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HUSKIE BITES

• After becoming the first Mid-American Conference team to win a game at BYU on Saturday, NIU returns to MAC play versus Akron in a Thursday night tilt at InfoCision Stadium. 
• NIU enters the Akron contest on a four-game winning streak, matching its longest winning streak of 2017; the game versus the Zips ends a stretch of five road games in six outings for the Huskies.     
• The Huskies have won 24 of their last 25 regular season games over MAC East Division opponents and 29 of 31 since the 2008 season. 
• NIU and Akron meet for the 15th time, for the first time since 2013, and will play in Akron for the first time since 2012.   
• Defensively, the Huskies rank among the Top 30 teams in the FBS in sacks (sixth), tackles for loss (20th), rushing defense (19th) and scoring defense (28th) after holding BYU to two field goals in a 7-6 win.
• NIU teams coached by Rod Carey own a 36-8 mark in MAC regular season games since 2013 for an .818 winning percentage; his 49 total wins at NIU are tied for 19th all-time among MAC coaches. 
• Left tackle Max Scharping, a 47-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 has had three different players rush for 100 or more yards in its four MAC games: Marcus Childers (169 yards) versus Ohio, Marcus Jones (130) at Ball State, and Tre Harbison at Eastern Michigan (136) and versus Central Michigan (124).   
• NIU is 19-3 in weeknight #MACtion games played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays since 2010.  

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HUSKIE FOOTBALL FACTS
Head Coach: Rod Carey
Record at NIU/Years: 49-27/Sixth
Career Record/Years: 49-27/Sixth
Alma Mater/Year: Indiana/1993
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
All-Time Record: 583-491-51
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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AKRON FACTS
2017 Record: 7-7
MAC Record/Finish: 6-2/First 
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Terry Bowden (West Virginia '78) 
Record at Akron/Years: 34-47/Seventh
Career Record/Years: 174-109-2/25th
Location: Akron, Ohio
Enrollment: 23,152
Conference: Mid-American (East Division)
Colors: Blue and Gold
Stadium: InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field
         Surface/Capacity: ProGrass/30,000
President: Dr. John C. Green
Athletic Director: Larry Williams
Athletics Website: gozips.com
Twitter: @AkronZips
Ticket Information: 1-888-99-AKRON

Akron Football 2018 Schedule & Results
 

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NIU-AKRON SERIES
Overall: NIU leads 9-5
In Akron: NIU leads 4-2
In DeKalb: NIU leads 5-2
Neutral Site: Akron leads 1-0
In MAC Games: NIU leads 6-2
Carey vs. Akron: 1-0
Streak: NIU, 4
First Meeting: October 29, 1966: NIU 31, Akron 18 (H)
Last Meeting: October 12, 2013: NIU 27, Akron 20 (H)
 

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FOLLOW THE HUSKIES

TV: NIU-AKRON ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK

• The NIU-Akron game is the fifth of at least eight NIU games this season to be nationally televised on a broadcast network and marks NIU's first appearance on CBS Sports Network this year.
• Find the CBSSN channel in your area by using the Channel Finder at CBSSportsNetwork.com.
• CBSSN does not stream or offer games via mobile app. 
• The announce crew for the game features Ben Holden (play-by-play) and Jay Feely (color analyst).

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS RADIO NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network broadcast for the Akron game begins at 5:30 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 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 AND NOTES

THIS WEEK'S GAME

SERIES HISTORY: NIU owns a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, including a four-game winning streak dating back to a 27-10 Huskie victory at home on Oct. 31, 2009. It is the longest winning streak by either team in the series. NIU's last visit to Akron was on Oct. 20, 2012 when the Huskies posted a 37-7 win over the Zips. Akron's last victory over NIU came in the 2005 MAC Championship Game, a 31-30 decision. The Zips won the regular season meeting that year as well, 48-42, in overtime in Akron.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The Huskies posted a 27-20 victory over Akron in front of a Homecoming sellout crowd of 23,595 on Oct. 12, 2013. Jordan Lynch rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown while throwing for 220 yards and a TD on 16-of-35 passing. Safety Jimmie Ward recorded the only turnover of the game when he intercepted a Kyle Pohl pass, which NIU converted into a field goal.

SOME STRETCH: Thursday's contest at Akron wraps up a stretch of five of six games away from Huskie Stadium for NIU. The Huskies are 4-1 during this stretch, with NIU's only loss coming at Florida State on Sept. 22. NIU is 3-2 on the road this season.

MIDWEEK MACTION: With its 35-31 victory over Western Michigan in last year's regular season finale on Wednesday, Nov. 15, NIU improved to 19-3 in league games played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays since 2010. Toledo and Ohio are the only two schools to defeat the Huskies during midweek MACtion. The Huskies also fell to the Rockets in 2016 at Guaranteed Rate Field on Nov. 9, while Ohio scored a 26-21 win over NIU on Nov. 24, 2015 at Huskie Stadium. 

SCHEDULING CHALLENGES: According to ESPN's Football Power Index, NIU played the toughest non-conference strength of schedule in the country. The Huskies, who finished 1-3 in non-conference play after their win at BYU, opened the season at Iowa, which is currently ranked 18th in the Coaches Poll and 19th by the AP with a record of 6-2. NIU faced Utah (6-2), now ranked 16th in both polls, in the home opener and traveled to Tallahassee, Fla. to face Florida State (4-4) on Sept. 22.

RECAPPING

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: A year after becoming the first MAC team to win at Memorial Stadium in Nebraska, NIU achieved another first for a league member when the Huskies became the first MAC team to defeat BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium with their 7-6 victory over BYU. Western Michigan is 0-2 in its visits to Provo (1964 and 1967), while Bowling Green (1983) and Toledo (2016) each lost games at BYU. 

LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN: NIU's 7-6 victory at BYU was the Huskies' first win when scoring seven points or less since Sept. 3, 1988 when NIU defeated Akron, 7-6, at Huskie Stadium. 

NO TDs ALLOWED: The Huskie defense held BYU to two field goals in their win in Provo. The last time NIU did not allow a touchdown in a game was on Oct. 7, 2017 when the Huskies defeated Kent State, 24-3, in the 111th Homecoming Game. The last time the Huskie defense limited an opponent to less than six points in a victory on the road was on Nov. 26, 2010 when NIU defeated Eastern Michigan, 71-3.

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO: NIU's seven points scored against BYU are the lowest points scored by a Football Bowl Championship team in a win since Old Dominion defeated Charlotte, 6-0, on Nov. 4, 2017.

GROUNDED: The NIU defense held its fourth opponent to under 100 rushing yards this season when the Huskies limited BYU to 93 yards on 37 carries. NIU is 3-1 this season when holding an opponent under 100 yards. Ohio, which entered the game as the league's leading rushing offense averaging 203.8 yards per game, gained just 46 yards on the ground on Oct. 13. The Huskies, who lead the MAC and rank 19th 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). 

ADDING TO THE BONEYARD: NIU's victory over BYU is considered a "Boneyard Win," as Huskie victories over prominent opponentsfrom larger conferences are characterized. The BYU win was NIU's 16th versus such an opponent in 88 games. Of those 16 wins, eighthave come in the last nine years and five have occured under Rod Carey's tenure as head coach. The Huskies entire 2018 nonconference schedule was made up of "Boneyard" opponents, and the Huskies have faced at least one larger conference school in 35 of the last 36 seasons.

INTERCEPTING A WIN: Mykelti Williams' fourth-quarter interception at BYU which clinched the win with 1:47 to play, was his first of the season and second of his career. Williams made the fifth interception of the season for NIU and the second game-clincher, joining Vinny Labus' late interception in the victory over Central Michigan (Sept. 15).

THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER: For the third time this season, NIU entered halftime with a 3-0 score when the Huskies trailed BYU by that score at halftime in their win over the Cougars. NIU trailed Iowa (Sept. 1), 3-0, in the season opener before falling 33-7 to the Hawkeyes. In the home opener, the Huskies led Utah (Sept. 8) by that score but suffered a 17-6 setback to the Utes.

CONFERENCE CALL

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: With its 24-21 victory over Ohio on Oct. 13, 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).
 

NIU vs.	Since 2009
Buffalo	7-0
Kent State	6-0
Bowling Green	5-0
Akron	4-0
Miami	4-0
Ohio	2-2

CAREY KERNELS

HUSKIE HEAD MAN RANKINGS: NIU head coach Rod Carey currently ranks fourth on NIU's all-time coaching list for wins with 49, 15 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 76. 

MOVING UP IN THE MAC: With NIU's win over Ohio, Huskie head coach Rod Carey won his 49th game as head coach and is tied with Dan Simrell (Toledo, 1982-89) for 19th on the Mid-American Conference's Top 20 list for overall wins. Carey's career winning percentage of .645 currently ranks 14th in MAC history, and he needs to get to .658 to move into the top 10.

HUSKIE HEADLINERS

OPEN DATE SUCCESS: With its win at BYU, NIU is now 3-1 under Rod Carey. The last NIU won a game following an open date on Oct. 4, 2014 when the Huskies defeated Kent State, 17-14. The Huskies also scored a 45-35 win at Idaho (Sept. 14) two weeks after defeating Iowa in 2013. 

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: NIU won its fifth game this season in games decided by eight points or less following its one-point victory over the Cougars. The Huskies lead the nation with a 5-0 record in such contests, Notre Dame is 4-0. NIU defeated both Central Michigan (Sept. 15) and Ball State (Oct. 6) by identical scores of 24-16, posted a 26-23 win over Eastern Michigan (Sept. 29) in triple overtime and scored a 24-21 win over Ohio. The Huskies are 18-11 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 and the Huskies duplicated the feat at BYU.

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.

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 last season. 

HUSKIE HONOREES: Safety Mykelti Williams and punter Matt Ference became the latest Huskies to earn MAC West Player of the Week honors following their performances in the victory at BYU. Williams made a key interception in the final two minutes of the game and tallied five tackles, four solo. Ference averaged 46.8 yards on a career-high nine punts and pinned the Cougars inside the 10-yard line three times.
Sutton Smith - Defensive POTW (Utah)
Antonio Jones-Davis - Defensive POTW (Eastern Michigan)
Sutton Smith - Defensive POTW (Ohio)
Mykelti Williams - Defensive POTW (BYU)
Matt Ference - Special Teams POTW (BYU)

WORKING OVERTIME: The Huskies improved to 8-4 in overtime games with their triple overtime win at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 29. 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.

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

THE FORCE IS WITH US: Mykelti Williams' game-clinching interception at BYU was NIU's 15th forced turnover on the year. The NIU defense has forced a turnover in all eight games this season and in each of its last 13 games dating back to last year's game at Toledo (Nov. 2). The last time NIU didn't force a turnover was on Oct. 26, 2017 in a 30-27 overtime win over Eastern Michigan.

GAME OF TAKE AWAY: With Williams' interception of Zach Wilson at BYU, NIU won the turnover battle for the fourth time this season. The Huskies are 3-1 in those contests with their only loss coming at Florida State when NIU won the turnover battle. 4-0. NIU ranks second in the league and 17th in the nation in turnover margin.

FORCING THE ISSUE: The NIU defense came up with one turnover, an interception, in the Huskies' win at BYU. The Huskies are third in the MAC and rank 26th 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 15 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.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: In addition to some outstanding individual performances, the NIU defense has turned in some spectacular efforts as a unit. From tallying a season-high seven sacks against Utah, to forcing a season-high four turnovers at Florida State, the Huskies defense has stepped up each week. 

SACK LUNCH: The Huskie defense recorded five sacks at BYU, giving NIU 27 on the season. Through eight games last season, the NIU defense totaled 25 sacks. Cornerback Jalen McKie became the 11th different Huskie to record a sack when he tallied his first career sack in the win over the Cougars. Sutton Smith leads the way with seven this season. As a team, the Huskies lead the MAC and rank sixth in the nation in quarterback sacks, averaging 3.38 sacks a game.

SACKING THE BEEHIVE STATE: Twelve of NIU's 27 sacks this season have come against teams from the state of Utah. The Huskie defense tallied five sacks at BYU, which are the most this season since NIU amassed a season-best seven in the home opener against Utah. 

THE LONG AND SHORT (FIELD) OF IT: Of NIU opponents' 119 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 93 drives that start in the opposition's territory, the Huskie defense has allowed touchdowns on just 11.8 percent of those drives and field goal attempts on 14 percent while forcing 11 turnovers.
 

Opponent's Starting Field Position	NIU Territory (-30)	NIU Territory (-50)	Opponents' Territory (+50)
Possessions	10	16	93
Touchdowns	4	9	11
Field Goals Made	3	3	10
Field Goals Attempted	5	5	13
Turnovers	0	4	11

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 had a half sack and forced fumble last season at Buffalo (Oct. 14). Smith has six career forced fumbles.

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.

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" – led the Huskies in tackles for the fourth time this season when he tallied seven stops at BYU and leads the Huskies with 78 tackles, 24 more than  Mykelti Williams and Kyle Pugh. He tallied a game-high 16 stops at Ball State. It was the third 10-plus tackle performance of his career and tied his career high, set in NIU's win over Central Michigan (Sept. 15). Jones-Davis' 13 at Eastern Michigan helped him earn MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors. 

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. 

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 tied for second on the team in tackles with 54 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

QUITE THE COMPARISON: The NIU offense is averaging 14.7 points more a game in conference play than in its non-conference games to date. The Huskies have almost tripled their rushing average in MAC play, with 224.2 yards a game compared to 78.2 in its four non-conference games. On the season, NIU is averaging 151.2 rushing yards a game.
 

	MAC Games	Non-Conference Games	All Games
Games	4	4	8
Points/Game	24.5	9.8	17.1
Points/Game Allowed	19.0	23.2	21.1
Rushing Yards/Game	224.2	78.2	151.2
Rushing Yds/Game Allowed	100.8	122.8	111.8
Total Offense/Game	352.5	216.0	284.2
Total Offense/Game Allowed	319.0	370.0	344.5

QUARTERBACK FOR 100: Marcus 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 when he ran for 169 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against Ohio. Childers ranks third on the team in rushing with 261 yards on 103 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.

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. 

HUNDRED 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.

TOUCHDOWNS TO SHARE: Quarterback Marcus Childers has thrown touchdown passes to five different players in 2018. He connected with Ty Harmston in overtime at Eastern Michigan, completed TDs to Jauan 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 2,738 yards in 20 games (16 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 is tied for the team lead in receptions (37), leads in receiving TDs (3) and is second in receiving yards (334). 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 fifth (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 47 consecutive games, every game of his NIU career. NIU's returning offensive linemen have combined to make 141 starts over the last four seasons with seniors Scharping (47) and Luke Shively (33) and junior Jordan Steckler (28) leading the way. Isaac Hawn, who started four games last year, has started the last two games at right tackle. 

SPECIAL FORCES

PINNING THEM DEEP: Sophomore punter Matt Ference landed three of his nine punts at BYU inside the 10-yard line, including one that landed at the one foot-line, to earn MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors. On the season, Ference has placed 21 of his 58 punts inside the 20-yard line and has 11 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 and his efforts versus BYU effectively flipped the field position in NIU's favor on multiple occasions.  

NINE IS FINE: Ference booted a season-high nine punts for 421 yards, also a career best, for an average of 46.8 yards in NIU's victory at BYU, the second-highest single game punting average of his career. His career best came in the 2018 season opener at Iowa when he averaged 47.2 yards on six punts for 283 yards. His 5,809 career  punting yards (on 141 punts) rank ninth all-time at NIU. He needs three punts to move into the career top 10 at NIU as a sophomore. He has averaged 40.0 yards or more per punt 12 times during his career. He ranks fifth in the MAC and 65th in the country with a 41.2 yard average.

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.