Akron, OH (Sports Network) - Jordan Lynch accounted for 354 total yards and
four touchdowns, as the Northern Illinois Huskies routed the Akron Zips, 37-7,
in a Mid-American Conference tilt at InfoCision Stadium.
Lynch completed 20-of-33 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and he also
ran for a game-high 131 yards and two scores to help the Huskies (7-1, 4-0
MAC) notch their 12th straight conference victory.
The Zips (1-7, 0-4) have dropped 12 in a row against MAC foes, as they were
held to just 199 yards of total offense.
NIU got on the board first with a 39-yard field goal from Mathew Sims at the
6:16 mark of the opening quarter. The Huskies recovered a fumble on the
ensuing kickoff, setting up a nine-yard touchdown pass from Lynch to Martel
Moore just over a minute later.
Sims tacked on a 31-yard field goal with 4:47 remaining in the second quarter
to give NIU a 13-0 lead.
Akron responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, resulting in a four-yard
touchdown pass from Dalton Williams to Jerrod Dillard to make it a 13-7 game.
However, the Huskies got the ball back and moved quickly down the field, and
Lynch scored on a 15-yard run just before the half to push the lead to 20-7.
NIU continued to pad its lead in the second half. Sims kicked a 29-yard field
goal at the 12:09 mark of the third quarter, and Lynch threw a 13-yard
touchdown pass to Jason Schepler later in the same frame to make it a 30-7
game. Lynch added another rushing TD early in the fourth quarter, this time
from 35 yards to put the Huskies ahead comfortably.
The Huskies notched their sixth straight road victory, and they have won 16 of
their last 17 games overall.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network