Despite a dominating performance by the Northern Illinois University defense in the second half, Miami (Ohio) was able to make its 17 first-half points hold up and went on to claim a 20-9 victory over NIU Tuesday night at Yager Stadium.

The RedHawks won their sixth consecutive game to improve to 6-1 in the MAC and 7-4 overall, while NIU fell to 6-5, 3-4 in the league.

While the Huskie defense rebounded from a slow start to record four quarterback sacks and hold Miami to four first downs and just 74 yards in the second half, the RedHawks’ defense was just as stout, sacking NIU quarterback Ethan Hampton four times and holding the Huskies to 128 rushing yards on 40 carries in the game.

“They beat us at our game,” said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. “They were more physical than us; we have to look ourselves in the mirror and look to get better and respond. We have to play better for four quarters.”

Trailing 17-0, NIU got on the board four seconds before halftime on Kanon Woodill’s 47-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-. The score came after the Huskies’ Jashon Prophete picked off Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert at the 50 and returned it 19 yards to the Miami 31. The interception was the first of Prophete’s career.

Held to 81 yards and five first downs in the first half, the NIU offense was able to put together drive beginning in the third quarter, marching from its 25 to the Miami 32 on the opening possession of the half. On fourth and five, Hampton was sacked for a nine-yard loss.

The next three possessions resulted in punts before NIU began a drive from its 39 following a short punt by the RedHawks. Trayvon Rudolph, who finished the game with 24 yards on three carries and completed a 13-yard pass, started the drive with an 11-yard run and Telly Johnson Jr., who led NIU with 47 yards on 15 carries, picked up nine. Senior Gavin Williams gained 20 yards to the Miami 21 as the third quarter ended. He finished with 45 yards on six carries.

A roughing the passer penalty gave NIU a first down at the MU 12 and Johnson gained nine. Three plays later he scored from the two. The Huskies’ two-point conversion pass was incomplete after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the ball to the one-yard line, making the score 17-9 with 11:51 to play.

“We found a little bit of momentum mixing the run and the pass during that stretch, but it wasn’t enough,” Hammock said. “We waited too long to get going.”

Miami got one first down before punting, but NIU’s drive ended when Hampton was sacked from behind on a rollout and fumbled with the RedHawks recovering at the Huskie 25. They used the clock and drove to the NIU 9, where kicker Dom Dzioban’s 27-yard field goal with 2:25 to play effectively iced the game for Miami.

Nate Valcarcel led NIU defensively with nine tackles and collected his second sack of the season. Roy Williams, Devonte O’Malley and Jake Gassaway also had sacks for the Huskies, who held Miami to just two-of-10 on third down in the game. Gabbert completed 15-of-24 passes for 237 yards.

After Miami missed a 41-yard field goal from the NIU 23-yard line on the opening possession of the game, the teams exchanged punts until the RedHawks started a drive from their 31 at 5:36 of the first quarter. Three plays put Miami on the NIU 37. From there, Gabbert hit Javon Tracy for 26 yards to the NIU 11 and a pass interference call put the ball on the 2. The RedHawks took a 7-0 lead on the next play on Dylan Downing’s two-yard run with 2:31 left in the quarter.

On the RedHawks’ first possession of the second quarter, the Huskie defense held Miami to a field goal from the four-yard line after Gabbert’s 50-yard completion to Reggie Virgil. Three incompletions brought on the field goal team and Dzioban’s 22-yard field goal gave the RedHawks a 10-0 lead with 12:24 to play in the half.

Miami used a familiar trick play to score its second touchdown. After driving from its 13 to the 36, Gabbert connected with Tracy for 16 yards, and a personal foul penalty on NIU added 15 to the NIU 33. After a short run, Tracy took the handoff and passed to Virgil for the RedHawk score and a 17-0 lead at 3:50 before halftime.

NIU closes out the regular season on Saturday, November 30 when the Huskies play host to Central Michigan on Senior Day at Huskie Stadium. Tickets are on sale at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) Monday through Friday between 9 am-5 pm. Game time and television for the contest will be announced following the conclusion of Wednesday’s #MACtion games.