MAC Championship Game 2018: 3 takeaways from NIU’s comeback win
By Zach Bigalke
3. Marcus Childers was the hero in comeback for Northern Illinois
Marcus Childers, the sophomore quarterback at NIU, posted the lion’s share of the offensive production for the Huskies on Friday night. Without enough support from the backfield or a defense that could get enough stops on the Buffalo offense, Childers was left to slog along on a successful quest to drag Northern Illinois to a MAC championship.
Childers finished 21-of-33 passing for 300 yards and four touchdowns, though he did also throw an interception trying to force a long ball into double coverage in the third quarter. His receivers came up huge, especially Spencer Tears and D.J. Brown. The duo combined for two touchdown catches apiece, with Brown racking up 84 yards on four catches and Tears pulling in a half-dozen receptions for 73 yards.
The quarterback also led the way in rushing for the Huskies, running for 58 yards on 15 carries to end the night with 53 percent of NIU’s total output on the ground. It was an inspired performance by the sophomore, who will get a chance next year to fight for the MAC championship.
Whoever plays Northern Illinois in a bowl game is going to face a tough quarterback who proved his ability in a situation where the Huskies were just barely outscored on the night thanks to Childers.