DeKALB — The NIU football team was unsuccessful in their bid to take the Mallory Cup Saturday, falling 27-24 to the Miami University – Ohio RedHawks.
NIU took a 10-0 lead late in the second quarter, but gave up three touchdowns on the next three Miami possessions and never regained the lead.
Redshirt junior quarterback Marcus Childers scored two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown in relief of injured senior quarterback Ross Bowers. Bowers left the game in the second quarter following a head-first fall into the turf.
The defense kept the RedHawks’ running game in check all day, but ultimately were downed by first-year quarterback Brett Gabbet throwing for 273 yards and a touchdown.