FOURTH QUARTER Northern Illinois 40, Fresno State 17 (final)

BREAKDOWN: Not much changed from the second quarter on as the Huskies completely dominated the majority of the contest. Northern Illinois outscored Fresno State 17-7 in the second half, an area the Bulldogs have struggled with in recent bowl games. By games end, the Huskies had five sacks to the Bulldogs’ zero, out gained Fresno State 504 yards to 362 and handed Pat Hill and the Bulldogs their worst bowl loss in school history.

BIG PLAY: It was actually a short string of plays by the Huskies that put the dagger in the ‘Dogs. It took Northern Illinois just four plays to march 61 yards culminated by Chad Spann’s eight-yard touchdown scamper. The score put the Huskies up 40-10.

INTERESTING STAT: In the last three games the Bulldogs have played on the blue turf in Boise, Idaho, Fresno State has been outscored 152 to 27. It was also the biggest margin of defeat in Fresno State’s 24 bowl game appearances in school history.

THIRD QUARTER Northern Illinois 33, Fresno State 10

BREAKDOWN: Fresno State’s offensive struggles, especially in the run game, continued to struggle for much of the third quarter. Likewise the Huskies had issues of their own, managing just a 51-yard field goal from kicker Michael Cklamovski before All-MAC running back Chad Spann darted in from 18 yards out inside two minutes. The Bulldogs’ best chance at putting points on the board as erased as quarterback Ryan Colburn fumbled inside the Husky 10-yard line with 3:55 left in the quarter. Despite Fresno State’s time of possession advantage through three quarters (26:29 to 18:31) Northern Illinois dominated most major statistical categories and out gained the ‘Dogs 421 yards to 279.

BIG PLAY: Knocking on the Husky door for the first time since the opening series, Fresno State fumbled away a huge opportunity to cut into Northern Illinois’ lead. Trying to escape pressure, Colburn dashed upfield, but had the loosely-held ball swiped from his hands at the Northern Illinois eight-yard line.

INTERESTING STAT: Usually it’s Kevin Goessling knocking through field goals from 50-plus yards, but Husky kicker Michael Cklamovski stole the show. The shaky kicker, who struggled in the regular season, booted the longest field goal in the Humanitarian Bowl’s 13-year history, a 51-yard bomb that gave the Huskies a 26-10 lead.

SECOND QUARTER Northern Illinois 23, Fresno State 10

BREAKDOWN: The Huskies wasted little time showcasing their explosive offense in the second quarter, scoring in just three plays to take their first lead of the game at 13-7. The Huskies also tacked on a field goal and a Chandler Harnish touchdown pass in the quarter. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ offense sputtered in the second quarter, managing just 54 yards before its 44 yards on the final drive of the half. The poor second quarter amounted to just three points off a 45-yard field goal by Kevin Goessling. Goessling missed a 43-yard attempt as time expired in the half.

BIG PLAY: The Huskies entered the game boasting the best running back threat in the Mid-American Conference in Chad Spann. But it was his quarterback Chandler Harnish doing most of the damage as he broke a 28-yard touchdown run early in the quarter.

INTERESTING STAT: Both Northern Illinois and Fresno State came into the contest with sack-masters on defense. As a whole, the Huskies forced 27 sacks compared to the Bulldogs’ 37. But it was Northern Illinois that came to play defensively, getting to Ryan Colburn three times.

FIRST QUARTER Fresno State 7, Northern Illinois 6

BREAKDOWN: Northern Illinois and its powerful offense took the opening kickoff but turned the ball over on downs at the Fresno State 31-yard line as interim head coach Tom Matukewicz elected to test the Bulldog defense early. Fresno State senior quarterback Ryan Colburn then marched the offense 69 yards capped off by Jamel Hamler’s 11-yard touchdown grab for the early 7-0 lead. The Huskies answered back on the ensuing drive when Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish took a draw run seven yards for the score. Northern Illinois missed the extra point, allowing the ‘Dogs to cling to a 7-6 lead. On a side note senior guard Andrew Jackson suited up and started for his final game in a Bulldog uniform after sitting out the majority of the season with nagging ankle injuries.

BIG PLAY: Ryan Colburn turned what looked like a throwaway pass into an 11-yard opening-drive score. Jamel Hamler hauled in the touchdown, his first score since Fresno State’s win over Louisiana Tech on Nov. 6.

INTERESTING STAT: Fresno State’s opening-drive score was just the fifth time the ‘Dogs had done so this season. The Bulldogs posted a 2-2 record in the regular season when they scored on the opening drive of the game.