ball down to the NIU 19-yard line looking to go up 14-points again but missed a 36-yard field goal to keep the score at 20-7 in favor of Ohio.

Northern Illinois moved the ball to the Ohio 43-yard line before facing a 4th-and-6. The Huskies decided to punt and pinned Ohio at the Ohio 12-yard line with 10:34 left in the game. After getting out to the 25-yard line, Ohio made a terrible mistake with Tettleton being intercepted by Jimmie Ward giving NIU great field position at the NIU 37-yard line.

Harnish led the Huskies on a 4-play, 63-yard drive that ended with Martel Moore catching Harnish's 32-yard pass to cut the lead to 20-13 pending the extra point. Sims missed the extra point attempt leaving the Ohio lead at 7-points with 7:36 left in the game.

Again, the Ohio offense stalled and was followed by a 12-yard shank of a punt that gave NIU great field position with 4:36 left in the game. 6 plays later, Harnish found Palmer for a 22-yard touchdown that tied the game up at 20 following Sims' kick.

Ohio had another chance to seize control and win the game but went 3-and-out yet again giving NIU the ball at their own 36-yard line with 1:18 left in the game. Harnish connected on a 27-yard pass to start the drive. Two plays later, Harnish found Moore for a 15-yard pass that set the Huskies up at the 19-yard line with :05 left in the game. Ohio tried to ice the kicker but were unsuccessful with Sims hitting the 33-yard field goal to complete the comeback and give the 2011 MAC title to the Huskies.