University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
0-10 , 0-6
Northern Illinois
3-7 , 2-4
Massachusetts Football Drops Wednesday Night Matchup To Northern Illinois
November 12, 2025 | Football
Zeraun Daniel had a team-best 14 tackles.
AMHERST, Mass. – Northern Illinois was able to rely heavily on its run game on the way to a 45-3 win over Massachusetts on Wednesday night at McGuirk Alumni Stadium (6,155).
Jalen Macon led the Huskies with 98 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while passing for another and registering 73 yards in the air.
Defensively for the Minutemen, Zeraun Daniel recorded 14 tackles, as Donovan Dyson and Tyler Martin logged nine apiece, Dyson with 1.5 TFLs.
How It Happened
Northern Illinois blocked a UMass punt to start its first drive of the game at the UMass 25-yard line, but the Minutemen defense held the Huskies to a field goal. The Huskies then went up 10 following a 13-yard touchdown run by Jalen Macon at 4:53 of the first quarter.
The Minutemen opened the second quarter with a fourth-and-two lay from the NIU 21, but AJ Hairston just missed Jax Markovich to keep the drive alive and the Huskies were able to convert the turnover on downs to a touchdown drive going the other way, pulling ahead 17-0.
Derek Morris attempted a 49-yard field goal at 8:22 of the second, but his kick went wide right. NIU marched down the field from its own 32 and ended an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a one-yard rush by Chavon Wright to extend the lead, 24-0.
After a fumble sack, recovered by the Huskies, NIU had back-to-back rushes, which included a one-yard quarterback keeper from Jalen Marcon to add to its total.
Northern Illinois started off the third with back-to-back scoring drives to extend its lead. A 36-yard QB keep by Marcon made it a 38-0 contest, before a 31-yard reception for Gary Givens III put the Huskies ahead 45-0.
On its first drive of the fourth quarter, UMass made it a 45-3 game as Morris connected on a 44-yard field goal.
Notes
- Rocko Griffin, Jacquon Gibson, Jovoni Borbon and Keegan Andrews served as the UMass game captains.
- The Minutemen hosted a home, midweek MACtion game for the first time since a 24-10 win over Ball State on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014.
- AJ Hairston had a career-long 23-yard rush late in the second quarter
- Zeraun Daniel posted a career-high 14 tackles.
Next Up
Massachusetts hits the road on a six-day turnaround to play a #MACtion game against Ohio University at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18 (CBS Sports Network).
Team Stats
NIU 3, UMA 0
NIU - Glass,Andrew 37 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 01:36
NIU 10, UMA 0
NIU - Macon,Jalen 13 yd run (Glass,Andrew kick), 11 plays, 66 yards, TOP 05:06
NIU 17, UMA 0
NIU - Porter,Elijah 67 yd pass from Macon,Jalen (Glass,Andrew kick) 6 plays, 79 yards, TOP 03:14
NIU 24, UMA 0
NIU - Wright,Chavon 1 yd run (Glass,Andrew kick), 11 plays, 68 yards, TOP 05:53
NIU 31, UMA 0
NIU - Macon,Jalen 1 yd run (Glass,Andrew kick), 2 plays, 13 yards, TOP 00:40
NIU 38, UMA 0
NIU - Macon,Jalen 36 yd run (Glass,Andrew kick), 6 plays, 73 yards, TOP 02:51
NIU 45, UMA 0
NIU - Givens III,Gary 31 yd pass from Davidson,Brady (Glass,Andrew kick) 2 plays, 52 yards, TOP 00:23
NIU 45, UMA 3
UMA - Morris,Derek 44 yd field goal 12 plays, 73 yards, TOP 04:40
