NIU FOOTBALL 2016 – POSTGAME NOTES
Central Michigan at NIU – Oct. 15, 2016
DeKalb, Illinois – Huskie Stadium
 
***NIU forced a season-high three turnovers in the game with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.  Entering the game, NIU's first six opponents had committed just three turnovers (2 INTs, 1 fumble lost).
 
***With today's loss, NIU has dropped three straight games to Central Michigan.  The Chippewas are the only MAC team to beat NIU three times in the last three years.  CMU has handed NIU four of its six MAC regular season losses dating back to 2010.
 
***NIU has lost four straight Huskie Stadium home games, including three games this year and the 2015 home finale (to Ohio). The Huskies' last four-game home losing streak occurred from Nov. 7, 2006 to Oct. 13, 2007, when NIU dropped games to Toledo, Southern Illinois, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.  That streak included a 16-3 loss to Iowa at Soldier Field that was considered an NIU home game.
 
***Aregeros Turner scored a pair of touchdowns, his first since the game at South Florida, on an 11-yard reception in the third quarter and a 53-yard run in the fourth. Turner has four TDs on the season, two rushing and two passing.  The 53-yard run was a career long for the senior.  He had a career-best 80 rushing yards in the game on just four carries.
 
***NIU junior Shawun Lurry collected his first interception of the season on CMU's first drive.  Lurry's 10^th career interception ended the Chippewas' first offensive drive.  Lurry was hurt on the play and did not return.
 
***NIU did not score in the first quarter for the fifth time in seven games this year.  NIU's record in those games is 0-5.
 
***Opponents' have scored first in six of the Huskies seven games this season, including each of the last six.  The only game to date in which the Huskies have scored first was the season opener versus Wyoming.
 
***Senior Ladell Fleming recorded two sacks in the first half and tied his career high.  He finished with three tackles.
 
***Christian Blake's 17-yard touchdown reception was the first of his NIU career.  He scored on a two-yard rush last week at Western Michigan.
 
***Joel Bouagnon scored his first receiving touchdown of the year and the third of his career in overtime.
 
***Redshirt freshman Trequan Smith made his first career start at safety.  Smith recorded a career high six tackles and intercepted the first pass of his NIU career, which he returned 18 yards. 
 
***The game also saw Lincoln Howard at defensive tackle for the first time.  The senior was moved over from offensive line during the week after the injury to Mario Jones.
 
***NIU freshman tight end Mitchell Brinkman recorded the first reception of his NIU career in the fourth quarter.