ATLANTA, Ga. – The Northern Illinois University football team had over 400 yards of total offense against the Georgia State Panthers on Saturday afternoon at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium, but the hosts scored 21 unanswered points to come away with a 35-14 win.
“I thought we bounced back really well, especially on offense,” said head coach Rob Harley. “We were moving the ball early and capitalized on some big plays. We sputtered in the second half and it came down to finishing. On defense it came down to tackling late. We have to do a much better job just continuing to coach the discipline to have our eyes in the right spot.”
Junior quarterback Taron Dickens threw for 320 yards and a touchdown, completing 28 of 42 passes. He is the first NIU passer to have over 300 yards in a game since Ethan Hampton had 328 against Western Illinois in the 2024 season opener.
“I think the accuracy is what I love from him,” Harley said. “He’s got a good confidence, which you need at that position to run the offense. We just need to continue to put those guys in great positions.”
Telly Johnson Jr. had 121 yards of total offense, rushing for 85 yards while catching three passes for 26 yards. DeAree Rogers had 109 receiving yards on nine receptions and one touchdown. La’Don Bryant set career-highs with six receptions and 70 yards.
Georgia State (3-1) took advantage of an NIU fumble on the opening kickoff, recovering the loose ball at the NIU four yardline. Two plays later Cameran Brown connected with Avion McBride on a five-yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead 1:00 into the game. The Huskies drove 63 yards on their first possession down to the Georgia State 20. Kicker JJ Schlenhardt attempted a 37-yard field goal but missed it wide left.
NIU (0-4) tied the game with under two minutes to go in the first quarter. The Huskies drove 84 yards on 11 plays, scoring on a Johnson 14-yard run on 4th and one to make the score 7-7. The Panthers responded early in the second quarter as Brown found Rodshaun Dorsey for an 18-yard touchdown pass to give Georgia State a 14-7 lead with 13:55 remaining.
The Huskies responded quickly to tie the game. Dickens went 3-for-3 passing for 64 yards on NIU’s next drive, connecting with Rogers on a 22-yard touchdown pass to put the score at 14-14 with 12:08 left in the first half. On the ensuing kickoff Georgia State’s Isaiah Stone ran 100 yards to put the Panthers back in the lead 21-14. NIU had a chance to tie the game late in the half, driving down to the Georgia State 20 before an incomplete pass on fourth down gave the Panthers the ball back with 2:45 to go. The Huskies forced Georgia State to punt and went to the locker room down by seven.
The two teams traded punts to start the second half. Georgia State took a 28-14 lead at the 6:25 mark when a one-yard touchdown run by Lanear McCrary Jr. capped a nine-play, 69-yard drive. The Huskies drove to midfield on their next drive but were forced to punt. The Panthers went up 35-14 on a 50-yard touchdown pass with 1:25 to play in the quarter. NIU had 169 yards of total offense in the second half but was kept off the scoreboard.
“Obviously you take your hat off to the opponent, they’re going to make some plays at times,” Harley said. “We just can’t continue to beat ourselves against good teams. It’s good teams from here on out starting with Air Force in our next game.”
NIU outgained Georgia State 432-342, but the Panthers were 6-for-12 on third down to the Huskies’ 3-for-13. The Huskies also had the football for 33:12. Brady Kerperin led the NIU defense with 11 tackles, adding 1.5 tackles for loss. Kyon Conyers had six tackles, a tackle for loss and added an interception.
The Huskies are back home at Huskie Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. when NIU hosts Air Force for its first Mountain West conference game. NIU will host the Falcons for the 119th Homecoming.
September 26, 2026
