Year in Review
The 2017 season
Fall Camp – Camp ends with equal mix of optimism and skepticism, with fans still bitter over the 2016 season. After an extended QB battle, Graham beats out Santa, Thompson leaves camp slightly ahead of Childers as the 3rd string QB. Defense appears to be fast with Smith and Corcoran at DE, Kyle Pugh at MLB along with what appears to be a solid group of LBs and secondary.
Boston College – The Huskies show promise in the season opener against a formidable opponent. The D surpasses expectations, Smith, Pugh, Jones and Johnson are outstanding. Graham runs effectively but leaves some big plays on the field. Hagan misses a key FG and we fall short in spite of a great effort. Graham suffers an elbow injury that will ultimately sideline him for basically the entire season.
EIU – Santa starts and plays very well, making big plays. The passing game opens up the run game, Huff and Jones combine for 150 rushing yards. The defense is again stout, and the Huskies take care of business, giving the loyal fan base reason for optimism.
Nebraska- Expectations are appropriately low, but after two pick 6s from our high-flying defense (Lurry, Johnson), thoughts of a major upset start. The defense led by Smith, Pugh, Jones and Corcoran are incredible. Nebraska battles back however, and takes the lead after a muffed punt. Then in the 4th quarter, Santa hits Blake on a deep pass, and the momentum shifts. After Huff makes some big gains, Santa hits Blake on a key slant to the 1 yard line and Huff pounds it home to put the Huskies back on top. Our outstanding D stiffens, holds the lead getting, Corcoran gets the Huskies 3rd pick of the day (Santa has zero turnovers), and NIU leaves Lincoln with a historic Boneyard W.
SDSU – After an opening SDSU KO return, the Huskies battle back to tie the game twice on Santa to Blake TD passes (Blake has his best game as a Huskie with 160 receiving yards). After completing 10 of his first 11 passes, Santa makes a bad read and throws a pick 6 which puts the Aztecs up, a lead they never give up. Huff is outstanding, and Santa’s passing gets us back into the game after SDSU built a17 point lead, the big play was a 81 yard TD pass to Tears. A great defense effort ***** the momentum late, and the Huskies are driving for a potential winning TD. The drive is highlighted by Huff’s relentless running. Then on a 1st and 10 from the 20, Santa throws a poorly thrown pass into tight coverage. The pass is intercepted at the goal line. The Defense is able to get the Huskies O one last chance, but Santa throws his 3rd pick in desperation time. #19 SDSU survives the near upset. In addition to the heartbreaking loss, the Huskies lose Kyle Pugh to a season ending injury.
Kent State – The weather conditions are horrible. Both teams are ineffective early. The defense is again dominating, limiting a weak KSU Offense to 3 points. The Huskies with Santa at QB are 3 and out on their first two drives. Childers comes in on the 3rd series and is effective running the ball leading to a TD. Santa comes back in for the 4th series. After a few productive running plays, Santa throws his first pass of the game to a well covered Blake. The KSU DB makes a great play in the end zone. Childers comes back in and is effective for the remainder of the game until a late INT in the end zone. Carey buts Santa back in to take a knee and finish the game out, hoping to send a message to Childers. The following week Childers is named the starter, and Santa’s season is basically over, playing roughly 10 plays the remainder of the season, all in “mop up” time.
Buffalo – The Childers era begins. This game takes the legend of Sutton Smith to a whole new level. His hit on the talented Drew Anderson, who was having his way with the Huskie secondary was the key to a Huskie W. Both teams miss late FGs., and the Huskies escape with a victory. Childers is again effective running the ball, and hits most of his short passes. However, what was noticeably missing was an effective deep ball. Childers missed several open receivers deep. NIU gives Coach Carey what he wants most, zero turnovers.
BGSU – The Huskies take care of business early and often against another weak MAC opponent. Childers is again effective, finding Beebe, who had one of the best games of his career. Hagan gets back on track.
EMU – The Huskies survive in OT thanks in large part to a blocked punt. Jones, Johnson, Cochran and Smith are stellar on defense. Childers is effective late, and has a solid W against a good defense. The most effective passing plays are the short high % passes to Brown and Wimann both of whom score TD’s off of short pass plays.
Toledo – The Huskies face a solid Toledo team. Weaknesses on both sides of the ball exposed, and the Rockets, who on this day were clearly the better team, emerge victorious. The Rockets are the first team to contain Smith. Still the Huskies battle till the end, but any conference title hopes ended with the loss. Childers is able to throw for over 200 yards on 43 attempts, but throws 2 picks, and his struggles completing deep passes continue.
Ball State – The Huskies dominate every aspect of the game against what was their weakest opponent all year. The secondary does give up a few plays which is reason for concern. Childers has 4 TD passes on 141 passing yards. Ryan Graham comes back and runs the ball well, but again leaves with an injury. Santa throws a 70 yard TD pass to Wesley on what would be his last action as a Huskie. The run game is solid. Huskies suffer another significant injury on defense, this time to Josh Cochran.
WMU – The Huskies score 14 4th quarter points to win a close game against a resilient Bronco team. Jordan Huff has his best game as a Huskie gaining nearly 200 yards rushing. The D struggles at times but stiffens late, and still manages to put points on the board with a 54 yard fumble recovery for a TD by who else? Sutton Smith. Childers has a tough outing throwing for 64 yards albeit in difficult passing conditions.
CMU – After a strong 1st half the Huskies suffer a second half melt down, turning what could have been a great season into a good season. Huff’s effectiveness is limited due to injury, Harbison is effective early. Childers struggles continue, as he throws for only 128 yards. Anthony Thompson sees his first action of the season. The Huskies suffer lose both Huff and Beebe to injury.
Duke – It was just bad…enough said.
The Huskies end the season with an 8-5 record, perhaps exceeding many of the loyalists expectations. Although the record is good, NIU is winless against teams with winning records.
On the plus side, the future appears to be bright with outstanding talent returning on defense, led by All American Sutton Smith. Two key defenders, Corcoran and Pugh, will return from season ending injuries. The QB position appears to be set with Childers (5-3 as a starter), who enters his sophomore season with more game experience than perhaps any QB in the program’s history. Carey and his staff appear to have recruited very well.
On the downside, Carey ends what could have been a great season on vert sour note, starting with a bad loss to CMU and ending with some horrible in-game decision making on a nationally televised bowl game. The team as a whole, including the all important QB position, fails to show the in season improvement which typifies a successful season. On to 2018.
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