2021 MAC Championship Game

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2021 Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship Game
Conference Championship
Kent State Golden Flashes Northern Illinois Huskies
(7–5) (8–4)
23 41
Head coach: 
Sean Lewis		 Head coach: 
Thomas Hammock
1234 Total
Kent State 001013 23
Northern Illinois 107717 41
DateDecember 4, 2021
Season2021
StadiumFord Field
LocationDetroit, Michigan
MVPOffense: Jay Ducker (RB, Northern Illinois)
Defense: C. J. Brown (DB, Northern Illinois)
Special Teams: John Richardson (PK, Northern Illinois)
FavoriteKent State by 3.5
RefereeJeremy Valentine[1]
Attendance10,317
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersJason Benetti (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
MAC Championship Game
 < 2020  2022 > 
2021 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Kent State xy   6 – 2     7 – 7  
Miami (OH)   5 – 3     7 – 6  
Ohio   3 – 5     3 – 9  
Bowling Green   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Buffalo   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Akron   1 – 7     2 – 10  
West Division
Northern Illinois xy$   6 – 2     9 – 5  
Central Michigan x   6 – 2     9 – 4  
Toledo   5 – 3     7 – 6  
Ball State   4 – 4     6 – 7  
Eastern Michigan   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Western Michigan   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Championship: Northern Illinois 41, Kent State 23
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

The 2021 MAC Championship Game was a college football game played on December 4, 2021, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was the 25th edition of the MAC Football Championship Game and determined the champion of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) for the 2021 season. The game began at 12:00 p.m. EST and aired on ESPN. The game featured the Northern Illinois Huskies, the Western Division champions, and the Kent State Golden Flashes, the Eastern Division champions. Sponsored by mortgage lending company Quicken Loans through their Rocket Mortgage brand, the game was officially known as the Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship Game.[2]

Teams[edit]

The 2021 MAC Championship Game will feature the Kent State Golden Flashes, champions of the East Division, and the Northern Illinois Huskies, champions of the West Division. This will be the teams' 30th all-time meeting; Northern Illinois enters the game leading the series 21–8.[3] The teams first met in 1949, and have been Mid-American Conference opponents since 1975.[3] The teams last met earlier in the season, with Kent State defeating Northern Illinois 52–47, to break a ten-game losing streak to the Huskies;[4] prior to 2021, the teams last faced off in 2017, with Northern Illinois winning, 24–3.[5]

Kent State[edit]

Main article: 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

Kent State clinched a spot in the championship game following their win over Miami (OH).[6] It marked their first Eastern Division title since 2012; Kent State is looking for their first MAC title since 1972.

Northern Illinois[edit]

Main article: 2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

Northern Illinois clinched a berth in the championship game following their win over Buffalo.[7]

Game summary[edit]

2021 Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship Game
Period 1 2 34Total
Kent State 0 0 101323
Northern Illinois 10 7 71741

at Ford Field • Detroit, Michigan

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP Kent State Northern Illinois
1 9:43 10 41 5:17 Northern Illinois 37-yard field goal by John Richardson 0 3
1 2:09 10 78 4:57 Northern Illinois Clint Ratkovich 2-yard touchdown run, John Richardson kick good 0 10
2 8:33 15 81 7:52 Northern Illinois Rocky Lombardi 1-yard touchdown run, John Richardson kick good 0 17
3 11:38 9 56 3:22 Kent State 41-yard field goal by Andrew Glass 3 17
3 3:55 Northern Illinois Interception returned 26 yards for touchdown by CJ Brown, John Richardson kick good 3 24
3 0:27 9 75 3:28 Kent State Nykeim Johnson 17-yard touchdown reception from Dustin Crum, Andrew Glass kick good 10 24
4 10:54 8 75 4:33 Northern Illinois Rocky Lombardi 5-yard touchdown run, John Richardson kick good 10 31
4 6:55 5 21 2:48 Northern Illinois Rocky Lombardi 2-yard touchdown run, John Richardson kick good 10 38
4 4:16 10 78 2:39 Kent State Collin Schlee 4-yard touchdown run, Andrew Glass kick good 17 38
4 2:01 5 17 2:15 Northern Illinois 30-yard field goal by John Richardson 17 41
4 0:00 10 92 2:01 Kent State Luke Floriea 17-yard touchdown reception from Collin Schlee, kick not attempted, time expired 23 41
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 23 41

Statistics[edit]

Statistics KENT NIU
First downs 24 28
Plays–yards 62–391 76–368
Rushes–yards 36–195 61–266
Passing yards 196 102
Passing: comp–att–int 16–26–2 7–15–1
Time of possession 19:59 40:01
Team Category Player Statistics
Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 11/21, 128 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Xavier Williams 8 carries, 93 yards
Receiving Dante Cephas 7 receptions, 102 yards
Northern Illinois Passing Rocky Lombardi 7/15, 102 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Jay Ducker 29 carries, 146 yards
Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 3 receptions, 50 yards

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Officiating crews for the 2021 college football conference championship games". footballzebras.com. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Rocket Mortgage sponsors MAC championship game to help keep it in Detroit". Detroit News. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "2021 Northern Illinois Football Game Notes - MAC Championship" (PDF). Northern Illinois Huskies Football. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Kent State scores 31 points in 2nd quarter, beats NIU 52-47". CBS Sports. November 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "2021 Northern Illinois Football Media Guide" (PDF). Northern Illinois Huskies Football. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Kent State football beats Miami, advances to MAC Championship game". kentwired.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "NIU Huskies Beat Buffalo, Clinch Mac West Division". chicago.cbslocal.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
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