Nov. 24, 2006

Recap |  Final Stats

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOTBALL 2006
Post-Game Notes
NIU vs. Eastern Michigan
Nov. 24, 2006

***NIU posted its seventh straight winning season, finishing with a 7-5 record. It is the longest streak of winning seasons for NIU since entering the major college ranks in 1969 and the longest current streak in the MAC. Prior to beginning the streak in 2000, Northern Illinois had recorded just seven winning seasons from 1969-1999.

***Northern Illinois' defense recorded its first shutout in 52 games, since the 2002 season when the Huskies shut out Central Michigan 49-0 at home on Oct. 19, 2002. NIU's last ROAD shut out came prior to the Joe Novak era, on Sept. 19, 1992 in a 31-0 win over Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark.

***Garrett Wolfe now owns the NCAA record for career yards per carry (780 carries or more). Wolfe's career average of 6.53 yards per carry (5,136 yards on 787 carries) broke the record of 6.22 ypc set last year by DeAngelo Williams of Memphis. Williams had 6,026 yards on 969 carries during a four-year career from 2002-05.

***Wolfe now has a career rushing average of 160.50 yards per game (5,136 yards in 32 games), which ranks third all-time in NCAA history, behind only Ed Marinaro of Cornell, who averaged 174.6 yards in 27 games from 1969-71 and USC's O.J. Simpson who had 164.4 yards per game in just 19 games. Wolfe's average bettered that of Herschel Walker, who averaged 159.4 yards per game from 1980-82.

***With 5,136 yards in his three-year career, Wolfe now ranks 11th on the NCAA Division I-A career rushing list, just behind two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin of Ohio State (5,177). See the complete Top 15 list in the NIU game notes.

***Wolfe's single season total of 1,900 yards (on 289 carries) ranks third all-time on the MAC single-season rushing list behind only Michael Turner's 1,915 yards in 2002 and Wasean Tait's 1,905 in 1995 for Toledo.

***Garrett Wolfe's single season total of 2,147 all-purpose yards ranks second on the NIU single season list, behind Michael Turner's 2,284 in 2002.

***Dan Nicholson's 20 completions in the first half equaled the NIU season high for completions in a game (by Phil Horvath vs. Ball State). Nicholson finished the game with 24 completions on 37 attempts and 261 yards. His 261 yards tied the season high for NIU (Phil Horvath vs. Ohio) as did his two TD passes.

***WR Britt Davis recorded his third 100-yard receiving day of the season and equaled his career single game and season high for receptions with nine.

***Eastern Michigan's totals of seven first downs, no points and 112 yards of total offense were the lowest of the season by an NIU opponent.

***Freshman WR Marcus Lewis recorded the longest catch of his young career with a 28-yard reception in the third quarter.

***Defensive tackle Craig Rusch has at least one tackle for loss in every game he has played this year (9) and in his last 10 games played overall dating back to last season. Rusch has 12 tackles for loss and five sacks on the season.

***Northern Illinois tailback Garrett Wolfe recorded his 18th rushing touchdown of the season, as well as his 19th touchdown overall in the first quarter with a two-yard run. Wolfe's 18 rushing scores rank tied for fourth on the NIU single season list while his 19 total TDs are tied for third. His 116 points on the season are fourth in school history.

***Defensive end Larry English recorded his 11th sack of the season to take over sole possession of second place on the NIU single-season chart. English needs one sack to tie the NIU single season mark set by Scott Kellar in 1984.

***Junior Chris Nendick has now scored in 36 consecutive games (every game of his career). He made two field goals today and now has 20 on the season which is tied for the second highest total behind only Steve Azar's 21 in 2003. His 26 field goal attempts on the year are tied for the school record for most FG attempts in a season. Nendick has 45 career field goals made and 60 career attempts.

***Northern Illinois has now defeated Eastern Michigan six straight times and won eight of the last nine meetings.

Garrett Wolfe's Career Rushing Stats
Year G/GS No. Yds. Avg. TD Lg Yds/Gm
2004 11/6 256 1,656 6.5 18 84 150.5
2005 9/9 242 1,580 6.5 16 76 175.6
2006 12/12 289 1,900 6.57 18 75 158.33
Career 32/27 787 5,136 6.53 52 84 160.50