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Rucker-Furlow’s pick-6 lifts Miami (Ohio) past NIU 13-6
DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Ja'don Rucker-Furlow's pick-6 helped Miami (Ohio) beat Northern Illinois 13-7 on Wednesday night.
Northern Illinois (7-4, 6-1 Mid-American Conference) had its six-game win streak snapped while Miami (5-6, 5-2) has won consecutive games after losing five in a row. It was also the second straight game where the defense came up big for the RedHawks. A fourth-quarter safety helped Miami beat Ohio, 30-28, on Nov. 7.
Northern Illinois leads the MAC West Division by two games with one game remaining at Western Michigan on November 20.
Rucker-Furlow stepped in front of wide receiver Spencer Tears at the Northern Illinois 28-yard line and intercepted a Marcus Childers pass. Rucker-Furlow then ran untouched along the sideline and into the endzone to cap the scoring with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter.
The Huskies crossed into Miami territory just once more but they turned the ball over on downs at the 46 with six minutes left in the third. Childers led a 10-play drive to the 50 with three minutes remaining in the game yet the drive stalled with an incomplete pass on fourth-and-2.
Tre Harbison ran for 103 yards for Northern Illinois. Marcus Jones' 29-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter gave the Huskies a 7-3 lead.
Samuel Slomankicked field goals from 30 and 39 yards for the RedHawks.
