NIU Football: Dimopoulos breaks career records in loss to UNLV

Northern Illinois failed to capitalize on its best offensive performance of the season, falling to UNLV on Saturday night in Las Vegas. The Huskies, who are 0-8 overall and 0-4 in the Mountain West Conference, trailed 31-24 with nine minutes and thirty-one seconds remaining in the third quarter before the scoring stopped. Neither team added points in the final frame, leaving NIU with its tenth loss of the year.

Junior wide receiver George Dimopoulos provided the most momentum for the visitors. A graduate of Crystal Lake Central, Dimopoulos read the defense and converted an eight-yard slant pass from quarterback Tyger Dickens into a 61-yard touchdown. The play was the longest gain of the season for the Huskies. Dimopoulos finished with seven receptions for 127 yards, new career highs for the receiver. It was also his first career touchdown catch.

"I knew it was going to be a big play pre-snap," Dimopoulos said. "I took my slant angle over a little higher. I saw the safety, he was a little further to the other side of the field. I knew if it wasn’t a touchdown, it was going to be a pretty large gain."

Prior to Saturday, Dimopoulos had four career catches against Ohio and 51 yards against Georgia State. The Huskies entered the game ranked in the bottom ten in total offense, averaging 301.7 yards per game, and in rushing offense, averaging 100.1 yards per game. They finished with season-best totals of 493 total yards and 240 rushing yards. The defense allowed 473 yards, which is above its season average, but it held the Rebels scoreless after their first possession in the second half.

Interim head coach Rob Harley noted that the team showed flashes of coordination throughout the year, but Saturday represented a step forward in execution. "This was born in practice. This was born from the last eight months of trying to come together and play together," Harley said. "We learn from it, and we move to Race 9."

The game came down to two scoring chances in the fourth quarter. Early in the period, NIU drove to the UNLV 13-yard line. Dickens threw an interception while attempting to find DeAree Rogers, the team's leading receiver. The defense then forced two consecutive three-and-outs by the Rebels. NIU converted a fourth-and-nine at the UNLV 26 on a scramble by Dickens, but lineman Chevy Trask was penalized for holding.

Following the penalty, Harley sent kicker JJ Schlenhardt out for a 54-yard field goal attempt with 2:06 remaining. Schlenhardt missed the kick, ending the Huskies' best chance to win a Mountain West game this season. The team had led as much as 17-10 in the second quarter after a Schlenhardt field goal, their first lead in a conference game this year.

The Huskies remain the only winless team in the Football Bowl Subdivision. They return to practice this week to prepare for their next matchup in the conference schedule.