N. Illinois 27, Akron 10

Published Oct. 31, 2009 9:05 p.m. ET

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Spanns 28-yard touchdown run with 13:35 to play erased a 10-6 deficit. He added a 2-yard scoring run with 7:59 showing as the Huskies (5-3, 3-1 Mid-American) won their second straight.

Nathan Palmer added a 7-yard touchdown run for Northern Illinois with 46 seconds left.

Freshman quarterback Patrick Nicely went 11 of 27 for 124 yards in his collegiate debut as the Zips (1-7, 0-4) lost their sixth straight.

Mike Salerno hit two first-half field goals as the Huskies built a 6-0 advantage.

Akron claimed its lone lead with 5:25 left in the third quarter when running back Alex Allen took a pitch from Nicely and connected with wide receiver Andre Jones on an 80-yard touchdown play for a 7-6 edge.

Jones had six catches for 154 yards. Northern Illinois quarterback DeMarcus Grady rushed for 109 yards on 20 carries and was 10 of 18 for 62 yards.