Darius Jackson Scores Two Rushing TDs in Setback at Northern Illinois

Postgame Audio.

DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – Senior Darius Jackson (Sparta, Ill. - Sparta) continued his chase of the single-season touchdown record with a pair of scores, but it was not enough as the Eastern Michigan University football team fell to Northern Illinois University, 49-21, Saturday, Oct. 24, at Huskie Stadium. The Eagles fall to 1-7 (0-4 MAC) on the season, while the Huskies improve to 5-3 (3-1 MAC).

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio - Toledo St. John's Jesuit) earned his sixth start of the season, returning to the lineup after not starting last week against Toledo. The righty finished the day with 26 completions on a career-high 43 passing attempts for 219 yards.

Jackson led the rushing attack once again for the Eagles. He toted the ball 24 times for 101 yards, which was his fifth 100+ rushing effort of the season, as well as his third straight game of over 100 yards.

Defensively, three Eagles registered sacks in the game. Senior Clay Dawson (Phoeniz, Ariz. - Crestview College Prep) got his fourth of the season, while junior Nathan Adams (Crozier, Va. - Goochland) registered his first career sack. Finally, redshirt sophomore Luke MacLean (Grand Blanc, Mich. - Grand Blanc) notched his fourth sack on the year as well. EMU now has 13 total sacks on the season

The Huskies took the opening kickoff and methodically drove 72 yards in 17 plays for the first score of the game. After trading a couple of possessions, NIU struck again right before the end of the first quarter with a short touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-0.

NIU would score three more touchdowns in the second quarter to push the lead to 35-0. The first score came on a long, 14-play drive that took over five minutes, while the second was much quicker and scored in 1:15. The last came on two big plays, capped by a 53-yard rushing touchdown.

EMU came out firing in the second half, breaking up the shutout almost midway through the third quarter. Following a long punt return by redshirt freshman Blake Banham (St. Paul, Minn. - Derham Hall) to the NIU 15 yard line, Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind. - John Adams) punched in the score four plays later to get EMU on the board. It was his fifth rushing score of the season.

The two teams would then go on to trade scores later in the third quarter. NIU's came on another quick scoring drive that took less than a minute. EMU responded back with a long drive of its own, highlighted by a 22-yard pass to Eddie Daugherty. The score came on a 1-yard plunge from Jackson.

The Eagles continued battling later in the fourth quarter, as they scored their third touchdown of the game on another short Jackson touchdown run to cut the score to 42-21. The score gave Jackson 12 TD's on the ground this season and 13 total. He is just two short of the all-time single-season EMU record.

NIU capped off the scoring on the day late in the game with a short touchdown run to seal the 49-21 victory.

The Green and White now return to "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium for a mid-week showdown with in-state rival Western Michigan on Thursday night, Oct. 29, for an under the lights game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Darius Jackson Scores Two Rushing TDs in Setback at Northern Illinois

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Team Stats

Brogan Roback

Players Mentioned

Nathan Adams

Blake Banham

Eddie Daugherty IV

Clay Dawson

Darius Jackson

Brogan Roback

Shaq Vann

Players Mentioned

Nathan Adams

Blake Banham

Eddie Daugherty IV

Clay Dawson

Darius Jackson

Brogan Roback

Shaq Vann

Eastern Michigan Athletics