THE FACTS
WHAT: Buffalo Bulls (1-5, 0-2 MAC) at NIU Huskies (1-6, 1-2 MAC)
WHERE: DeKalb, Illinois | Huskie Stadium | 23,595
WHEN: Saturday, October 22, 2016  | 2:30 p.m. (CT)
WATCH:  ESPN3 | WatchESPN 
LISTEN: Radio: AM 560 WIND (Chicago)  |  WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb)  |  Sportsfan 1330 AM (Rockford)   |  TuneIn
 
HUSKIE BITES

• The NIU Huskies welcome MAC East foe Buffalo to Huskie Stadium Saturday for the 110th Homecoming contest in school history.
• After playing four of its first six games of 2016 on the road, the Buffalo game is the second in a four-game homestand as the Huskies look to break a four-game home losing streak.
• NIU is coming off its second triple overtime loss of the season as the Huskies dropped a 34-28 decision to Central Michigan at home last Saturday after opening 2016 with a 40-34 loss at Wyoming. NIU last played two overtime games in a season in 2003.
• The Huskies have won 17 of their last 18 games versus teams from the MAC East, including a 4-0 mark versus Buffalo; NIU leads the all-time series with the Bulls 9-1. 
• Senior wide receiver Aregeros Turner recorded his second two-touchdown game of the year versus CMU with an 11-yard touchdown catch and an amazing 53-yard TD run. Both scores tied the game in the second half.  He also had a rushing and a receiving score at USF.
• The six teams to defeat NIU in 2016 have a combined record of 32-7 entering this weekend's games, while all seven opponents have combined for a 36-10 mark to date. 
• Huskie senior WR Kenny Golladay continues to lead the MAC and rank among the top 15 players in the FBS in receiving yards (12th) and catches per game (14th). His 103.6 receiving yards/game are 14th in the country and second in the MAC.
• Indiana ('93) graduate Rod Carey is in his fourth season as NIU head coach; he ranks sixth all-time at the school in wins with 32.     
• NIU ranks tied for 11th nationally among FBS programs in Graduation Success Rate and is tied for third among public FBS institutions.

 

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HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
2015 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 8-6/6-2/T1st West
Head Coach: Rod Carey
Record at NIU/Years: 32-18/4th
Career Record/Years: 32-18/4th
Alma Mater/Year: Indiana/1993
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
All-Time Record: 567-482-51
Consecutive Bowl Appearances: 8
Last Bowl Game: 2015 SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 7, 2015
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 51/16
Starters Returning: 16 (6 off., 6 def., 4 spec.)
Starters Lost: 10 (5 offense, 5 defense, 0 specialist)
 

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NIU FACTS
Location: DeKalb, Illinois
Founded: 1895
Enrollment: 19,015
Affiliation: NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision
Conference: Mid-American (West Division)
Colors: Cardinal and Black
Stadium: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
    Surface/Capacity:  FieldTurf /23,595
President: Dr. Douglas D. Baker
Assoc. VP/Athletic Director: Sean T. Frazier
    Alma Mater, Year: Alabama '92
Ticket Information:  815-753-PACK (7225)
 
NIU 2016 Schedule
 

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BULLS' FACTS
2015 Record: 5-7
Mid-American Conference Record/Finish: 3-5/Fourth
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Lance Leipold (Wisconsin-Whitewater/1997)
Record at Buffalo/Years: 6-12/2nd
Career Record/Years: 115-19/10th
Location: Buffalo, N.Y.
Enrollment: 29,850
Conference: Mid-American, East Division
Colors: Blue & White
Stadium: UB Stadium   
      Surface/Capacity: A-Turf Titan/29,013
President: Satish K. Tripathi
Athletic Director:  Allen Greene
Athletics Website: ubbulls.com
Twitter: @UBFootball
Ticket Information: 1-877-UB-THERE
 
UB 2016 Schedule
   
NIU-BUFFALO SERIES HISTORY
Overall...................................................................... NIU leads 9-1
In Buffalo.................................................................. NIU leads 4-0
In DeKalb.................................................................. NIU leads 5-1
In MAC Games......................................................... NIU leads 5-0
Streak................................................................................... NIU, 9
First Meeting ................................. Nov. 9, 1968; UB 20, NIU 7 (H)
Last Meeting............................... Nov. 11, 2015 NIU 41, UB 30 (A)
   
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
 
TV: NIU-BUFFALO ON ESPN3

• NIU's game versus Buffalo will be streamed live online and available to mobile users on ESPN3.
• Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Al Groh (color analyst) will call the game for ESPN3.
• WatchESPN requires an active subscription from an affiliated provider. For more info, go to www.espn3.com.
• Get the direct link to the game stream on GameDay Central at NIUHuskies.com.

 
RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Network broadcast for the Buffalo game begins at 2 p.m. CT, 30 minutes before kickoff.
• The game will be carried on NIU network affiliates WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb), AM 560 The Answer (Chicago) and Sports Fan 1330 (Rockford).
• Hear the broadcast online via NIU All-Access (subscription), and on mobile devices via TuneIn. Download the app free and find the NIU Huskies channel.
• Bill Baker is in his 37th season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo joins him for the 31st season, while Andy Garcia is in his fourth season on the sidelines.

 
INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Airs LIVE Mondays (except Oct. 31, Nov. 14) from 7-8 p.m. CT with host Bill Baker, football head coach Rod Carey, two Huskie players and other head coaches and administrators each week.
• The hour-long show can be heard on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb and SportsFan 1330 AM in Rockford.
• Listen online via NIUTube and on the TuneIn app.
• Fans are invited to attend the show at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy)

 
NIU WEEKLY RADIO SHOW

• Airs Friday at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer, Saturday at 8 a.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb and on Sports Fan 1330 in Rockford.
• Also hear it on NIUTube (subscription).
• Hosts are Andy Garcia and NIU Associate Vice-President/Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier.
• The 30-minute show features interviews with football head coach Rod Carey, as well as other NIU head coaches and administrators.

 
HUSKIE ALL-ACCESS

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features, Huskie Olympic sports and special events.
• Hear all NIU live radio broadcasts, including football and basketball games and NIU radio shows.
• Purchase a daily, monthly or annual subscription.
• Go to NIUHuskies.com for rates and information.

 
GETTING SOCIAL

• Twitter: @NIUAthletics, @NIUScores, @NIU_Football
• Facebook: NIU Huskies, NIU Football
• Instagram: niuhuskies, niuhuskiefootball
• YouTube: niuhuskiesdotcom
• See NIU Athletics' social media hub online to see all of the Huskie team and coaching staff accounts.

 

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NIU NEWS & NOTES
 
HUSKIE HOMECOMING HISTORY: NIU plays its 110th Homecoming game Saturday. The Huskies' annual celebration dates back to an alumni football game played Oct. 10, 1903. NIU's Homecoming is the oldest major college alumni gathering in the state and the Huskies have one of the longest celebrated Homecoming traditions in the country. The Huskies are 69-30-10 all time in its Homecoming football games and have won 16 of their last 18 in front of the alums. NIU is 35-14-2 in Homecoming football games in Huskie Stadium.
 
SERIES HISTORY: The Huskies boast a 9-1 record in the all-time series with Buffalo and have won the last nine contests. In the last meeting between the two schools, NIU scored a 41-30 victory at UB Stadium on Nov. 11, 2015. The Huskies are 5-1 versus Buffalo in games played at Huskie Stadium. The only NIU loss was a 20-7 setback in the initial meeting between the two Nov. 9, 1968 in DeKalb. The Huskies last defeated Buffalo at Huskie Stadium, 45-3, on Oct. 13, 2012. NIU outscores the Bulls on average, 40.7-14.3, in games played in DeKalb.
 
WHEN LAST WE MET: The Huskies turned a 28-3 halftime lead into a 41-30 victory over Buffalo at UB Stadium on Nov. 11, 2015. Ryan Graham threw for 190 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-24 passing with one interception in his first career start. Kenny Golladay caught six passes, including two touchdowns, for 141 yards. Joel Bouagnon rushed for a career-high 156 yards on 28 carries and a pair of rushing scores. The Huskie defense intercepted three passes in the game.
 
INFREQUENT FOE: Saturday's game with Buffalo is the 11th meeting all-time between the two schools. They are the fewest meetings for the Huskies versus a MAC foe, just ahead of Akron, which NIU has faced 14 times since 1966. The longest drought in meetings between the Bulls and NIU is 29 years. The Huskies and Buffalo met in 1970 and didn't face each other again until 1999.
 
FREQUENT HOMECOMING OPPONENT: The meeting between the Huskies and Buffalo in NIU's 110th Homecoming game marks the third time the Bulls have been NIU's Homecoming opponent. NIU scored a win over the Bulls in the 2010 Homecoming game, and again in 2012. Illinois State has been the Huskies' most frequent Homecoming opponent (11 times), followed by Southern Illinois (9).  Among current Mid-American Conference team, NIU has faced both Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan in its Homecoming game seven times with Western Michigan and Ball State serving as the Huskies' Homecoming opponent six times each.
 
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: With a 60-17 record since 2003, Northern Illinois' all-time record at Huskie Stadium is 166-102-2 for a .618 winning percentage. Five of those 17 home losses occurred in just one season - 2007. The Huskies have won 35 of their last 40 games at Huskie Stadium, dating back to a 38-3 victory over Western Michigan, Oct. 3, 2009. NIU is looking for its first victory at Huskie Stadium in 2016 and the Huskies' first since a 27-19 win over Western Michigan on Nov. 18, 2015.
 
HUSKIES IN THE MAC: NIU is now 137-96-2 all-time in MAC play with a 101-51 (.664) record in league action since 1997, when NIU rejoined the league. The Huskies, have won 45 of their last 51 conference games dating back to 2010. Western Michigan joined Central Michigan and Ohio are the only league teams to defeat the Huskies in the regular season during that time. The Chippewas defeated NIU in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016 while Ohio scored a win over NIU in the 2015 regular season finale at Huskie Stadium. The Huskies are in their 31st season as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 2016-17, including an initial stint in the league from 1975-85.
 
NIU VS. MAC EAST: NIU has won 17 of its last 18 regular season games over MAC East Division opponents and 22 of 24 since the 2008 season. NIU's last regular season loss to a MAC East foe was on Nov. 24, 2015 when the Huskies fell to Ohio, 26-21 in Huskie Stadium. The Huskies are 4-0 versus Akron, Kent State, Miami, and Buffalo, 2-0 versus Bowling Green and UMass and have one win over Ohio in that time. NIU defeated Temple, 31-17, in 2010 when the Owls were a league member. Miami defeated NIU in the 2010 and Bowling Green won the title over NIU in the  2013 and 2015 MAC Championship games, respectively.
 
HOME FROM THE ROAD: Saturday's game with Buffalo is the second of a four-game homestand for the Huskies. NIU played four of its first six games on the road. Following this weekend's game against Buffalo, NIU enters midweek play Nov. 1. The Huskies play host to Bowling Green in a MAC Championship game rematch, before taking on Toledo Nov. 9 for the Huskie Chi-Town Showdown at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. NIU lost the first game of the homestand, 34-28, in triple overtime to Central Michigan last Saturday.
 
WORKING OVERTIME: The Huskies have played in two overtime games this season, both triple overtime affairs. NIU suffered a 40-34 setback at Wyoming in the season opener and fell to Central Michigan, 34-28, in Huskie Stadium. It is the first time since 2003 the Huskies have played in two overtime games in one season. NIU defeated then-No. 15 Maryland, 20-13, on Aug. 28 and edged out Ohio, 30-23 on Oct. 4 of that season. The two triple overtime games are the longest in NIU history.
 
ALL-TIME IN OVERTIME: NIU's all-time record in overtime games stands at 5-4. The Huskies have posted wins over Wake Forest in 2002, Maryland and Ohio in 2003, Ball State in 2004 and Kent State in the 2012 MAC Championship Game. Two of the four Huskie losses in OT have come at the hands of Central Michigan, both at Huskie Stadium. The Chippewas escaped DeKalb with wins in 2008 and 2016. NIU opened the 2016 season with a triple overtime loss at Wyoming. NIU's all-time overtime games and results: 
 
Date                     Opponent                        Result
Aug. 29, 2002   vs. Wake Forest              W, 42-41
Aug. 28, 2003   vs. Maryland                    W, 20-13
Oct. 4, 2003       vs. Ohio                              W, 30-23
Oct. 30, 2004    at Ball State                      W, 38-31
Sept. 24, 2005  at Akron                             L, 48-42
Nov. 12, 2008   vs. C. Michigan               L, 33-30
Nov. 30, 2012   vs. Kent State                   W, 44-37 (2OT)
Sept. 3, 2016     at Wyoming                     L, 40-34 (3OT)
Oct. 15, 2016    vs. C. Michigan               L, 34-28 (3OT)
 
EERILY FAMILIAR: NIU's triple overtime losses to Wyoming and Central Michigan are eerily similar. In both games, the Huskies lost the toss and began overtime with the ball. NIU also turned the ball over on its first possession, with a fumble at Wyoming and an interception against Central Michigan. Also in both games, the Huskie defense held the opposition to field goal attempts in the first overtime, which both the Cowboys and Chippewas missed wide left. Both Wyoming and CMU scored touchdowns on their second overtime possessions and the Huskies responded in kind. In the third overtime, NIU was held to field goal attempts. Christian Hagan's attempt at Wyoming went wide left, while his kick versus the Chippewas was blocked. Wyoming and Central Michigan then scored a touchdown on their possessions in the third overtime for the win.
 
SECOND HALF STOP: The seven points allowed by the NIU defense in the second half of Saturday's game against Central Michigan were the fewest points allowed by the Huskies in a half this season. The last time the Huskies held a team to seven points or fewer in a half was Nov. 24, 2015, when Ohio scored six second-half points, all in the fourth quarter.
 
PICKING HIS MOMENT: NIU cornerback Shawun Lurry intercepted his first pass of the season and 10th of his career, when he made a leaping catch of a Cooper Rush pass on Central Michigan's first drive of the game. Lurry's first quarter interception of Rush was the second of his career against the Chippewa signal caller. Lurry had an interception in last season's meeting at Central Michigan.
 
SWEET HOME CHICAGO: The NIU football team returns to Chicago this season when NIU plays host to Mid-American Conference rival Toledo, Nov. 9 at Guaranteed Rate Field in the Huskie Chi-Town Showdown. It will be the first college football game ever played at the stadium, which is the home of the Chicago White Sox.
 
LADELL LEADING THE WAY: A week after recording his first quarterback sack of the season in NIU's contest at Western Michigan, defensive end Ladell Fleming tallied two against Central Michigan. Fleming sacked Cooper Rush in the first quarter and again in the second. Both sacks came on third down and forced Chippewas punts. Fleming leads the team with three sacks on the season and has six-and-a-half for his career, the most of any current Huskie.
 
SACK LUNCH: With a season-high five quarterback sacks at Ball State, two at Western Michigan and two more versus Central Michigan, the Huskie defense has increased its sack total to 11 on the season. The five sacks at Ball State were the most for the Huskies since 2014 when NIU recorded five in its 23-15 victory over Northwestern (Sept. 6).
 
HOLD THE LINE: While the Huskie defense recorded two quarterback sacks against Central Michigan, the Huskie offensive line didn't allow a sack of Anthony Maddie the entire game. The last time the Huskie offense didn't allow a quarterback sack was Nov. 18, 2015 versus Western Michigan at Huskie Stadium. However, NIU has given up more than one sack in a game just once this season. The Huskies rank 12th nationally in sacks allowed.
 
FIRST THINGS FIRST: NIU is 1-1 when scoring points in the first quarter, and 0-5 in games when they are shut out in the opening stanza. The Huskies led, 7-3, after the first quarter of a 40-34 setback at Wyoming, and were tied, 10-10, after the first in the 31-24 victory at Ball State. In four of the five losses NIU has suffered when failing to score in the first quarter, the Huskies have trailed 14-0 heading into the second quarter. NIU and Central Michigan were tied, 0-0, after the first 15 minutes of play in the Huskies 34-28 loss to the Chippewas Saturday. NIU opponents outscore the Huskies, 69-17, in the first quarter this season.
 
THREE FOR MADDIE: NIU quarterback Anthony Maddie threw for a career-high three touchdowns against Central Michigan. Christian Blake ripped an interception right out of a CMU defenders hands for a 17-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. He then connected with Aregeros Turner on an 11-yard pass to tie the game in the third quarter, 14-14. Maddie hit tailback Joel Bouagnon on a 13-yard play in the second overtime for his third passing touchdown of the day.
 
THREE FOR THREE: Maddie's career-high three touchdowns against Central Michigan makes him the third Huskie quarterback to accomplish the feat this season. Drew Hare threw for three touchdowns in the season opener at Wyoming (Sept. 3), while Ryan Graham's three-touchdown day, a career-high for him, came against San Diego State (Sept. 17).
 
BOUAGNON GAINING GROUND: With 59 yards on 11 carries at Western Michigan, tailback Joel Bouagnon surpassed Thomas Hammock (1999-2002) for 12th place all-time on NIU's career rushing yards list. The Huskie senior has amassed 2,469 yards on 505 attempts and is NIU's leading rusher in 2016 with 443 yards on 87 carries. He needs 259 yards to pass Stacey Robinson (1989-90) for 11th.
 
JUST FOR KICKS: Kicker Christian Hagan made a season high three field goals – on kicks of 30, 19 and 37 yards – and scored a season-high 12 points in the game at Western Michigan.  Hagan recorded his first three-field goal game since the 2015 Toledo game, when he made four field goals.
 
WEEKLY HARDWARE: Hagan was named MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance at Western Michigan. In addition to going three-for-three on field goal attempts, he was also effective on kickoffs as NIU employed strategic directional kicks to keep WMU return man Darius Phillips contained. Hagan's honor came a week after Sean Folliard earned MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week honors with a career-high 17 tackles at Ball State.
 
POINT MADE: NIU's 17 points scored in the second quarter at Western Michigan are the most points scored in a quarter by the Huskies this season. The previous high of 16 was scored in the fourth quarter in a 28-23 setback to Western Illinois Sept. 24 at Huskie Stadium. The 17 points are the most scored by NIU since the Huskies put up 21 in the second quarter against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 24, 2015.
 
QUITE A RUSH: NIU redshirt senior quarterback Anthony Maddie rushed for 111 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown at Western Michigan to post his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game. He ran for 160 yards at Ball State and has rushed for 100 yards or more in two of his three career starts.  He is the first NIU quarterback to have back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Drew Hare had 180 and 166 yards versus Miami and Eastern Michigan, respectively, in 2014. 
 
DUAL THREAT: Maddie became the first Huskie quarterback to rush for 100 yards and throw for 200 yards in back-to-back games since Jordan Lynch accomplished the feat in 2013. Maddie rushed for a team-high 111 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and passed for 224 yards and a touchdown at Western Michigan. The week before at Ball State, Maddie had a career day, rushing for 160 yards and a TD while throwing for 298 yards and two TDs in the victory over the Cardinals.
 
YOUTH MOVEMENT: While the Huskies boast 18 seniors on its depth chart, nine on offense, six on defense and three specialists, the Huskies have 11 freshmen, including four true freshmen, at either a starting spot or back-up position. Redshirt freshman Trequan Smith started his first career game at safety against CMU, earning the team's defensive player of the week honors, while fellow redshirt freshman Jordan Steckler has started the last three games at right guard. True freshmen Daniel Isom (CB) and Mitchell Brinkman (TE) have started two games each.
 
DEBUTS: Nineteen Huskies have taken the field for the first time for NIU this season, including true freshmen Mitchell Brinkman, Lance Deveaux, Jr., Daniel Isom and Ben LeRoy. Junior college transfer Joe Sanders has made four starts at defensive end, while JC product Damarius Brinson, Jr. has seen action in all seven games for NIU at cornerback. In all, 14 other redshirt freshmen have seen their first collegiate action in 2016 as well.
 
TE SCORING TDs: NIU tight end Shane Wimann scored his fifth receiving touchdown of the season, and ninth of his career, on a 26-yard toss from Anthony Maddie at Western Michigan. Wimann had a two-yard touchdown reception against Western Illinois. He also reached the end zone on fourth-quarter receptions of 14 and seven yards versus San Diego State. The Huskie junior scored his first touchdown of 2016 at Wyoming on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Drew Hare. Wimann's five TDs this year surpasses his previous career high of four set last season and give him nine for his career in 25 total cactches.
 
GOLLADAY STREAKING: Golladay has recorded at least one reception in all 21 games of his Huskie career after making seven catches for 70 yards versus Central Michigan. He recorded a career-high 13 receptions at Ball State, the second 10-catch game of his career. Golladay had one catch for 15 yards against Bowling Green in the MAC Championship game to keep the streak alive. Robert Davis of Georgia State and Corey Davis of Western Michigan lead the nation with a 43-game reception streak.
 
LAW OF AVERAGES: With his seven reception, 70-yard performance versus Central Michigan, Golladay is averaging 88.3 yards receiving a game of his career. His receiving yards per game average is just behind NIU's all-time leader, Dave Petzke, who averaged 89.0 yards a game during his two years as a Huskie. Golladay's 5.8 catches per game also ranks second to Petzke, who averaged 6.7 from 1977-78.
 
CATCHING ON: Golladay has amassed 1,854 yards receiving on 122 receptions in 21 career NIU games. He needs 97 yards to move into 10th on the all-time receiving yards list and 21 catches to move into ninth on the all-time receptions list at NIU. He would be just the second two-year player to make those lists.
 
MOVING ON UP: With a pair of receiving touchdowns at Ball State, Golladay is tied for 10th on NIU's career chart. Justin McCareins (1997-2000) holds the school record with 29. Golladay is tied with Dave Petzke (1977-78) and Nathan Palmer (2008-11) with 16 career touchdown receptions. Golladay's TDs have come in just 21 games compared to 22 and 48 for Petzke and Palmer, respectively
 
REACHING HIGHER: Golladay hauled in a career-high 13 receptions in NIU's win at Ball State, which is tied for fourth-most in a game by an NIU receiver and are the most since Sam Hurd caught 14 passes versus Akron on Sept. 24, 2005. Golladay's 13-catch performance against the Cardinals is the second 10-plus catch day of his career. He snared 10 receptions for 144 yards in the season opener.
 
KENNY G FOR THE TD: With touchdown receptions of 14 and 22 yards at Ball State, Golladay has eight touchdowns on the season (six receiving, two rushing), and is closing in on his 2015 tally of 11 (10 receiving and one rushing). It was Golladay's second two-touchdown performance of the season and fifth of his career. Last year, Golladay didn't score his sixth touchdown of the season until Nov. 11 with a pair of receiving TDs at Buffalo.
 
POWER OF NIU'S "19" DUO: Double numbers are common on college football teams, but rarely do two players star with the same number. All-American cornerback Shawun Lurry and NIU's leading receiver, Kenny Golladay both wear No. 19. Other than playing on opposite sides of the ball, there is another "big" difference between the two. Golladay stands 6-4, 213, while Lurry has a 5-8 180-pound frame. Golladay leads the Huskies in receiving with 725 yards on 49 receptions. Lurry has 29 tackles, an interception and a team-leading six pass break ups.
 
BLAKE BREAKING OUT: Entering the 2016 season opener, NIU wide receiver Christian Blake had eight career receptions for 73 yards. This season, Blake surpassed his two-year totals in both categories in NIU's first two games. He had a career-high 82 yards on four receptions at Wyoming, while his six-catch, 53-yard effort at USF was a single-game best for receptions. After tallying two receptions and 32 yards at WMU, Blake is second on the team in receiving with 341 yards on 26 receptions and made his first career touchdown catch against Central Michigan. He scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard run a week earlier at Western Michigan.
 
TRADING PLACES: Blake became the first Huskie wide receiver to cpmplete a pass since Aregeros Turner connected with quarterback Drew Hare in NIU's 51-41 victory over Miami on Oct. 18. Blake hit quarterback Anthony Maddie on a nine-yard completion at Western Michigan. The pass by Blake, and reception by Maddie were career firsts for both players.
 
FINISHING THE JOB: With its 31-24 win at Ball State, NIU has won 43 straight games when carrying a lead into the fourth quarter. The Huskies took a 24-17 lead into the final quarter of play against the Cardinals. The last NIU loss when leading after three quarters was an 18-17 setback to Iowa at Soldier Field on Sept. 1, 2012. The Huskies led the Hawkeyes, 17-9, after three quarters.
 
FAST WHEN THEY WANT TO BE: NIU has effectively used the big play and the hurry-up offense to put points on the board at times this season. Of the Huskies' 27 scoring drives (not including the untimed overtime touchdowns versus Wyoming and Central Michigan), 11 have lasted two minutes or less. NIU has three drives of 32 seconds or less, and just two of more than 4:30 this year. In terms of plays, every Huskie scoring drive but one has been 10 plays or less with seven of five plays or fewer on the year.
 
NIU TWO MINUTES OR LESS SCORING DRIVES
Game              QTR      PL         YDS           TOP      SCORING PLAY
Wyoming          1st          3             75           1:24       Golladay 34 yd run
Wyoming          4th         10           77           1:59       Wimann 19 yd pass from Hare
USF                  4th         6             20           1:35       Hagan 22 yd field goal
SDSU               3rd         2             54           0:31       Golladay 49 yd pass from Graham
W. Illinois           4th         2             61           0:23       Huff 23 yd run
W. Illinois           4th         5             60           1:16       Golladay 39 pass from Maddie
Ball State          1st          8             59           1:52       Hagan 41 yd field goal
Ball State          1st          4             97           1:13       Maddie 75 yd run
Ball State          4th         6             60           1:03       Golladay 22 yd pass from Maddie
W. Michigan      2nd        5             70           1:28       Blake 2 yd run
C. Michigan       4th        2             61           0:32       Turner 53 yd run
 
QUICK STRIKE: The NIU offense has scored in two plays or less three times this season, most recently against Central Michigan. After an eight-yard pass to D.J. Brown, Aregeros Turner rushed for 53 yards for a Huskie touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Chippewas. The drive consumed 32 seconds. The Huskies' fastest scoring drive of the season in terms of time was a two-play, 61-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter against Western Illinois that took just 21 seconds off the clock. Anthony Maddie connected with Kenny Golladay on a 39-yard pass, before tailback Jordan Huff scored on a 23-yard touchdown run. NIU also had a two-play, 54-yard touchdown drive against San Diego State that consumed 31 seconds and was capped off by a 49-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Graham to Golladay.
 
QUITE THE START: Maddie threw for a career-high 298 yards on 26-of-41 passing, while rushing for a career-best 160 yards on 14 carries as he led NIU to victory over Ball State. He earned Manning Quarterback Award Star of the Week honors for his performance. His 26 completions and 41 pass attempts are also career bests. Maddie missed all of the 2015 season due to a back injury, and spent 2014 as a back up to Drew Hare.
 
SOME STRETCH: No FBS team in the nation has played more football games since 2010 than NIU. With appearances in six straight conference championship games and bowl games, the Huskies have played in 14 football contests in each of the last six seasons for a total of 91 games. Florida State and Alabama have each played in 89 games, while Clemson tallied 88 games played the last seven seasons.
 
TWO FOR 100: With 160 yards rushing in his first career start at Ball State, Maddie recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game and is the first Huskie quarterback to throw and rush for 100 in the same game since Oct. 18, 2014 when Drew Hare rushed for 180 yards on 17 carries and threw for 185 yards on 12-of-16 passing versus Miami (Ohio).
 
TWO FOR 100 PART II: Aurora Christian products Anthony Maddie and Joel Bouagnon became the first two Huskies to rush for 100 yards in the same game this season at Ball State. Maddie gained a career-high 160 yards rushing, including a 75-yard touchdown run, on 14 carries, while Bouagnon totaled 153 yards on 21 rushes against the Cardinals. Bouagnon was part of the last Huskie duo to accomplish the feat when he and Jordan Huff rushed for 138 and 128 yards, respectively, against Eastern Michigan Oct. 24, 2015.
 
QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL: Anthony Maddie became the third Huskie quarterback to start a game this season when he stepped under center at Ball State and now was three starts on the year and in his career. Drew Hare started at Wyoming and at South Florida before going down with an injury in the third quarter of the game against the Bulls. Ryan Graham, who came in for Hare in the third quarter of the South Florida game, started against San Diego State and Western Illinois. The Huskies started three quarterbacks last season when Hare, Graham and Tommy Fiedler each started a game for NIU.
 
NIU's Starting Quarterbacks Since 2007 (Games Started)
2016     Drew Hare (2), Ryan Graham (2), Anthony Maddie (3)
2015     Drew Hare (9), Ryan Graham (4), Tommy Fiedler (1)
2014     Matt McIntosh (2), Drew Hare (12)
2013     Jordan Lynch (14)
2012     Jordan Lynch (14)
2011     Chandler Harnish (14)
2010     DeMarcus Grady (1), Chandler Harnish (13)
2009     Chandler Harnish (9), DeMarcus Grady (4)
2008     Chandler Harnish (9), Dan Nicholson (3), DeMarcus Grady (3)
2007     Dan Nicholson (9), Ryan Morris (3)
 
TWO FOR THREE: Wide receiver Kenny Golladay and tight end Shane Wimann are the only two Huskies to have caught a touchdown pass from each of NIU's starting quarterbacks in 2016. The two Huskies each had a TD reception from Drew Hare at Wyoming in the season opener and from Ryan Graham in his start versus San Diego State. Golladay has two touchdown receptions from Anthony Maddie and Wimann caught his first scoring reception from the Huskie senior at Western Michigan.
 
DEGREES IN HAND: Five Huskies – Ladell Fleming, Clayton Glasper, Drew Hare, Lincoln Howard and Levon Myers – were among the 58 NIU student-athletes to walk across the stage at graduation and receive their degrees in May. Glasper and Howard earned their degrees in kinesiology, Fleming graduated with a degree in organizational & corporate communications, Hare and Myers majored in leadership and management and marketing, respectively. The five are all in postgraduate studies or grad school this fall.
 
MAKING THE GRADE: The NIU football program continues to be as successful in the classroom as it is on the field. The Huskie football program matched its multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 970, a school record, which it set last year.  The multi-year APR for each NCAA Division I team is based on the past four year's totals for eligibility and retention of each scholarship student-athlete. NIU's 970 ranks above the national average of 964 for Football Subdivision schools and is tied for second in the MAC.
 
SENIOR SALUTE: The Huskies' 2016 roster includes 22 seniors, with 18 listed on the depth chart and 11 slated to start against Buffalo. Senior quarterback Anthony Maddie lines up behind an offensive line that features seniors Levon Myers, and Josh Ruka with reserve lineman Ron Brown. Tailback Joel Bouagnon and wide receivers Kenny Golladay, Clayton Glasper, and Aregeros Turner round out the NIU seniors on the offensive side of the ball. Defensive linemen Mario Jones, Corey Thomas, Ladell Fleming and lincoln Howard, linebackers Jamaal Payton and Sean Folliard, and injured cornerback Anthony Brooks comprise the Huskie seniors on the defense. Punter Jake Ambrose, kicker Josh Orne and long snapper Bobby Ramlet provide experience on the special teams.
 
ORANGE YOU GLAD YOU CAME TO NIU: The 22-man 2016 NIU senior class, the largest in Rod Carey's tenure as head coach of the Huskies, boasts 15 redshirt seniors. Of those 15 redshirt seniors, 11 made the trip to South Beach for NIU's appearance in the 2013 Orange Bowl. They are the last remaining Huskie class who had the Orange Bowl experience.