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Western Michigan at Northern Illinois

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Western Michigan beat Northern Illinois 42–⁠21. It was their 46th meeting; after it, Western Michigan led the series 26–⁠20.

AwayWestern Michigan8–⁠5 in 2021
42
HomeNorthern Illinois9–⁠5 in 2021
21

Final at Huskie Stadium, DeKalbTV: ESPNUAttendance 7,156

At kickoff
35°F, clear, wind 15 mph from the southWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airport (KDKB), 6 km from the stadium
Official
Jeremy ValentineGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Western Michigan7217742
Northern Illinois0701421

Standouts

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Western Michigan

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Kaleb Eleby21/2633850
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Sean Tyler17115123
Mareyohn Hrabowski1077025
La’Darius Jefferson1070026
Jaxson Kincaide943017
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Skyy Moore12206450
Jaylen Hall463038
Corey Crooms363036
Brett Borske2615
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
A.J. Thomas8100
Ali Fayad4110
Zaire Barnes4000
Ryan Selig3110
Therran Coleman30.500

Northern Illinois

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Ethan Hampton4/102300
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Jevyon Ducker13104047
Clint Ratkovich497196
Antario Brown577244
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Miles Joiner114014
Tristen Tewes1909
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
C.J. Brown14000
Javaughn Byrd10000
Jashon Prophete9000
Daveren Rayner7000
Michael Kennedy5210
Devonte O’Malley2110

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

Western MichiganNorthern Illinois
636Total yards291
338Passing yards23
298Rushing yards268
13.0Yards per pass2.3
6.0Yards per rush9.9
29First downs9
9–⁠14Third downs0–⁠7
1–⁠3Fourth downs0–⁠0
1Turnovers2
5–⁠30Penalties2–⁠20
41:58Possession18:02
2Sacks (by defense)2

Efficiency

Western MichiganNorthern Illinois
55%Success rate32%
0.47EPA per play0.38
1.31Explosiveness2.09
0.17Rushing EPA0.74
0.97Passing EPA−0.37
42%Passing-down success13%
0.43First-down EPA0.72
0.16Second-down EPA0.20
1.43Third-down EPA−0.10
35%Havoc by its defense11%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Northern Illinois 56% to win. Western Michigan won as Elo’s underdog.

The line

Western Michigan −7, over/under 58.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Western Michigan 68%, Northern Illinois 32%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

Northern Illinois end zoneWestern Michigan end zoneQ1 Northern IllinoisFumble, 4 playsQ1 Western MichiganTouchdown, 11 playsQ1 Northern IllinoisPunt, 5 playsQ1 Western MichiganPunt, 3 playsQ1 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 playsQ1 Western MichiganPunt, 10 playsQ2 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 1 playQ2 Western MichiganTouchdown, 3 playsQ2 Western MichiganTouchdown, 3 playsQ2 Northern IllinoisPunt, 5 playsQ2 Western MichiganTouchdown, 9 playsQ2 Northern IllinoisEnd of half, 2 playsQ3 Western MichiganTurnover on downs, 6 playsQ3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 playsQ3 Western MichiganTurnover on downs, 8 playsQ3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 playsQ3 Western MichiganTouchdown, 8 playsQ3 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 2 playsQ4 Northern IllinoisMissed FG, 6 playsQ4 Western MichiganTouchdown, 4 playsQ4 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 4 playsQ4 Western MichiganEnd of game, 11 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Northern Illinois drives left to right, Western Michigan right to left.
  1. Q1 Northern IllinoisFumble, 4 plays, 44 yards
  2. Q1 Western MichiganTouchdown, 11 plays, 72 yards
  3. Q1 Northern IllinoisPunt, 5 plays, 17 yards
  4. Q1 Western MichiganPunt, 3 plays, −4 yards
  5. Q1 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 plays, −1 yard
  6. Q1 Western MichiganPunt, 10 plays, 63 yards
  7. Q2 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 1 play, 96 yards
  8. Q2 Western MichiganTouchdown, 3 plays, 84 yards
  9. Q2 Western MichiganTouchdown, 3 plays, 36 yards
  10. Q2 Northern IllinoisPunt, 5 plays, 7 yards
  11. Q2 Western MichiganTouchdown, 9 plays, 79 yards
  12. Q2 Northern IllinoisEnd of half, 2 plays, 4 yards
  13. Q3 Western MichiganTurnover on downs, 6 plays, 38 yards
  14. Q3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  15. Q3 Western MichiganTurnover on downs, 8 plays, 60 yards
  16. Q3 Northern IllinoisPunt, 3 plays, −9 yards
  17. Q3 Western MichiganTouchdown, 8 plays, 55 yards
  18. Q3 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 2 plays, 45 yards
  19. Q4 Northern IllinoisMissed FG, 6 plays, 10 yards
  20. Q4 Western MichiganTouchdown, 4 plays, 80 yards
  21. Q4 Northern IllinoisTouchdown, 4 plays, 73 yards
  22. Q4 Western MichiganEnd of game, 11 plays, 73 yards

Play by play

1st quarter6 drives, then Western Michigan 7, Northern Illinois 0
Northern Illinois Fumble, 4 plays
14:561st & 10 at own 35Nick Mihalic kickoff for 47 yds , Drew Cassens return for 10 yds to the NoIll 28
14:561st & 10 at own 28Jay Ducker run for 47 yds to the WMich 25 for a 1ST down
14:561st & 10 at opp 25Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
14:562nd & 10 at opp 25Clint Ratkovich run for 1 yd to the WMich 24
13:323rd & 9 at opp 24Ethan Hampton run for 4 yds to the WMich 28
Western Michigan Touchdown, 11 plays
13:321st & 10 at own 28Kaleb Eleby pass incomplete to Skyy Moore
13:322nd & 10 at own 28Sean Tyler run for 3 yds to the WMich 31
13:323rd & 7 at own 31Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 8 yds to the WMich 39 for a 1ST down
13:321st & 10 at own 39Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Jaylen Hall for 16 yds to the NoIll 45 for a 1ST down
13:321st & 10 at opp 45Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 8 yds to the NoIll 37
13:322nd & 2 at opp 37La’Darius Jefferson run for 3 yds to the NoIll 34 for a 1ST down
13:321st & 10 at opp 34Sean Tyler run for 6 yds to the NoIll 28
13:322nd & 4 at opp 28Sean Tyler run for 23 yds to the NoIll 5 for a 1ST down
13:321st & goal at opp 5La’Darius Jefferson run for 1 yd to the NoIll 4
13:322nd & goal at opp 4Sean Tyler run for 3 yds to the NoIll 1
8:323rd & goal at opp 1Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Brett Borske for 1 yd for a TD, (Parker Sampson KICK)Western Michigan 7, Northern Illinois 0
Northern Illinois Punt, 5 plays
8:281st & 10 at own 35Nick Mihalic kickoff for 35 yds , Tristen Tewes return for 5 yds to the NoIll 35
8:281st & 10 at own 35Ethan Hampton run for 9 yds to the NoIll 44
8:282nd & 1 at own 44Jay Ducker run for 9 yds to the WMich 47 for a 1ST down
8:281st & 10 at opp 47Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 4 yds to the NoIll 49
8:282nd & 14 at own 49Ethan Hampton run for 3 yds to the WMich 48
8:283rd & 11 at opp 48Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
6:014th & 11 at opp 48Matt Ference punt for 36 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the WMich 12
Western Michigan Punt, 3 plays
6:011st & 10 at own 12Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Jaylen Hall for 3 yds to the WMich 15
6:012nd & 7 at own 15La’Darius Jefferson run for no gain to the WMich 15
6:013rd & 7 at own 15Kaleb Eleby sacked by Devonte O’Malley for a loss of 7 yards to the WMich 8
3:494th & 14 at own 8Nick Mihalic punt for 57 yds , Trayvon Rudolph returns for 6 yds to the NoIll 41
Northern Illinois Punt, 3 plays
3:491st & 10 at own 41Antario Brown run for 6 yds to the NoIll 35
3:492nd & 16 at own 35Antario Brown run for 3 yds to the NoIll 38
3:493rd & 13 at own 38Clint Ratkovich run for 2 yds to the NoIll 40
2:064th & 11 at own 40Matt Ference punt for 58 yds
Western Michigan Punt, 10 plays
2:061st & 10 at own 2Jaxson Kincaide run for 1 yd to the WMich 3
2:062nd & 9 at own 3Jaxson Kincaide run for 10 yds to the WMich 13 for a 1ST down
2:061st & 10 at own 13Jaxson Kincaide run for 1 yd to the WMich 14
0:002nd & 9 at own 14Sean Tyler run for 3 yds to the WMich 17
Q2 15:003rd & 6 at own 17Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Corey Crooms for 36 yds to the NoIll 47 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 47Sean Tyler run for 8 yds to the NoIll 39
Q2 15:002nd & 2 at opp 39Mareyohn Hrabowski run for 6 yds to the NoIll 33 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 33Sean Tyler run for no gain to the NoIll 33
Q2 15:002nd & 10 at opp 33La’Darius Jefferson run for 2 yds to the NoIll 35
Q2 15:003rd & 12 at opp 35Kaleb Eleby pass incomplete to Jaylen Hall
Q2 11:514th & 12 at opp 35Nick Mihalic punt for 31 yds, fair catch by Trayvon Rudolph at the NoIll 4
2nd quarter6 drives, then Western Michigan 28, Northern Illinois 7
Northern Illinois Touchdown, 1 play
11:361st & 10 at own 4Clint Ratkovich run for 96 yds for a TD, (John Richardson KICK)Tied at 7
Western Michigan Touchdown, 3 plays
11:311st & 10 at own 35John Richardson kickoff for 64 yds , Sean Tyler return for 15 yds to the WMich 16
11:311st & 10 at own 16Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 27 yds to the WMich 43 for a 1ST down
11:311st & 10 at own 43Jaxson Kincaide run for 7 yds to the 50 yard line
10:192nd & 3 at the 50Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 50 yds for a TD, (Parker Sampson KICK)Western Michigan 14, Northern Illinois 7
Western Michigan Touchdown, 3 plays
10:171st & 10 at own 35Nick Mihalic kickoff for 35 yds
10:171st & 10 at opp 36Eleby,Kaleb pass incomplete to Crooms,Corey broken up by Brown,C.J. PENALTY NIU Pass Interference (Brown,C.J.) 15 yards from NIU36 to NIU21, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
10:171st & 10 at opp 21Sean Tyler run for 3 yds to the NoIll 18
10:172nd & 7 at opp 18Sean Tyler run for 12 yds to the NoIll 6 for a 1ST down
8:421st & goal at opp 6Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 6 yds for a TD, (Parker Sampson KICK)Western Michigan 21, Northern Illinois 7
Northern Illinois Punt, 5 plays
8:391st & 10 at own 35Nick Mihalic kickoff for 34 yds
8:391st & 10 at own 31Jay Ducker run for 4 yds to the NoIll 35
8:392nd & 6 at own 35Jay Ducker run for 9 yds to the NoIll 44 for a 1ST down
8:391st & 10 at own 44Clint Ratkovich run for 2 yds to the NoIll 42
8:392nd & 12 at own 42PENALTY NIU False Start 5 yards from NIU42 to NIU37. NO PLAY.
8:392nd & 17 at own 37Jay Ducker run for 1 yd to the NoIll 38
8:393rd & 16 at own 38Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
5:424th & 16 at own 38Matt Ference punt for 46 yds , Bryce Nunnelly returns for 5 yds to the WMich 21
Western Michigan Touchdown, 9 plays
5:421st & 10 at own 21Mareyohn Hrabowski run for 4 yds to the WMich 25
5:422nd & 6 at own 25Mareyohn Hrabowski run for no gain to the WMich 25
4:243rd & 6 at own 25Timeout WESTRN MICHIGAN, clock 04:24
4:243rd & 6 at own 25La’Darius Jefferson run for 26 yds to the NoIll 49 for a 1ST down
4:241st & 10 at opp 49Eleby,Kaleb pass incomplete to Crooms,Corey PENALTY WMU Ineligible Downfield on Pass 5 yards from NIU49 to WMU46. NO PLAY.
4:241st & 15 at own 46Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 6 yds to the NoIll 48
4:242nd & 9 at opp 48Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Corey Crooms for 13 yds to the NoIll 35 for a 1ST down
4:241st & 10 at opp 35Kaleb Eleby pass incomplete to Skyy Moore
4:242nd & 10 at opp 35Jaxson Kincaide run for 1 yd to the NoIll 34
4:243rd & 9 at opp 34Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Brett Borske for 5 yds to the NoIll 29
1:314th & 4 at opp 29Timeout NORTHERNIL, clock 01:31
1:254th & 4 at opp 29Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 29 yds for a TD, (Parker Sampson KICK)Western Michigan 28, Northern Illinois 7
Northern Illinois End of half, 2 plays
1:201st & 10 at own 35Nick Mihalic kickoff for 40 yds , Clint Ratkovich return for 8 yds to the NoIll 33
1:201st & 10 at own 33Jay Ducker run for no gain to the NoIll 33
0:002nd & 10 at own 33Jay Ducker run for 4 yds to the NoIll 37
3rd quarter6 drives, then Western Michigan 35, Northern Illinois 7
Western Michigan Turnover on downs, 6 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35John Richardson kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Sean Tyler run for 7 yds to the WMich 32
15:002nd & 3 at own 32Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 22 yds to the NoIll 46 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 46Sean Tyler run for 3 yds to the NoIll 43
15:002nd & 7 at opp 43Kaleb Eleby pass incomplete to Corey Crooms
15:003rd & 7 at opp 43Sean Tyler run for 5 yds to the NoIll 38
12:264th & 2 at opp 38Sean Tyler run for 1 yd to the NoIll 37
Northern Illinois Punt, 3 plays
12:261st & 10 at own 37Ethan Hampton pass complete to Trayvon Rudolph for 4 yds to the NoIll 41
12:262nd & 6 at own 41Jay Ducker run for 1 yd to the NoIll 42
12:263rd & 5 at own 42Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
11:094th & 5 at own 42Matt Ference punt for 58 yds for a touchback
Western Michigan Turnover on downs, 8 plays
11:091st & 10 at own 20Mareyohn Hrabowski run for 8 yds to the WMich 28
11:092nd & 2 at own 28Mareyohn Hrabowski run for 1 yd to the WMich 29
11:093rd & 1 at own 29Mareyohn Hrabowski run for 25 yds to the NoIll 46 for a 1ST down
11:091st & 10 at opp 46Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 22 yds to the NoIll 24 for a 1ST down
11:091st & 10 at opp 24La’Darius Jefferson run for 3 yds to the NoIll 21
11:092nd & 7 at opp 21Kaleb Eleby sacked by Michael Kennedy for a loss of 5 yards to the NoIll 26
11:093rd & 12 at opp 26Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Jaylen Hall for 6 yds to the NoIll 20
6:134th & 6 at opp 20Kaleb Eleby pass incomplete to Skyy Moore
Northern Illinois Punt, 3 plays
6:131st & 10 at own 20Ethan Hampton sacked by Ryan Selig for a loss of 8 yards to the NoIll 12
6:132nd & 18 at own 12Jay Ducker run for 1 yd to the NoIll 11
6:133rd & 19 at own 11Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
4:344th & 19 at own 11Matt Ference punt for 44 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the WMich 45
Western Michigan Touchdown, 8 plays
4:341st & 10 at own 45Jaxson Kincaide run for 1 yd to the WMich 44
4:342nd & 11 at own 44Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 10 yds to the NoIll 46
4:343rd & 1 at opp 46Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 6 yds to the NoIll 40 for a 1ST down
4:341st & 10 at opp 40Jaxson Kincaide run for 17 yds to the NoIll 23 for a 1ST down
4:341st & 10 at opp 23Sean Tyler run for 10 yds to the NoIll 13 for a 1ST down
4:341st & 10 at opp 13Corey Crooms run for 6 yds to the NoIll 7
4:342nd & 4 at opp 7Sean Tyler run for no gain to the NoIll 7
0:143rd & 4 at opp 7Timeout NORTHERNIL, clock 00:14
0:143rd & 4 at opp 7PENALTY WMU False Start 5 yards from NIU07 to NIU12. NO PLAY.
0:103rd & 9 at opp 12Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Skyy Moore for 12 yds for a TD, (Parker Sampson KICK)Western Michigan 35, Northern Illinois 7
Northern Illinois Touchdown, 2 plays
0:031st & 10 at own 35Nick Mihalic kickoff for 33 yds , Mason Blakemore return for 23 yds to the WMich 45
0:001st & 10 at opp 45Jay Ducker run for 1 yd to the WMich 44
Q4 14:532nd & 9 at opp 44Antario Brown run for 44 yds for a TD, (John Richardson KICK)Western Michigan 35, Northern Illinois 14
4th quarter4 drives, then Western Michigan 42, Northern Illinois 21
Northern Illinois Missed FG, 6 plays
14:521st & 10 at own 35John Richardson kickoff for 41 yds
14:521st & 10 at opp 27Ethan Hampton pass complete to Tristen Tewes for 9 yds to the WMich 18
14:522nd & 1 at opp 18Ethan Hampton pass incomplete to Trayvon Rudolph
14:523rd & 1 at opp 18PENALTY WMU Offside 5 yards from WMU18 to WMU13, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
14:521st & 10 at opp 13Antario Brown run for 5 yds to the WMich 18
14:522nd & 15 at opp 18Ethan Hampton sacked by Ali Fayad for a loss of 10 yards to the WMich 28
14:523rd & 25 at opp 28Jay Ducker run for 11 yds to the WMich 17
12:114th & 14 at opp 17John Richardson 35 yd FG MISSED
Western Michigan Touchdown, 4 plays
12:111st & 10 at own 20Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Jaylen Hall for 38 yds to the NoIll 42 for a 1ST down
12:111st & 10 at opp 42Sean Tyler run for 16 yds to the NoIll 26 for a 1ST down
12:111st & 10 at opp 26Kaleb Eleby pass complete to Corey Crooms for 14 yds to the NoIll 12 for a 1ST down
10:061st & 10 at opp 12Sean Tyler run for 12 yds for a TD, (Parker Sampson KICK)Western Michigan 42, Northern Illinois 14
Northern Illinois Touchdown, 4 plays
10:001st & 10 at own 35Nick Mihalic kickoff for 51 yds , Clint Ratkovich return for 13 yds to the NoIll 27
10:001st & 10 at own 27Ethan Hampton pass complete to Miles Joiner for 14 yds to the NoIll 41 for a 1ST down
10:001st & 10 at own 41Jay Ducker run for 2 yds to the NoIll 43
10:002nd & 8 at own 43Jay Ducker run for 16 yds to the WMich 41 for a 1ST down
8:211st & 10 at opp 41Antario Brown run for 41 yds for a TD, (John Richardson KICK)Western Michigan 42, Northern Illinois 21
8:171st & 10 at own 35John Richardson kickoff for 51 yds , Skyy Moore return for 9 yds to the WMich 44 WESTRN MICHIGAN Penalty, Offensive Holding (10 Yards) to the WMich 13
Western Michigan End of game, 11 plays
8:171st & 10 at own 13La’Darius Jefferson run for 5 yds to the WMich 18
8:172nd & 5 at own 18PENALTY WMU False Start 5 yards from WMU18 to WMU13. NO PLAY.
8:172nd & 10 at own 13La’Darius Jefferson run for 4 yds to the WMich 17
8:173rd & 6 at own 17La’Darius Jefferson run for 10 yds to the WMich 27 for a 1ST down
8:171st & 10 at own 27La’Darius Jefferson run for 20 yds to the WMich 47 for a 1ST down
8:171st & 10 at own 47Mareyohn Hrabowski run for 6 yds to the NoIll 47
8:172nd & 4 at opp 47Jaxson Kincaide run for 3 yds to the NoIll 44
8:173rd & 1 at opp 44Mareyohn Hrabowski run for 17 yds to the NoIll 27 for a 1ST down
8:171st & 10 at opp 27Jaxson Kincaide run for 4 yds to the NoIll 23
8:172nd & 6 at opp 23Mareyohn Hrabowski run for 6 yds to the NoIll 17 for a 1ST down
8:171st & 10 at opp 17Mareyohn Hrabowski run for 4 yds to the NoIll 13
0:002nd & 6 at opp 13run for a loss of 1 yard to the NoIll 14

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Western Michigan–Northern Illinois game

Western Michigan leads 27–⁠23 in 50 meetings, counting the four since this game.

Recent meetings
2025Western Michigan 35, Northern Illinois 19
2024Northern Illinois 42, Western Michigan 28
2023Northern Illinois 24, Western Michigan 0
2022Northern Illinois 24, Western Michigan 21
2021Western Michigan 42, Northern Illinois 21
2020Western Michigan 30, Northern Illinois 27

Around this game

Western Michigan

Northern Illinois