Bouagnon sets career-high with 5 TDs, Northern Illinois wins

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Joel Bouagnon set a career-high with five rushing touchdowns and Northern Illinois beat Bowling Green 45-20 on Tuesday night in a rematch of the last three Mid-American Conference championship games.

Northern Illinois (3-6, 3-2) took a 7-0 lead on its first possession after Bouagnon scored on a 14-yard run. He added a short scoring run on the Huskies' second drive and Christian Hagan kicked a 41-yard field goal early in the second quarter for a 17-7 lead.

Northern Illinois safety Jackson Abresch intercepted a pass on a Bowling Green fake punt and Bouagnon capped a 24-yard drive with a 2-yard TD to make it 31-13. Bouagnon also had a 15-yard touchdown late in the third and a 6-yarder with 1:40 left.

Bouagnon carried it 26 times for 134 yards and Anthony Maddie added 93 yards and one touchdown for Northern Illinois, which gained 286 yards on the ground.

James Morgan threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns, including Teo Redding's one-handed catch in the end zone, for Bowling Green (1-8, 0-5).