MidValleySports.Com

Joey DeMartino gets two of his 143-yards to lead Utah State

(San Diego) – Joey DeMartino rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown to lead Utah State to a 21-14 win over Northern Illinois Thursday night in the Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. DeMartino sealed the deal with a one-yard run with 4:14 left in the contest to put the Aggies up 21-7.

***Utah State scored first on a 31 yard field goal by Nick Diaz in the first quarter and increased the lead to 6-0 on a 39 yard boot by Diaz early in the second.

***Northern Illinois finally got on the board with 8:17 left in the half when Jordan Lynch scored on a one-yard keeper to cap a 15-play, 78-yard drive to take a 7-6 lead.

***The Aggies took the lead for good on a five-yard pass from Darrell Garretson to Branbon Swindall early in the third quarter. They used seven plays to go 31 yards after a Lynch interception.

***DeMartino’s 58 yard run in the first quarter set a Poinsettia Bowl record for longest rush from scrimmage.

It was a tough night for Heisman finalist Jordan Lunch

***Garretson was picked off in the end zone late in the third quarter but Northern Illinois was unable to take advantage.

***The Huskies intercepted Garretson again early in the fourth but Matthew Sims missed a 29-yard field goal.

***After DeMartino’s one-yard run Garretson found Bruce Natson for a two point conversion for a 21-7 lead.

***Northern Illinois scored with 1:44 left on a 15-yard pass from Lynch to Juwa Brescacin to cut the lead to 21-14 but they failed to recover the ensuing onside kick and the Aggies ran out the clock.

***Only 23, 408 fans were in attendance.

***Garretson finished 17-28 for 121 yards and a touchdown and the two interceptions.

***Lynch ran for 39 yards and a touchdown and threw for 216 yards and a score and one pick.

***Northern Illinois had 315 total yards compared to 289 for Utah State.

***Northern Illinois dropped to 12-2 on the year losing its last two games. Utah State finished at 9-5.