Friday, December 3, 2010 07:00 PM
(ET)
Recap: Miami (Ohio) 26, Northern Illinois 21
SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 3, 2010
Austin Boucher and Miami (Ohio) caught a break, and turned it into a championship.
Boucher and the RedHawks converted a 4th-and-20 on what proved to be the winning drive, and Miami came back to post a 26-21 victory over No. 23 Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference final at Ford Field in Detroit.
A backup only weeks ago, Boucher threw for 333 yards and a touchdown to help the RedHawks cap one of college football's biggest turnarounds this season.
Miami (9-4) had suffered four straight losing seasons, including 2-10 in 2008 and 1-11 last season.
After an incompletion, a sack and another incompletion, Miami faced 4th-and-20 from its own 38. Boucher’s pass was nearly intercepted, but instead was tipped into the air back to Chris Givens for a 31-yard gain and a first down at the Huskies’ 31.
Boucher was sacked on the next play, but caught Northern Illinois in a blitz on second down and found Armand Robinson all alone for a 33-yard touchdown with 39 seconds to go.
Northern Illinois, which was back in the title game for the first time since 2005, managed to drive to the Miami 32, but the game ended when quarterback Chandler Harnish was dragged down without getting off a final pass.
Harnish threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns for the Huskies (10-3).
Dec 3, 2010
Austin Boucher and Miami (Ohio) caught a break, and turned it into a championship.
Boucher and the RedHawks converted a 4th-and-20 on what proved to be the winning drive, and Miami came back to post a 26-21 victory over No. 23 Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference final at Ford Field in Detroit.
A backup only weeks ago, Boucher threw for 333 yards and a touchdown to help the RedHawks cap one of college football's biggest turnarounds this season.
Miami (9-4) had suffered four straight losing seasons, including 2-10 in 2008 and 1-11 last season.
After an incompletion, a sack and another incompletion, Miami faced 4th-and-20 from its own 38. Boucher’s pass was nearly intercepted, but instead was tipped into the air back to Chris Givens for a 31-yard gain and a first down at the Huskies’ 31.
Boucher was sacked on the next play, but caught Northern Illinois in a blitz on second down and found Armand Robinson all alone for a 33-yard touchdown with 39 seconds to go.
Northern Illinois, which was back in the title game for the first time since 2005, managed to drive to the Miami 32, but the game ended when quarterback Chandler Harnish was dragged down without getting off a final pass.
Harnish threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns for the Huskies (10-3).
