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Live in-game updates of NIU at Western Michigan
9:14 p.m.
On the second try, WMU gets the ball. That's game guys and gals unless WMU can't take care of the ball.
9:12 p.m.
NIU's onside kick was recovered by the Huskies. They have 36 seconds left on the clock. Yet, there's a false start on NIU...they'll have to redo the kick...interesting call.
9:08 p.m.
With 47 seconds left and down by 10 points Kill is trying to find a way to win this game. NIU is at WMU's 16 yard line. Getting a touchdown seems possible, but it would then need to recover a kick. Realistically the Huskies would only have two, at best four chances to score if all that happen.
NIU just scored, 40 seconds left.
WMU - 29 NIU - 26
8:54 p.m.
One quick side note, Brandon West, WMU's running back, has a college career best 178 yards so far. In comparison, NIU's top rusher is Me'co Brown with 54 yards. In total, the Huskies have a 167 rushing yards.
8:52 p.m.
This game is slipping away from NIU. Grady lost the ball on a fumble and gave WMU great field position, which turned into seven points for the Broncos. With a little less than seven minutes left the Huskies have a lot of work ahead of them if they want a win.
WMU - 29 NIU -19
8:41 p.m.
The two-point conversion is good. A 4:12 drive for 82 yards to get 8 points. Not good, NIU needs its offense to now score to give time for this defense to regroup so it can produce a stop.
WMU - 22 NIU - 19
8:40 p.m.
The defense needs to step up. It just let Western Michigan go down the field pretty much at ease. NIU will take a time out with 10:05 remaining as WMU is going for a two-point conversion.
WMU - 20 NIU - 19
8:32 p.m.
The Huskies have the lead as DeMarcus Grady rushes for a three yard touchdown. The Huskies went for two points to go up by seven, but Nicholson was unable to convert the attempt.
NIU - 19 WMU - 14
8:27 p.m.
It's the end of the third and NIU is marching down the field, mostly due to runs by quarterback DeMarcus Grady and Dan Nicholson. Nicholson's 24 yard rush is his longest in his career. Be interesting to see how Kill opens up the last quarter, as the Huskies start at WMU's 10 yard line with a second-and-nine situation.
8:26 p.m.
After four plays, Grady is out and Nicholson is back in. Looks like Kill has no problem rotating quarterbacks based on what type of offense he would like to run.
8:22 p.m.
What a change. All I can say is wow. First Nicholson throws a pick and WMU get's the ball at the Huskies 32. Then WMU losses the ball as line backer Mike Kritkos stripped the ball and Chase Carter recovered the fumble. Finally, Kill decided to put in red-shirt freshman DeMarcus Grady in the next offensive series. He's ran with the ball for all three downs so far, and has picked up big yards.
8:15 p.m.
We've seen now why WMU has elected to go on fourth down and not go for a field goal sometimes, as its kicker John Potter missed an easy field goal from about 27 yards away. The NIU defense has to be pleased with itself that it didn't let WMU score on that drive, giving the Huskies a chance to take the lead for the first time since the first quarter. There's 6:33 remaining in the third quarter...some how this is always the longest quarter of any football game.
8:03 p.m.
Well, the Huskies turned a turnover into three points. It's something, but they need to start getting touchdowns in order to put real pressure on the Broncos.
WMU - 14 NIU - 13
7:54 p.m.
I've got good news and bad news. The good news, Nicholson's pass to Perez was ruled complete after being reviewed. The bad news, Harnish is done for the game. However, with how Nicholson is performing it might not be that bad of a loss as he has got the rust off and is showing why he was the starting quarterback in the past.
7:48 p.m.
Key win for NIU. The Huskies have just taken the lead in the turnover margin as line backer Tim McCarthy stripped the ball and it was recovered by Josh Allen.
7:27 p.m.
NIU's defense holds off WMU from converting a first down on a fourth-and-five situation. The Huskies then down the ball to let the final 10 seconds run off the clock.
A couple notes on the first half:
-Harnish is coming off the field slow. He'll be looked at during half time, but it is uncertain if he'll be back in the game.
-Dan Nicholson is getting the rust off. After starting with a three-and-out, in which he had two incomplete passes, Nicholson has now gone 6-for-8 for 92 yards, with two passes over 20 yards. If Harnish can't go, the offense should be OK in the hands of Nicholson.
-The defense has been up and down all night. The Huskies need to find their zone and be ready to shutdown WMU's big plays in the second half.
-NIU freshman running back Me'co Brown is getting most of the carries so far. He's had eight carries for 40 yards. However, 26 of those yards came on the the freshman's touchdown run. After Brown, there's Ricky Crider who has four attempts for 10 yards, and Justing Anderson who has four attempts for four yards. NIU needs it's running game to get more explosive, as it doesn't seem it can win in a shoot out against WMU.
WMU - 14 NIU - 10
7:22 p.m.
WMU is driving down the field, as it started with 76 seconds and on its own 20 yard line. Now with 16 seconds left the Broncos are at NIU's 36 yard line with a fourth down.
7:15 p.m.
It looked like the game was about to be tied, but on a third-and-goal from the one yard line Dan Nicholson's exchange to the running back was fumbled. Now NIU, at WMU's three yard line sends the kicking team out.
In a drive that saw a 31 yard pass to wide out Nathan Palmer and drove 58 yards down the field, it has to sting that NIU only got three points. I'm sure the Huskies thought they were about to tie the game. Now they are still down by four.
WMU - 14 NIU - 10
7:02 p.m.
What looked like a promising drive ended in zero points for the Huskies. NIU started deep in its territory, but turned a second-and-21 situation into a first down on two plays. After a 24-yard pass to full back Kyle Skarb, NIU was at WMU's 20 yard line. The Huskies couldn't move the chains on three downs, until roughing the passer was called after third down. NIU then again failed to get into the end zone on three downs, and due to a bad snap, failed to attempt a field goal.
The Huskie defense has forced a third-and-ten situation for WMU and prevent them from converting. The defense has given the offense a chance again.
6:51 p.m.
I can see from the press box that Harnish's right ankle is tapped up heavily. The quarterback doesn't have his helmet on, and Nicholson is back on the field for NIU.
6:48 p.m.
It only took three plays into the second quarter for the Bronco's to score. WMU takes the lead as the sun begins to set here in Michigan.
WMU - 14 NIU - 7
6:43 p.m.
It looked like it could be a change of momentum play for NIU as defensive back Kiaree Daniels picked off WMU quarterback Tim Hiller. However, the Huskies were hit with three defensive fouls on the play - offsides, a block in the back, and a chop block. WMU accepted the offsides and retained the ball. Time to start the second quarter, Broncos have the ball at NIU's 14-yard line and it's second-and-four.
NIU - 7 WMU - 7
6:34 p.m.
An interesting move by NIU. With 3:02 in the first period senior quarterback Dan Nicholson came into the game. Nicholson was sacked on the first play, and threw two in completes on the next two snaps. NIU produced a three-and-out and let WMU start on its own 44 yard line.
6:33 p.m.
The Huskie defense held the Broncos to a three-and-out on the first drive of the game. Yet on its second drive, WMU found its beat. The Broncos went for it on fourth-and-inches only to get a touchdown three plays later. NIU's offense will have to answer, as in it's last try it only produced five offensive plays before punting the ball.
NIU - 7 WMU - 7
6:13 p.m.
NIU has come out strong in its opening drive. The Huskies started with a flee-flicker pass in which Chandler Harnish hit Matt Simon for a 45 yard completion. The Huskies also faced a fourth-and-one on WMU's 30 yard line and decided to go for it. NIU was rewarded as on a QB keeper Harnish picked up the first. Two plays later freshman running back Me'co Brown bounced off to the left, broke multiple tackles, and found the end zone 26 yards later.
NIU - 7 WMU - 0
6:04 p.m.
NIU senior wide out Britt Davis did not make the trip with the Huskies to WMU. No explanation was given way he didn't make the trip, but Davis not here. Starting at the X wide receiver slot instead will be red-shirt freshman Nathan Palmer. Palmer had three catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns last week against Minnesota.
5:40 p.m.
So as we get ready for action on the field, there was some action off the field. It turns out the teachers of Western Michigan have been working without a contract and might strike starting this Monday if a contract is not produced. The teachers want more pay and more health care benefits.
I heard this information, as a large group of WMU teachers/protesters passed the press box, from a women who works the security here. It was very nice to talk to the lady, who was in her sixties. We talked about her children, her grandchildren and health care. It lead us to the election and we had a very nice and civil conversation about McCain and Obama. Here's were I'm going to throw a plug, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, go register to vote and vote in this fall's election. I don't care who you vote for, but please educate yourself about the issues and then vote for who you think is the best man or women.
I had to break away with from the conversation to get some dinner though. Here's my thoughts over all.
Hamburger - B, it was nice, but a little over cooked and the toppings were nothing special.
Cole Slaw - D+, very watery, no taste, and too crispy
Potato Salad - A, very creamy, full of flavor and most likely fat
Drink - A+, BLUE POWERADE IS THE BOMB!
NIU's marching band is coming on to the field, wee got about 20 minutes to the kick!
5:10 p.m.
Ahhh, some red has finally began to trickle into Waldo Stadium among the group of black shirts. WMU's special teams are on the field practicing field goals, punts and snaps. NIU place kicker Mike Salerno was practicing about 15 minutes ago. Salerno was 3-for-3 on warm up kicks from the 30, 37 and 41 yard line. Kick off is in 53 minutes according to the score clock. Time to get some dinner!
4:40 p.m.
The NIU special teams have come on the field. Long snappers, place holders and kickers are stretching and practicing. Western Michigan has also begun showing a video reviewing their game against Nebraska.
4:10 p.m.
Hello Huskie fans, Ben Gross here in Kalamazoo, Mich. Fans were just allowed to start coming into the stadium. There's about maybe 50 fans in the 30,200 capacity Waldo Stadium. The field is empty except for a few NIU players. Huskie punter Andy Dittbenner appears to be judging the field for kicks, quarterbacks Dan Nicholson and Chandler Harnish are tossing the ball back and forth. It looks like Harnish will get the start today, as he's dressed with a red under shirt like the rest of the team, while Nicholson has a black undershirt on. More updates to come as fans, players and coaches start to come to the field.
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Is Harnish injured?