'There was never a time when the defense was struggling in the first half that the offense didn't believe that the defense wouldn't get it straightened out. 'I'm proud of my coaches too … in all my years of coaching this is my favorite group to be around, and I've won championships before. 'Winning championships is hard and I am so proud of these guys, these student-athletes,' said NIU head coach Rod Carey. Junior Sutton Smith was named the MAC Championship Game Defensive MVP after finishing with 10 tackles, including a pair of sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Brown as the Huskies completed the comeback.Ĭhilders finished the game 21-of-33 passing for a career high 300 yards and four touchdowns while also gaining 58 yards on 15 carries, and was named the game's Offensive MVP. NIU scored the final 20 points of the game, culminating in a 35-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Marcus Childers to senior D.J. NIU took its first lead of the game with 1:09 to play as the Huskies captured their fourth MAC title in eight seasons. DETROIT, Mich. – Trailing by as many as 19 points late in the third quarter, Northern Illinois rallied to win the Marathon MAC Football Championship game over Buffalo, 30-29, on Friday night at Ford Field.

2018 mac football news