Sept. 22, 2007

Final Stats

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MOSCOW, Idaho -- Northern Illinois used big plays on offense, defense and special teams to build a 35-7 first half lead and then hung on to defeat Idaho, 42-35, Saturday at the Kibbie Dome. The victory gave NIU its first win of the season as the Huskies improved to 1-3 on the season. Idaho fell to 1-3.

Despite building a sizable first-half advantage, NIU could not put the Vandals away as Idaho pulled within seven points on a Nathan Enderle to Eddie Williams completion with 1:01 remaining. After Idaho recovered the ensuing on-side kick, Enderle drove the Vandals to the NIU 18. But the battered Northern Illinois defense rose to the challenge, pressuring Enderle into an incompletion, breaking up a pass, forcing the quarterback into a rush for no gain and then ending the game on a sack by Larry English and freshman John Hopkins.

English lived in the Idaho backfield as the junior defensive end collected a school-record five quarterback sacks and made a career-high 12 tackles. He finished the game with 19 career sacks, tied for third on the Huskie career list.

The defensive stand ended a wild game that included three non-offensive scores for the Huskies in the first half - a 95-yard interception return touchdown by Chase Carter, a Matt Simon blocked punt recovered in the end zone by Jeff Fontana for another score, and a fumble recovery in the end zone by English who also forced the Nathan Enderle fumble. Meanwhile, one of Idaho's touchdowns came on a 100-yard punt return touchdown by Shiloh Keo.

After falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter, NIU scored five straight touchdowns to build a 28-point lead. First, Dan Nicholson hit Matt Simon down the right sideline with a 59-yard touchdown pass as Simon slipped one tackle to take it to the end zone.

On Idaho's next possession, the Vandals drove to the Northern Illinois eight-yard line before Carter stepped in front of an Enderle pass at the five-yard line and returned it 95 yards to give NIU a 14-7 lead. It was the Huskies' first interception of the season, its first pickoff returned for a touchdown since the 2004 season, and tied the eighth-longest scoring play in Northern Illinois history.

Northern Illinois put together a six-play, 59-yard drive on its next possession with Justin Anderson contributing 30 of his 167 rushing yards on his longest rush of the day. Nicholson hit Britt Davis from two-yards out for the score and a 21-7 NIU lead.

After an exchange of punts, Northern Illinois stopped Idaho again but this time Simon busted through for the first punt block of his career, with Fontana covering the ball in the end zone for the score. Two Idaho possessions later, English made it 35-7 when he charged through to pressure Enderle into a fumble, which rolled into the end zone. English fell on the ball and NIU led 35-7.

After Keo made it 35-14 at the half, the second half was dominated by Anderson, who gained 94 of his 167 yards and carried the ball 19 times.

Northern Illinois' most critical drive of the half came after Idaho scored on an eight-yard run by Deonte Jackson with 9:57 left in the third. Nicholson then led the Huskies on an eight-play, 93-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard run by Anderson as he scored for the third straight game. That score put Northern Illinois back up by 21 and provided the cushion the Huskies would need in the fourth quarter.

NIU defenders picked off three passes to help preserve the win with second half INTs by Bradley Pruitt and John Tranchitella.