MIAMI FOOTBALL

Huskies start fast, but MU finishes strong for win

By MIKE SMITH
DeKALB, IL -- Northern Illinois (1-4, 0-1 MAC) threw a few surprises at Miami (2-3, 1-0 MAC) Saturday. The strategy worked well early, and NIU enjoyed a 14-0 lead. The RedHawks, however, regrouped and fought back to leave town with a 25-14 win. 
One week earlier, NIU totaled just 57 passing yards. Most came from sophomore Josh Holst, who completed 6 of 14 passes for 49 yards in the Huskies 6-3 loss to San Diego State. 
Freshman Brady Davidson got the . . . 

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. . . start this week, eventually completing 13 of 28 passes for 106 yards with one TD and one pick. 

EARLY HUSKIE SUCCESS
Northern Illinois' first score came on its first play from scrimmage -- a 76-yard run off the right side by Lazaro Rogers. 
After a Miami punt, the Huskies came back for more. Davidson completed six of seven passes in an 11-play, 60-yard drive. Jake Appleget's 17-yard TD reception (and a PAT) put the hosts up 14-0.
With 3:23 remaining in the first stanza, NIU had more points than it had produced in any game since Week 1 (a 19-17 win over Holy Cross). 

FINN TO PERRY BOMB
Miami finally started to turn momentum its own way on the following possession. Daquan Finn, back from an injury against UNLV two weeks earlier, connected with Kenny Perry on a 56-yard pass. Three plays later, freshman D'Shawntae Jones (5-10, 245) barreled in for a 1-yard touchdown. 

Miami's defense was now getting some stops, and MU added a 41-yard Dom Dzioban field goal with 4:51 remaining. Another Dzioban try - this one from 50 yards - missed to the left and the RedHawks trailed 14-10 at intermission.

PICK, BLOCKED PUNT
Although NIU received the second half kickoff, Miami quickly seized momentum again. Davidson passed on the first play, but Miami's Koy Beasley picked off a tipped pass. 
Unable to get a first down, the RedHawks settled for a 45-yard Dzioban field goal. They still trailed by one at 14-13, but that would soon change. MU's defense forced a quick punt, which was blocked out of bounds by Jermaine Agee. 
Not only did the two point safety move Miami in front 15-14, MU took over the following kick at midfield and drove for a touchdown. Finn hit Deion Colzie for the final eight yards. 

CLOCK KILLING DRIVE
Holding a 22-14 advantage, Miami put the game away with 13-play, clock-consuming drive. Even with NIU using its time outs, there was just 3:31 remaining after another Dzioban field goal (24 yards) gave the RedHawks an 11-point edge. 
When Davidson was sacked by Coban Hondru and Mychal Yharbrough recovered, the RedHawks ran out the final 2:19.

NOTES
• Finn finished the contest completing 14 of 26 for 170 yards with one TD. He also ran 21 times for 90 yards.
• Jordan Brunson filled in as the ground game workhorse, logging 20 carries for 73 yards. Jones had six ruses for 23 yards and a score. 
• Kam Perry and Cole Weaver combined for eight receptions and 143 yards. 
• Miami recorded three sacks and six TFL. The Huskies had two sacks and five TFL. 
• This was Miami's first game of 2025 without a turnover. 
• After NIU scored on its first two possessions, Miami held the Huskies to a total of 84 yards on 39 plays the rest of the way (2.2 yards per play).
• Colzie caught a touchdown for the first time as a RedHawk and found the end zone for the first time since Nov. 9, 2024 with Notre Dame.
• ​Perry's 56-yard reception gave him a catch of 40 or more yards for the fourth consecutive game…