DEKALB, Ill. — Dev’ion Reynolds returned a fourth-quarter kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, and Northern Illinois held on to defeat Holy Cross 19-17 on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.
With the Huskies trailing 10-6, Reynolds’ return gave NIU a lead that Chavon Wright extended to 19-10 with a 2-yard touchdown run with 4 minutes, 15 seconds to play. But Alijah Cason answered with a 97-yard return on the ensuing kickoff for Holy Cross, an FCS team.
Northern Illinois QB Josh Holst finished 12-for-18 for 101 yards and an interception before Jackson Porter replaced him because of an injury. Andrew Glass kicked field goals of 39 and 36 yards in the first half.
Wright picked up 45 yards on his first touch in a Huskies uniform and finished with 77 yards on 11 carries.
Cal Swanson went 17-for-29 for 155 yards with a touchdown — a 16-yard strike to Blake Youngblood at 10:34 of the fourth quarter — and an interception for Holy Cross. Luis Palenzuela kicked a 33-yard field goal but missed a 41-yard attempt in the third.