Oct. 27, 2007
Final Stats
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TOLEDO, Ohio - Toledo scored 21 points in each of the first three quarters and went on to a record-setting 70-21 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio Saturday.
The Rockets (4-5, 2-3 MAC) piled up a Mid-American Conference record 812 yards of total offense, the highest total in the NCAA this season entering the day, to hand NIU its worst defeat since a 73-7 loss to Kansas State on Sept. 12, 1998. It was the most points ever scored against the Huskies in a MAC game. Northern Illinois falls to 1-8 overall, 0-5 in league games.
Toledo scored 42 first-half points as UT quarterback Aaron Opelt completed 16-of-18 passes for four scores and 296 yards in the first half. Nick Moore caught three of the TD passes, two of 33 yards and a 29-yarder.
Ahead 7-0, NIU had the Rockets stopped on their second possession of the game when punter Brett Kern took off and rushed 50 yards to the NIU 9, setting the stage for UT's second score and the beginning of a tough evening for the Huskies.
NIU scored on a 28-yard completion from Dan Nicholson to Britt Davis, who returned after a three-week absence due to injury and caught four passes for 81 yards on the day. It was the Huskies' first touchdown in eight quarters, since the first period of the Western Michigan game Oct. 13.
Northern Illinois turned the ball over three times on two fumbles, one on a kickoff return, and an interception. Toledo fumbled twice, but the Huskies could not capitalize. The Rockets punted only one time on the day.
The Huskies got on the scoreboard twice more as they relied on tailback Justin Anderson during a nine-play, 75-yard drive to start the second half, with Anderson scoring from six yards out to make the score 42-14. The NIU sophomore gained 116 yards on 24 carries in the game to record his sixth 100-yard rushing day of the season.
Northern Illinois scored its final TD with three minutes left in the game as back-up running back David Bryant went in from four yards out after taking NIU to the four with a 38-yard carry.
NIU kicker Chris Nendick etched his name in the Huskie record books as he broke the career record for PATs with three Saturday to reach 152 for his career.
Larry English continued his stellar season with 2.5 tackles for loss and 10 total tackles and Josh Allen led Northern with 15 total stops.
Northern Illinois has its only open date of the season next Saturday before playing host to Kent State Nov. 10 at Huskie Stadium.
-- NIU --
