Bouagnon scores five TDs in romp
DeKALB — The Mid-American Conference championship wasn’t on the line, but Northern Illinois will take the victory.
Huskies running back Joel Bouagnon scored a careerhigh five touchdowns, and NIU cruised to a 45- 20 rout Tuesday of Bowling Green on senior night.
It was a battle between the teams that had faced off in the last three MAC title games, with the Falcons winning in 2013 and 2015. But Bowling Green ( 1- 8, 0- 5MAC East) continued to struggle, while the Huskies ( 3- 6, 3- 2 MAC West) kept their hopes for a bowl game alive.
NIU outgained the Falcons 479 yards to 314, and the Huskies’ 45 points were a season high. The 314 yards allowed were also a season low for NIU’s defense.
It was a big night for three seniors making their final appearance at Huskie Stadium. Bouagnon ran for five touchdowns after entering the game with only one rushing score in the first eight games, quarterback Anthony Maddie went 20- for- 29 for 185 yards and added 93 rushing yards and a touchdown and defensive end Austin Smaha had two sacks and two forced fumbles.
NIU’s defense got interceptions from Mycial Allen and Jackson Abresch, giving the Huskies eight picks in their last three games. Bowling Green, meanwhile, has thrown a MAC- high 22 interceptions.
Falcons quarterback James Morgan went 21- for- 41 for 224 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception. Punter Joe Davidson threw the other interception on a trick play in the third quarter.
NIU also came up with two blocked kicks. William Lee blocked an extra point, and Josh Corcoran blocked a 49- yard field goal.
The Huskies didn’t waste much time taking the lead. After forcing a three- andout to open the game, NIU drove 75 yards on nine plays, scoring on a 14- yard run by Bouagnon.
After Bowling Green tied the score, the Huskies went on an 11- play, 80- yard drive that ended with a one- yard touchdown run by Bouagnon to put them ahead 14- 7.
It was a dominant first quarter for NIU. The Huskies outgained the Falcons 176- 41, Maddie went 9- for- 10 for 92 yards and Bouagnon had 52 rushing yards.
NIU added a 41- yard field goal by Christian Hagan and a two- yard touchdown run by Maddie in the second quarter to take a 24- 13 lead into halftime.
After Bouagnon scored his third touchdown on a two- yard run to give the Huskies a 31- 13 lead in the third quarter, Bowling Green pulled to 31- 20 on a highlight- reel catch by Teo Redding in the left corner of the end zone.
Bouagnon’s last two touchdowns came on a 15- yard run in the last minute of the third quarter and on a six- yard run in the fourth.