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PROVO — That wasn't BYU football.
That was the message from BYU coach Kalani Sitake after his team's one-point loss to a Mid-American Conference opponent — and one that held them out of the end zone.
It was a similar message after the Cougars' 45-20 loss to in-state rival Utah State a few weeks ago.
Marcus Childers scored the only touchdown of the game in the third quarter, and Northern Illinois’ defense shut out BYU's offense in a 7-6 win Saturday afternoon at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
"A few weeks back, I talked about playing BYU-style football and being aggressive and letting it rip. That didn't happen today and so that's got to change," Sitake said. "Honestly, when you look at the score 7-6, we've got to get more production from our offense and be more aggressive and establish our identity."
BYU outgained the Huskies 301 yards to 204, but converted points on just two red-zone drives — both field goals by Skyler Southam.
In his second career start, Zach Wilson completed 18-of-30 passes for 208 yards for BYU, including three passes for 63 yards to tight end Matt Bushman. BYU’s run game came up short, with just 38 yards on nine carries from Matt Hadley and 32 yards on 10 carries from Squally Canada.
The Cougars averaged just 2.5 yards per carry on the ground, and failed to convert a touchdown on either of their two red-zone attempts. A team overflowing with youth, including three freshman starters on the offensive line, also produced seven penalties for 52 yards.
"The coaches have the vision. We have the execution," BYU wide receiver Talon Shumway said. "It's up to us to do that, and we didn't do it today."
Sione Takitaki led BYU’s defense with 11 tackles, including a sack with just under two minutes remaining that gave the Cougars a shot at a 67-yard drive to win the game.
But Wilson fired an interception on the first play of the drive, and the Huskies salted away their first non-conference win of the season.
"It was a bad read," Wilson said of the pick that sealed the loss. "I thought the safety was deeper than he was. … My depth perception was off a little bit, and I made a bad play."
Isaiah Kaufusi added seven tackles and two tackles for loss for the Cougars.
Childers completed 9-of-20 passes for 104 yards for NIU (5-3, 4-0 MAC) and also ran for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with a 1-yard scoring plunge with 11:19 left in the third quarter.
The Huskies’ defense — rated among the best in the country in allowing just 23.3 points per game — did the rest. Even without standout defensive end Sutton Smith — who was held in check by right tackle Austin Hoyt, the Huskies forced eight tackles for loss and five sacks.
"First of all, I think we stopped the run and that's our No. 1 goal every week is to stop the run and get to the ball," NIU defensive end Matt Lorbeck said. "I think we did that really well. I don't know exactly what we held them to, but it wasn't a lot."
BYU had 93 yards on the ground — four more than the run-focused Huskies, but 47 fewer than the Cougars' average.
Southam scored the only points of the first quarter, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead with a 35-yard field goal with 3:09 remaining. The Cougars limited the Huskies to just 52 yards of offense and one first down in the opening period of play.
NIU began to find its offensive footing in the second quarter. But the Huskies' best shot at points in the half came off the foot of kicker Andrew Gantz, whose 44-yard field goal attempt with 55 seconds left sailed left of the uprights.
BYU had more offensive yards from scrimmage (142-120), more first downs (8-6), more plays (33-26) and more time of possession (17:38-12:22) in the first half — but led just 3-0.
With one drive in the second half, the Huskies erased the deficit and did all the scoring they would need.
"We've got to be better about coming out of the half, and if they have the ball, we've got to come out and play our game — not let them do what they do," BYU defensive end Corbin Kaufusi said.
"I think everyone played hard," he added. "Guys played hard, but we wish we could have taken the ball away more."
BYU will play at Boise State next Saturday, Nov. 3, at 8:15 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and KSL Newsradio.
Northern Illinois returns to MAC play on Thursday, Nov. 1, at Akron.
"It sucks to lose overall," Takitaki said. "But when it's a nailbiter to the end, 6-7, it hurts more. We know that one play could have changed the game."
