When a team racks up 521 yards of total offense, it’s usually enough to get the win.

It wasn’t enough for the NIU football team Saturday at Central Michigan.

Despite the offensive onslaught, the Huskies scored only three points on five trips to the red zone and turned the ball over six times in a 35-10 loss to Central Michigan University.

All the action came in the first half. Neither team scored in the second half. The recurring story of missed opportunities all started with the Huskies’ opening series, as they put together a 17-play drive that ended with no points after a mishandled snap on a field goal attempt.

CMU made the Huskies pay as they marched down the field on a four-play, 80-yard drive to take an early 7-0 lead. NIU had another red-zone opportunity on its very next drive, but running back Justin Anderson fumbled on the Chippewa one-yard line, setting up a 99-yard scoring drive by CMU to make it 14-0.

However, NIU got right back in the game when Dan Nicholson connected on a 92-yard touchdown pass to Matt Simon, who ended the day with nine receptions and 205 yards.

The Huskies weren’t able to sustain the momentum as Antonio Brown returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to put CMU up 21-7. The second Huskie turnover came on the following kickoff when Patrick George fumbled the ball, giving the Chippewas the ball at the NIU 28-yard line.

Once again, CMU took advantage of the Huskie miscue as quarterback Dan LeFevour scored on a quarterback keeper to make it 28-7. NIU showed frustration and a lack of discipline as they were penalized for three personal fouls only 15 minutes and three seconds into the game.

NIU got its final points of the game late in the second quarter, when Chris Nendick connected on a 25-yard field goal. CMU scored touchdowns on its first five possessions, the last of which ended with Justin Hoskins’ second touchdown run, making it 35-7.

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