Kanon Woodill kicked a 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining, and Cade Haberman blocked a 62-yard attempt as time expired to help Northern Illinois defeat No. 5 Notre Dame 16-14 on Saturday.
Haberman’s block of Notre Dame’s Mitch Jeter’s 62-yard kick allowed the excited Huskies to achieve their first nonconference win against a ranked team since upsetting No. 21 Alabama 19-16 in 2003. It was also their first win over a top 10 team.
Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock was emotional after the dramatic win.
“We didn’t need luck,” Hammock said. “That was our theme. I didn’t think we needed luck. We just needed to play our best. It wasn’t the cleanest for us, but we played hard for four quarters and stayed together. They worked together, they believed, and they made enough plays to win the game.”
Hammock noted that his team matched up well against Notre Dame.
“I think we were bigger than what they thought,” Hammock said. “We’re not a normal MAC team, in my opinion. We’re big on the offensive and defensive lines and we’re physical. I didn’t see it as a mismatch in that way.”
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said the loss was disappointing, especially following a strong road win over then-No. 20 Texas A&M.
“You know, it’s our job as coaches to make sure these guys are ready to go. You go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in two weeks, but we’ve got to own this,” Freeman said. “As coaches and players, we’ve got to own it and fix it.”
Notre Dame (1-1) seemed set to pull away from Northern Illinois (2-0) while holding a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter. The Fighting Irish took possession after a punt with 7:49 left and moved from their own 25 to the Northern Illinois 49.
Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard threw a deep pass aimed at Kris Mitchell, but Amariyun Knighten intercepted it and returned it 33 yards to midfield with 5:55 remaining.
“It was a completely bad read,” Leonard said about the interception. “That single high safety was attached to the inside post. I thought he wouldn’t stay attached. Bad eyes, bad feet, bad ball. That resulted in a pick. Can’t happen. Completely my fault.”
The Huskies used the remaining time on the clock and drove to the Notre Dame 19-yard line, setting up Woodill’s game-winning field goal. A crucial moment in the drive was a fourth-and-two conversion by quarterback Ethan Hampton, who ran three yards to the Notre Dame 28.
This first-down conversion by Hampton, who was 10 of 19 for 198 yards and a touchdown, led to Woodill’s successful field goal, his third of the game.
“It’s amazing,” Hampton said about the win. “It’s something I’ll remember forever. I grew up a Huskie fan. Playing here has been a dream for me.”
Notre Dame scored first when Leonard avoided the defense for an 11-yard touchdown run with 8:28 left in the first quarter.
Northern Illinois responded quickly as Antario Brown caught an 83-yard touchdown pass from Hampton, breaking through two defensive backs.
Woodill added field goals of 42 and 21 yards, giving the Huskies a 13-7 lead at halftime. Notre Dame had a chance to close the gap to 13-10 before the half, but Haberman blocked a 48-yard attempt by Jeter.
Woodill missed a 53-yard field goal attempt on Northern Illinois’ first possession of the second half, and Notre Dame capitalized with a 34-yard touchdown run by Jeremiyah Love, who jumped over a defender on his way to the end zone. Mitch Jeter’s extra point gave Notre Dame a 14-13 lead with 8:34 left in the third quarter.
Leonard finished the game 20 of 32 for 163 yards and two interceptions.
