Football | November 3


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DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University football team begins MACtion play this week, heading on the road to face Toledo on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. on ESPN2 with Jay Alter and Rocky Boiman on the call. The radio pregame show begins at 5:30 p.m. on 94-9 WDKB.

The Huskies got back in the win column last week with a 21-7 victory over Ball State, reclaiming the Bronze Stalk Trophy. NIU had a season-high 305 rushing yards with running backs Telly Johnson Jr. (Augusta, Ga./Hephzibah) and Chavon Wright (Opa Locka, Fla./University of Charleston) combining for 266 yards on 52 carries.

Wright led the way on the ground, toting the ball 37 times for 166 rushing yards. His 37 attempts are the most by an NIU player since 2013. Johnson ripped off another big time play, scoring on a 53-yard touchdown – his third touchdown of at least 50 yards this season – and finished with his second 100-yard rushing game this year.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst (Marengo, Ill./Marengo Community) recorded his first career game with a passing and rushing touchdown, finding junior wide receiver DeAree Rogers (Lexington, S.C./Lenoir-Rhyne) for a 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, the Huskies forced a season-high three turnovers with safeties Jasper Beeler (Farmington, Mich/Saginaw Valley State) and James Finley IV (Portage, Ind./Andrean) both recording interceptions. Redshirt senior linebacker Quinn Urwiler (Mooseheart, Ill./North Dakota) led all players with 14 tackles (nine solo) while Jay’shon Thomas (Cataula, Ga./Harris County) recorded his first two career sacks.

Toledo (4-4, 2-2 MAC) comes into the midweek matchup following a 28-7 loss to Washington State on Saturday, Oct. 25. Quarterback Tucker Gleason is tied for second in the Mid-American Conference in passing touchdowns and has thrown for at least 225 passing yards in each of the last four games. Running back Chip Trayanum leads the conference in rushing yards per game with 100.2 and has seven rushing touchdowns.

The Rockets lead the MAC in both scoring offense and defense as well as total offense and defense. Toledo is only allowing 236.3 yards per game, ranking third in the FBS. Linebacker K’Von Sherman is the team’s leading tackler 56 while safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is second on the team with 50.

Four of the last six games against Toledo have been decided by one score. While the Rockets have won the last three meetings overall, NIU is 5-1 at the Glass Bowl in midweek games.

Next week is the final road game of the year for the Huskies as NIU travels to UMass on Wednesday, Nov. 12 for a 6 p.m. kick.