Ethan Hampton leads Northern Illinois to victory over Central Michigan

In a competitive football matchup in DeKalb, Illinois, Northern Illinois University faced Central Michigan University on Saturday in a regular-season finale that marked the 60th renewal of their historic rivalry. The game saw Northern Illinois take an early lead, scoring 19 points in the first quarter through strong performances from Ethan Hampton, Gavin Williams, and Telly Johnson. Hampton's contributions included both a touchdown run and key passing efforts, as he directed two lengthy touchdown drives to secure a significant advantage early on. Despite being down, Central Michigan attempted to fight back, scoring a touchdown shortly into the second quarter and closing the gap, but the deficit proved too steep to overcome as Northern Illinois' defense held firm. The second half witnessed only a field goal from Northern Illinois, as their defense effectively shut down Central Michigan’s plays, ultimately leading to the Huskies clinching a 24-16 victory. The match concluded with Northern Illinois successfully stopping Central Michigan on a crucial fourth down attempt late in the game, reaffirming their dominance in this annual rivalry, especially as they honored a group of 30 seniors before kickoff. The victory brought Northern Illinois' season record to 7-5 and showcased the Huskies' ability to hold off Central Michigan, whom they had faced a challenging series of games against in recent years.