HUSKIE BITES

• NIU heads back on the road to conclude its 2018 non-conference schedule as the Huskies take on the BYU Cougars for the first time in school history.      
• NIU and BYU are both coming off open dates; NIU enters the game on a three-game winning streak while the Cougars' last contest was a 49-23 home win over Hawaii. 
• In 75 games as NIU's head coach, Rod Carey is 48-27 overall for a .640 winning percentage; he is 11-12 in regular season non-conference games, including a school record four wins over Big Ten opponents.       
• Left tackle Max Scharping, a 46-game starter, scored the first two points of his NIU career versus Ohio when he took a lateral pass from Marcus Childers and rumbled into the end zone to record NIU's first successful two-point conversion since 2011. Scharping, a graduate student who will earn his master's degree in December, was named the MAC's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week. 
• NIU is one of just three teams from a "Group of 5" conference to play in nine bowl games in the last 10 seasons.   
• NIU defensive end Sutton Smith forced a fumble while sacking the quarterback for the third time this season when he hit Ohio U. QB Nathan Rourke, forcing a fumble and recovering it to set up the Huskies' go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. The MAC leader in sacks (7) and tackles for loss (13), Smith had 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two fumble recoveries in the game versus the Bobcats to earn his second MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honor.  
• NIU ran for 255 yards on 46 carries in the win over Ohio, giving the Huskies their ninth straight win when rushing for more than 200 yards.
• Marcus Childers' season and career high 169 rushing yards was the fourth 100-yard rushing game by a Huskie this season; he became the third different NIU player to top the 100-yard mark in 2018.

 

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HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
Head Coach: Rod Carey
Record at NIU/Years: 48-27/Sixth
Career Record/Years: 48-27/Sixth
Alma Mater/Year: Indiana/1993
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
All-Time Record: 582-491-51
2017 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 8-5/6-2/T2nd West
Last Bowl Game: 2017 Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 12
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 7, 2015
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 54/28
Starters Returning: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)
Starters Lost: 9 (3 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist)

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

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BYU FACTS
2017 Record: 4-9
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Kalani Sitake (BYU, '00) 
Record at BYU/Years: 17-16/2nd
Career Record/Years: 17-16/2nd
Location: Provo. Utah
Enrollment: 33,517
Conference: Independent
Colors: Blue and White
Stadium: LaVell Edwards     
    Surface/Capacity: Natural Grass/63,470
President: Kevin J Worthen, J.D.
Athletic Director: Tom Holmoe
Athletics Website: byucougars.com
Twitter: @BYUcougars, @BYUfootball, @BYUCougarsPR
Ticket Information: 801-422-2981

BYU Football 2018 Schedule & Results
 

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NIU-BYU SERIES
First Meeting
 

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FOLLOW THE HUSKIES

TV: NIU-BYU on ESPNU

• The NIU-BYU game is the fourth of at least eight NIU games this season to be nationally televised on a broadcast network, the third to air on an ESPN Network, and the second on ESPNU.
• In addition to ESPNU, watch the game on mobile devices via the ESPN App or online (with appropriate provider login) at ESPN.com. 
• The announce crew for the NIU-BYU game is Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Andre Ware (color analyst).

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS RADIO NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network broadcast for the BYU game begins at 2 p.m. CT, 30 minutes prior to kickoff. 
• The game will be carried on NIU network affiliates WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb), AM 560 The Answer (Chicago) and joined in progress on SportsFan Radio AM 1330 (Rockford).
• Hear the broadcast online via NIUTube (subscription), and on mobile devices via TuneIn. Download the app for free and find the NIU Huskies channel. 
• Bill Baker is in his 39th season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo joins him for the 33rd season, while Andy Garcia is in his sixth season on the NIU sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show every Monday at Noon at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy). 
• Listen live with the TuneIn app; hear the show on Mondays at 7 p.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb, 8 p.m. Mondays on 560 AM The Answer in Chicago and Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on SportsFan Radio 1330 AM in Rockford.
• The weekly show features host Bill Baker, NIU Head Coach Rod Carey, Huskie players and special guests. 

"NIU WEEKLY" RADIO SHOW

• The 30-minute show features interviews with football coach Rod Carey, other NIU head coaches and guests. 
• Airs Friday at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer, Saturday at 9 a.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb and on Sports Fan Radio 1330 in Rockford at 6:30 a.m. Also available on-demand on NIUTube (subscription).
• Andy Garcia and NIU Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier host.

NIUTUBE (HUSKIE ALL ACCESS)

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features and Huskie Olympic sports.
• 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, niufootball
• YouTube: NIU Athletics
• See NIU Athletics' social media hub online for all the team and staff accounts.

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NEWS & NOTES

THE MATCH-UP

SERIES HISTORY: This is the first meeting between NIU and BYU, however, it is the second team from the state of Utah the Huskies are facing this season. The Huskies suffered a 17-6 setback to Utah in NIU's home opener in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. 

SOME STRETCH: NIU is in the midst of a stretch of five of six games played away from Huskie Stadium. Following the game at BYU, NIU travels to Akron for a Nov. 1 MACtion date with the Zips. The Huskies are 4-1 during this stretch, with NIU's only loss coming at Florida State on Sept. 22. NIU is 2-2 on the road this season and are looking to extend its current road winning streak to three with a win over BYU.

SCHEDULING CHALLENGES: Entering Saturday's final nonconference game with BYU, the combined record of NIU's nonconference opponents is 21-11. Iowa owns a 6-1 mark and a No. 18 ranking in both the Associated Press Poll and the Coaches Poll. Utah ranks No. 23 in both the AP Poll and No. 24 the Coaches Poll, while Florida State and BYU are 4-3 in 2018.

STEPPING OUT OF THE MAC: Saturday's matchup with BYU is the latest nonconference game for NIU since 2009 when the Huskies closed out the regular season by playing host to Navy on Nov. 25, 2009. The last time NIU's MAC schedule was interrupted with a nonconference game was Nov. 17, 2007 when NIU traveled to Navy ahead of the season finale against Ball State.

COMMON FOE: NIU and BYU have one common foe on their respective 2018 schedules as both teams face Utah. The Huskies fell to Utah, 17-6, in the home opener Sept. 8, while BYU travels to Salt Lake City to face the Utes on Nov. 24 in the Cougars' regular season finale.

GO WEST YOUNG MEN: For the fifth time in the last six years, NIU will travel to the West for a football game when the Huskies travel to Utah to face BYU Saturday. The Huskies posted a 45-35 win at Idaho in 2013 and a 48-34 victory at UNLV in 2014. NIU fell at Wyoming in 2016, 40-36, in triple overtime and dropped a 34-28 decision at San Diego State last season.

STRIPPING AGENT: Sutton Smith's strip sack of Ohio's Nathan Rourke in the fourth quarter was his third of the season and fourth of his career. Smith recorded a strip sacks in the season opener at Iowa (Sept. 1), and at Florida State (Sept. 22) this year,  and a half sack and forced fumble last season at Buffalo (Oct. 14). Smith has six career forced fumbles.

NIU vs. THE POWER FIVE: NIU fell to 15-72 versus teams that were in an autonomous conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC & Pac-12) at the time the Huskies played them following its 37-19 loss at Florida State on Sept. 22. Of those 15 wins, seven have come in the last nine years, beginning with NIU's 28-20 win over Purdue in 2009. The Huskies will face three teams from an autonomous five conference, as well as independent BYU, this year and have played a team from one of those five conferences in 35 of the last 36 years. NIU did not play a team from an autonomous five conference in 2016.

RECAPPING

DOUBLE-DIGIT COMEBACK: The Huskies overcame a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Ohio, 24-21, in NIU's 112th Homecoming game. It was the first double-digit fourth-quarter deficit the Huskies have overcome in a win since Oct. 26, 2017 when NIU rallied from a 14-point Eastern Michigan lead to defeat the Eagles, 30-27, in overtime.

GAINING GROUND: The Huskie offense amassed a season-best 400 yards of total offense in the victory over Ohio, including a season-high 255 rushing yards. It was NIU's first 400-yard performance since Nov. 9, 2017 when the Huskies tallied 433 yards of total offense in a victory over Ball State at Huskie Stadium. NIU recorded six games of 400 yards or more of total offense in 2017 and went 4-2 in those contests.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO: For the third-straight week, NIU had a 100-yard rusher as quarterback Marcus Childers rushed for 169 yards on 23 carries versus Ohio. It was the most yards by a Huskie rusher this season and the most since Jordan Huff rushed for 185 yards versus Western Michigan on Nov. 15, 2017. Huskie tailback Marcus Jones tallied 130 yards on 12 carries in the victory at Ball State a week after Tre Harbison amassed 136 yards at Eastern Michigan. It's the first time since 2016 NIU has had 100-yard rushers in three consecutive games (Sept. 24-Oct. 8).

QUARTERBACK FOR 100: Childers became the first Huskie quarterback to rush for 100 yards in a game since Anthony Maddie gained 125 yards on 15 carries in a 44-7 NIU victory over Buffalo on Oct. 22, 2016. Childers ranks third on the team in rushing with 242 yards on 90 carries.

TACKLING A TWO-POINT CONVERSION: NIU converted its first two-point conversion attempt since Oct. 1, 2011 when left tackle Max Scharping took a lateral pass into the end zone to give NIU a 24-21 lead over Ohio. Scharping's score came in his 46th start for NIU and marked the first time the offensive tackle has handled the football in his college career.

CONFERENCE CALL

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: With its 24-21 victory over Ohio Saturday, NIU improved to 150-99-2 all-time in MAC play and 114-54 (.679) in league action since 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 58-9 and has recorded three undefeated campaigns and two one-loss seasons in league play, winning six-straight division championships during that stretch. The Huskies are in their 33rd season as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 2018-19, including an initial stint in the league from 1975-85.

NIU VS. MAC EAST: NIU has won 24 of its last 25 regular season games over MAC East Division opponents and 29 of 31 since the 2008 season. Ohio is the only MAC East foe to defeat the Huskies during that time, posting wins in 2009 at Ohio, and 2015 in DeKalb. The Bobcat victory on Nov. 24, 2015 was NIU's last regular season loss to a MAC East foe. NIU defeated former league members Temple in 2010 and UMass in 2012 and 2013. The Huskies are 3-3 versus the MAC East in conference title games since 2010, defeating Ohio (2011), Kent State (2012) and Bowling Green (2014), while falling to Miami (2010) and Bowling Green (2013 & 2015).

CAREY KERNELS

HUSKIE HEAD MAN RANKINGS: NIU head coach Rod Carey currently ranks fourth on NIU's all-time coaching list for wins with 48, 16 behind Joe Novak (1996-2007). George "Chick" Evans (1929-54) is NIU's all-time leader with 132 wins. Carey also ranks fourth in games coached with 75. 

MOVING UP IN THE MAC: With NIU's win over Ohio, Huskie head coach Rod Carey won his 48th game as head coach and cracked the Mid-American Conference's Top 20 list for overall wins. Carey is tied at 20th with Terry Hoeppner (Miami, 1999-2004) and Frank Lauterbur (Toledo, 1963-70). Carey's career winning percentage of .640 currently ranks 14th in MAC history, and he needs to get to .658 to move into the top 10.

HUSKIE HEADLINERS

OPEN DATE SUCCESS: NIU is 2-1 under Rod Carey following an open date. The Huskies fell to San Diego State, 34-28, on Sept. 30, 2017 following their last open date. NIU defeated Kent State, 17-14, on Oct. 4, 2014, following after an off week and scored a 45-35 win at Idaho (Sept. 14) two weeks after defeating Iowa in 2013. The Huskies are facing BYU after having last week off.

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: NIU won its fourth game this season in games decided by eight points or less following its three-point victory over Ohio. The Huskies are tied with Notre Dame and San Diego State with a nation's best 4-0 in such games. NIU defeated both Central Michigan (Sept. 15) and Ball State (Oct. 6) by identical scores of 24-16, and posted a 26-23 win over Eastern Michigan (Sept. 29) in overtime. The Huskies are 17-11 in games decided by eight points or less since 2013. 

FINISHING STRONG: NIU produced its best fourth quarter of the season on both sides of the ball against Ohio, scoring a season-high 15 points in the quarter while tallying 148 yards of total offense, including 105 rushing yards. The Huskie defense shutout the Bobcats in the quarter and held Ohio to 27 yards of total offense. NIU's previous season-high in points scored in the fourth was seven at Iowa, while the Huskies recorded 77 yards in the fourth quarter at Florida State. Ohio is the first opponent NIU has shut out in the fourth quarter this season.

MAX SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Senior offensive tackle Max Scharping was named MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week following his performance in NIU's victory over Ohio. Scharping, who is scheduled to graduate in December with his master's degree in exercise physiology and fitness leadership, took a lateral into the end zone on a two-point conversion and led the Huskies top offensive production day of the season. He is the first Huskie, male or female, to earn the MAC's weekly academic award this year and the first football player since Jackson Abresch, a year ago. 

HUSKIE HONOREES: Defensive end Sutton Smith earned his second Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honor of the season and fifth of his career following his performance against Ohio. Smith, who earlier was named MAC West Defensive POTW following his game against Utah, tallied five tackles, two-and-half for loss, two sacks, including a strip sack, and recovered two fumbles, while forcing another in NIU's win last week. Antonio Jones-Davis earned the same honor from the MAC following his performance in NIU's win at Eastern Michigan (Sept. 29).

SACK LUNCH: The Huskie defense recorded four sacks against Ohio, giving NIU 22 on the season. Through seven games last season, the NIU defense totaled 23 sacks. Jack Heflin became the 10th different Huskie to record a sack when he tallied his first career sack in the win over the Bobcats. Sutton Smith leads the way with seven this season. The Huskies lead the MAC and rank 18th in the nation in quarterback sacks, averaging 3.14 sacks a game.

WORKING OVERTIME: The Huskies improved to 8-4 in overtime games with their triple overtime win at Eastern Michigan. It was the third consecutive overtime game between the Huskies and Eagles, all NIU victories. The Huskies defeated EMU, 31-24, in Ypsilanti in 2016 and 30-27 at Huskie Stadium last season. This year's game was the first triple overtime contest for NIU since a 34-28 loss to Central Michigan Oct. 15, 2016.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Huskie linebackers Antonio Jones-Davis and Kyle Pugh combined for 26 tackles in NIU's win at Ball State on Oct. 6. Jones-Davis tied his career best with 16 tackles, including 12 solo stops and a sack, while Pugh tallied a season-high 10 tackles. It was the third career double-digit tackle performance for Jones-Davis, all coming this season, and the most since he made 16 tackles against Central Michigan (Sept. 15). It was Pugh's third double-digit tackle game of his career and first of the season. He made a career-best 17 stops against Boston College (Sept. 1) and 11 at Nebraska (Sept. 16) last season. 

A HUSKIE DOZEN: The 12 solo stops by Jones-Davis at Ball State are the most by a Huskie since linebacker Boomer Mays made 12 against Western Michigan Nov. 18, 2015 at Huskie Stadium. Mays finished the game with 15 stops. 

NINE TIMES: After EMU scored on its first two possessions of the game (including a field goal after starting a drive at the NIU 28 off an interception), the Huskie defense held EMU without a first down on its next NINE possessions and on 10 of the Eagles' 12 possessions the rest of the game. The dominance continued in the second and third overtimes as, after scoring a touchdown in the first OT, EMU gained just four total yards in the second and third OTs.

SCHOOL TIES: NIU coordinators Mike Uremovich (offense) and Jeff Knowles (defense) went to high school together at Providence Catholic in New Lennox, Ill. The pair were members of the 1994 state championship team and graduated in 1995. This is the third coaching stop the two have made together. Knowles was an assistant on Uremovich's staff at St. Francis (Ill.) from 2008-11 before joining the N.C. State staff in 2014, where Uremovich was the offensive line coach.

DOGGED DEFENSE

GROUNDED: The NIU defense held Ohio, who entered the game as the league's leading rushing offense averaging 203.8 yards per game, to 46 yards on the ground in its victory over the Bobcats. It was the first time since Oct. 14, 2017 the Huskies held a team under 50 yards rushing (Buffalo, 39 yards). It was the third time this season the NIU defense held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing. The Huskies, who lead the league and rank 18th in the nation in rushing defense, allowed Utah (Sept. 8) just 68 rushing yards and gave up 62 rushing yards to Eastern Michigan (Sept. 29). 

ECONOMICAL EFFORT: A week after defending a season-high 96 plays in NIU's victory at Ball State, the NIU defense limited Ohio to 55 in the Huskies' 24-21 win over the Bobcats. The previous season low was 70 plays by Utah (Sept. 8). The last time NIU held an opponent to 55 plays or less was Aug 28, 2014 when Presbyterian ran 49 plays.

THE LONG AND SHORT (FIELD) OF IT: Of NIU opponents' 97 drives this season, 16 have started in NIU territory. The NIU defense has allowed touchdowns on 56.3 percent of those drives and field goal attempts on 26.7 percent, while forcing two turnovers. However, of the 81 drives that start in the opposition's territory, the Huskie defense has allowed touchdowns on just 13.5 percent of those drives and field goal attempts on 13.5 percent of those drives as well, while forcing nine turnovers.
 

Opponent's Starting Field Position	NIU Territory (-30)	NIU Territory (-50)	Opponents' Territory (+50)
Possessions	9	16	81
Touchdowns	4	9	11
Field Goals Made	3	3	8
Field Goals Attempted	5	5	11
Turnovers	0	2	9

FORCING THE ISSUE: The NIU defense forced three turnovers, two fumbles and an interception, in the Huskies' win over Ohio. The Huskies lead the MAC and rank 11th in the country in turnovers gained. The Huskies also rank second in the nation and lead the MAC in fumble recoveries with 10 on the season after recovering two versus the Bobcats. The NIU offense has converted the 14 turnovers into 38 points. NIU forced a season-high four turnovers in its game at Florida State (Sept. 22), converting two of them into 13 points.

SUTTON ON THE SACK: Smith assumed sole possession of fifth place on NIU's all-time list for quarterback sacks after recording two against Ohio. The Huskie junior, who leads the MAC and ranks 12th in the country in quarterback sacks, has 22 career sacks. Huskie great Larry English amassed a school record 31.5 sacks from 2004-08. With one more sack, Smith will move into fourth place on NIU's quarterback sack list, tying Scott Kellar (1982-84).

AT A LOSS: With 2.5 tackles for loss against Ohio, Smith moved up to fourth place on the Huskie all-time list for tackles for loss. The Huskie defensive end leads the MAC and ranks fifth in the nation averaging 1.9 tackles for loss a game. Larry English holds the school record for career tackles for loss with 63. With three more tackles for loss, Smith will move up to third place on NIU's all-time list.

THE FIRM: Antonio Jones-Davis - nicknamed "Law Firm" – leads the Huskies with 71 tackles after his five tackles against Ohio. He tallied a game-high 16 stops at Ball State. It was the third 10-plus tackle performance of his career as he established a career-high with 16 tackles in NIU's win over Central Michigan (Sept. 15) and tallied 13 at Eastern Michigan, to earn him MAC West Defensive Player of the Week. 

THREE OF A KIND: The Huskie linebacking corps of Pugh, Jones-Davis and Lance Deveaux Jr. combined for 35 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, a pass break up and fumble recovery at Ball State. In addition to Pugh's and Jones-Davis' double-digit tackle performance versus the Cardinals, Deveaux Jr. tallied nine tackles, a season-high, for the third-straight week while adding a sack, two tackles for loss and a pass break up. On the season, the Huskie trio have accounted for 12 tackles for loss, seven pass break ups and four fumble recoveries.

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH PUGH: After missing the final nine games of the 2017 season, Pugh returned to the starting line-up in 2018. He is third on the team in tackles with 47 and is tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries. After sitting out the FSU game due to injury, Pugh started at Eastern Michigan, recording seven stops and tallied a season-best 10 at Ball State. The Huskie redshirt junior, who made 17 tackles and an interception versus Boston College in last year's season opener, led the team in tackles with nine stops, six solo, at Iowa. 

ON THE OFFENSE

RUNNING TO WINS: The NIU offense rushed for more than 200 yards for the third straight week when it tallied a season-best 255 yards against the Bobcats. The Huskies have won their last nine games when rushing for more than 200 yards, dating back to Nov. 25, 2016 when NIU rushed for 215 yards in a win over Kent State. The last time the Huskies rushed for 200 yards or more and lost was against Toledo on Nov. 9, 2016 when NIU gained 214 yards on the ground. 

QUITE THE COMPARISON: The NIU offense is averaging 13.8 points more a game in conference play than in its non-conference games to date. The Huskies have tripled their rushing average in MAC play, with 224.2 yards a game compared to 74.7 in its three non-conference games. On the season, NIU is averaging 160.1 rushing yards a game.
 

	MAC Games	Non-Conference Games	All Games
Games	4	3	7
Points/Game	24.5	10.7	18.6
Points/Game Allowed	19.0	29.0	23.3
Rushing Yards/Game	224.2	74.7	160.1
Rushing Yds/Game Allowed	100.8	132.7	114.4
Total Offense/Game	352.5	220.0	295.7
Total Offense/Game Allowed	319.0	393.0	350.7

HUNDREDS FOR HARBISON: NIU tailback Tre Harbison recorded his second career 100-yard game and scored the game-winning touchdown in NIU's overtime win at EMU (Sept. 29). The Huskie sophomore rushed for a career-high 136 yards on 32 carries in the victory. His previous career-best was 124 yards on 13 carries in NIU's win over Central Michigan in week three. Harbison is averaging 5.0 yards per carry this season and ranks eighth in the league in rushing, averaging 63.1 yards a game.

PLAY IT AGAIN: The NIU offense ran 97 plays in its triple overtime win at Eastern Michigan with 62 rushing and 35 pass attempts.  The last time the Huskies ran 97 plays in a game was Oct. 24, 2015 in a 49-21 victory over Eastern Michigan. NIU amassed 59 rushing attempts, and 38 pass attempts in that contest. The school record for plays run in a game is 109 set against Presbyterian (Aug. 24, 2014).

TOUCHDOWNS TO SHARE: Quarterback Marcus Childers has thrown touchdown passes to five different players in 2018 after connecting with Ty Harmston in overtime at Eastern Michigan. Childers completed TDs to Juaun Wesley and D.J. Brown at Florida State and threw a season-best three TD passes versus Central Michigan, hitting receivers Spencer Tears (14 yards), Dennis Robinson (seven yards) and Brown (two yards). Childers has thrown for 2,335 yards in 17 games (13 starts) over the last two seasons. 

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?: Huskie wide receiver D.J. Brown tallied his first rushing touchdown and third of his career when he rushed for a 28-yard score in the second quarter of NIU's win over Ohio. Brown's last rushing touchdown came against Ball State (Nov. 9) last year on a six-yard run. The Huskie senior leads the team in receptions (36), receiving yards (327) and receiving TDs (3). He recorded a career-high 117 yards on seven receptions, including a 66-yard touchdown catch at Florida State. 

YOUTH IS SERVED: Wide receiver Dennis Robinson made a career-high three catches at Ball State as freshmen now rank third (Cole Tucker) and fourth (Robinson) on the Huskie receiving chart this year. Tucker leads the young group with 13 catches for 91 yards, including a career-high six catches for 40 yards at FSU. Robinson, who made his first career start at Ball State, now has nine catches, including a touchdown, in his redshirt season.

WORKING ON THE LINE: The Huskies return every player who started a game on its offensive line a year ago, led by Academic All-American tackle Max Scharping who has started a team-leading 46 consecutive games, every game of his NIU career. NIU's returning offensive linemen have combined to make 138 starts over the last four seasons with seniors Scharping (46) and Luke Shively (32) and junior Jordan Steckler (28) leading the way. Isaac Hawn, who started four games last year, started at right tackle for the first time in 2018 against Ohio. 

SPECIAL FORCES

JUST FOR KICKS: Graduate transfer Andrew Gantz improved to seven-of-10 on the season when he hit a 36-yard field goal to open the scoring in NIU's Homecoming victory over Ohio. He has made a field goal in each of the last three games and has now made seven of his last eight attempts. His first field goal as a Huskie, a 49-yarder in the first quarter against Utah, was NIU's longest field goal since Christian Hagan's 52-yard boot at Toledo in 2015. The grad transfer from Cincinnati made 39-of-50 field goals during his 29-game career at Cincinnati. He leads NIU in scoring with 32 points.

PINNING THEM DEEP: Sophomore punter Matt Ference landed five of his seven punts against Ohio inside the 20-yard line, including two inside the 10-yard line. On the season, Ference has placed 18 of his 49 punts inside the 20-yard line and has eight punts of 50 yards or more. He outdueled Ray Guy award winner Matt Wishnowsky of Utah, averaging 46.0 yards on eight punts, and pinned Utah inside the 20 yard-line four times. It was his highest punting average in a game since NIU's win at Nebraska (Sept. 16) last season when he averaged 46.4 yards on eight punts.

BLOCK PARTY: NIU special teams have blocked three kicks this season and have nine blocked kicks in the last two years. Sutton Smith joined the block party with a blocked punt versus CMU. It was the second blocked punt on the season by the Huskies as Jauan Wesley blocked Iowa punter Colten Rastetter's initial punt of the season-opener. NIU also got a blocked field goal versus Utah when Jack Heflin got his hand on the Utes' first field goal attempt.

AHEAD OF PACE: With three blocked kicks this season, the Huskies are halfway to their total of last season. NIU blocked six kicks, two field goals and four punts, in 2017. NIU ranks fourth in the nation in blocked kicks and second in blocked punts.

OFF THE FIELD

ALL-AMERICA ATTENTION: In addition to being named to numerous preseason watch lists, NIU left tackle Max Scharping and defensive end Sutton Smith garnered multiple preseason All-America honors. Last season, Smith became NIU's first consensus All-American since LeShon Johnson in 1993.
Sutton Smith, DE - USA Today (2nd Team), Athlon (2nd), The Athletic (2nd), The Sporting News (2nd), Phil Steele (4th)
Max Scharping, OT - USA Today (2nd), Athlon (4th)

DEGREES IN HAND: Seven players on the NIU roster are college graduates. Five have earned their degrees from NIU, while two came to DeKalb as graduate transfers. 
Andrew Gantz (K)  - Sport Administration, Univ. of Cincinnati
Ryan Graham (QB) - Leadership and Management, NIU
Ty Harmston (TE) - Biology, NIU
Max Scharping (LT) - Kinesiology, NIU
Luke Shively (C) - Chemistry-Biochemistry, NIU
Albert Smalls (CB) - Kinesiology, NIU
Jaden Huff (LB) - Finance, St. Cloud State

HONORING A LEGEND: In July, NIU and Miami (Ohio) announced that the teams will now play for The Mallory Cup, in honor of the late Bill Mallory, who coached both teams to MAC Championships during a hall of fame career and passed away over the summer. Mallory is the only man to lead two league programs to MAC titles. The first Mallory Cup game will be November 14, 2018 at Huskie Stadium.      

POLLING THE MAC: NIU was picked to finish first in the MAC West Division in 2018 by both the MAC media and MAC Coaches. The Huskies edged out Toledo by one point in the Coaches Poll and by eight in the Media Poll. Ohio was picked to win the East in both polls. This is the first time in the five years the MAC has had a Media and Coaches Poll that the Huskies were picked to win the West in both polls. The coaches picked the Huskies as the top team in the division for the third time overall.