The Broncos were running wild in the stable on a Tuesday night in DeKalb. Western Michigan had not one, not two, but three 100-yard rushers to race past Northern Illinois in 35-19 fashion.
Running back Jalen Buckley led the charge with 133 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries — earning his highest output since Oct. 28, 2023. Fellow tailback Devin Miles added to the rampage with 105 yards on 14 handoffs. Completing the action was mobile quarterback Broc Lowry who attained 100 yards and three touchdowns on 13 tries.
It was Lowry’s sixth-straight game producing at least 80 rushing yards and his second time over the century mark this season.
Western Michigan became the first FBS team with three 100-yard rushers in a single outing since 2017 Notre Dame, when Josh Adams, Dexter Williams, and Brandon Wimbush all eclipsed the century mark vs. Temple.
With Western Michigan’s dominance on the ground, Lowry hardly utilized his arm. He completed 5-of-9 passes for 32 yards and only dropped back three times in the second half. Instead, the Broncos pounded the rock for 361 collective rushing yards, manufacturing their most prolific performance in the category since Nov. 5, 2019.
The Broncos ultimately controlled the game, scoring 35 unanswered points en route to a comfortable victory. But the first quarter and change belonged to the Huskies, making a late-season upset push in their final Midweek MACtion game ever. NIU started quarterback Jalen Macon for the second-consecutive game, hoping to build on last week’s successful 45-3 road at UMass.
Northern Illinois opened the contest up 13-0, fueled by an early 43-yard Telly Johnson Jr. breakaway touchdown on the opening series. The Huskies added to their stellar start with a tip drill interception that landed in the hands of free safety Jasper Beeler deep in Western Michigan territory. NIU notched an Andrew Glass field goal courtesy of this takeaway, and Glass drilled another kick early in the second quarter to put the Broncos on upset alert.
But with MAC title aspirations, Western Michigan never flinched. The Broncos erased their second 13-0 deficit of the season and shut out the Huskies from the 11:45 mark of the second quarter until under five minutes remained in the fourth. FBS tackles for loss leader Nadame Tucker added to his résumé with 1.5 tackles for loss, a share of a sack, and eight tackles in yet another standout performance. Meanwhile, inside linebacker James Camden logged a career-best 13 tackles, assisting the effort in limiting the Huskies to 78 second half yards.
The Huskies only managed 78 total yards through the air. The more mobile Macon finished 1-of-7 for five yards, and NIU substituted Brady Davidson in for closing duties. Davidson added 73 yards and a touchdown on a 5-of-8 showing, continuing NIU’s season-long shuffle of quarterbacks.
Northern Illinois’ second half woes could best be summed up by a mid-fourth quarter punt attempt when it fumbled the snap, ensuing a long scramble for the football. NIU ultimately recovered on its own 5-yard line, setting up Western Michigan for its fifth-straight rushing touchdown during the 35-0 run.
Northern Illinois (3-8, 2-5 MAC) only has one game remaining in its MAC lifespan. The Huskies look to end a disappointing season on a high note when they host Kent State on Friday, Nov. 28, a game which effectively concludes their 29-year stint in the conference.
Western Michigan (7-4, 6-1 MAC) is now one win away from clinching its first MAC Championship Game appearance since 2016. Lance Taylor’s Broncos have won seven of eight matchups after an 0-3 start, holding six opponents below 20 points in that span with a domineering defense. Western Michigan set itself up with a win-and-in situation at Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 25, looking to seal its first winning season since 2021.
