HUSKIE BITES

• Coming off a 49-0 Homecoming victory over Akron, the NIU Huskies embark on their last road swing of the season Saturday at Central Michigan. The contest also marks NIU's final regular season Saturday game of 2019. 
• NIU has played the Chippewas more times than any other Mid-American Conference foe as Saturday will mark the 55th meeting between the teams.
• The Huskies are looking for their first win in Mt. Pleasant since 2013; NIU's 24-16 win last year snapped the Chips' four-game series winning streak.   
• NIU is coming off its most complete performance of the season - and its first shutout in 93 games (2013 at UMass) - versus Akron. The Huskies' 49 points were their most since a 63-17 win over Ball State in 2017.  
• The Huskies now have four non-offensive touchdowns in 2019 after Trayshon Foster and Nick Rattin scored versus Akron on a fumble recovery in the end zone and an interception return, respectively. NIU also has a TD on a blocked punt return (at Ohio) and a Jalen McKie interception return. 
• Tailback Tre Harbison recorded his third 100-yard rushing day of the season with a season-best 158 yards on 31 carries versus Akron to power a 274-yard rushing day by the Huskies overall. His 724 yards on the season rank fifth in the MAC and 29th nationally. 
• The tight ends and fullbacks have accounted for 57 catches for 748 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. All three of Marcus Childers' touchdown passes went to three different members of that position group vs. Akron. 
• Thomas Hammock was named head coach at his alma mater in January 2019 after five years coaching running backs for the Baltimore Ravens. Hammock, the only two-time first-team Academic All-American in NIU football history, recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons as a player. He coached at Wisconsin and Minnesota prior to going to the NFL.  
• Fifteen true freshmen have seen action in at least one game this season after offensive linemen Logan Zschernitz and Leif Engstrand made their Huskie debuts late in the Akron game. 
• Junior Marcus Childers improved his record as the Huskies' starting quarterback to 14-9 with the win over Akron. Childers ranks in NIU's Top 10 all-time in passing (4,101) and total offense (5,249) yards. 

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NIU FOOTBALL FACTS

Head Coach: Thomas Hammock (NIU '02)
Record at NIU/Years: 3-5/First
Career Record/Years: 3-5/First
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
2018 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 8-6/6-2/1st
All-Time Record: 590-498-51
Last Bowl Game: 2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 13
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 8, 2018
MAC Championships, Last: 5, 2018
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 52/24
Starters Returning: 16 (7 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialists)
Starters Lost: 10 (5 offense, 4 defense, 1 specialist) 
 

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CENTRAL MICHIGAN FACTS
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Jim McElwain (Eastern Washington/1984) 
Record at CMU/Seasons: 5-4/First
Career Record/Seasons: 49-32/Seventh
2018 Record: 1-11
Mid-American/Finish: 0-8/6th West 
Location: Mount Pleasant,Mich.
Enrollment: 23,335
Conference: Mid-American
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Stadium: Kelly/ Shorts Stadium    
    Surface/Capacity: AstroTurf /30,255
President: Dr. Robert O. Davies
Athletic Director: Michael Alford
Athletics Website: CMUChippewas.com
Twitter: @CMU_Football
Ticket Information: (888) 347-3872

CMU Schedule & Results
CMU Game Notes vs. NIU
 

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NIU-CMU SERIES

Overall: CMU leads 29-24-1
In DeKalb, Illinois: NIU leads 15-11-1
At Mount Pleasant, Michigan: CMU leads 18-9
In MAC Games: CMU leads, 17-16
Streak: NIU, 1
First Meeting: Sept. 30, 1939; CMU 6, NIU 0 (A)
Last Meeting: Sept. 15, 2018; NIU 24, CMU 18 (H)
 

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FOLLOW THE HUSKIES

TV: NIU-CMU ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK

• CBS Sports Network will carry Saturday's NIU-Central Michigan game, marking the Huskies' first appearance on the network this season.
• Find the CBSSN channel in your area by using the Channel Finder at CBSSportsNetwork.com.
• The announce crew for the NIU-CMU game is John Sadak (play-by-play), Randy Cross (color analyst) and Ashley Holder (sidelines).

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Network broadcast for the Central Michigan game begins at 10:30 a.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 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 40th season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo joins him for the 34th consecutive season, while Andy Garcia is in his seventh season on the NIU sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show every Monday this season at Noon at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Highway).
• Listen live with the TuneIn app. Hear the show Monday at 7 p.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb, 8 p.m. Monday on 560 AM The Answer in Chicago and Tuesday at 7 p.m. on SportsFan Radio 1330 AM in Rockford.
• Host Bill Baker welcomes NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock, Huskie players and special guests, including NIU head coaches. 

NIU WEEKLY RADIO SHOW

• Andy Garcia and NIU Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier host the 30-minute show with interviews with coach Thomas Hammock, other NIU coaches and guests. 
• Airs Friday at 10 p.m. CT in Chicago on AM 560 The Answer, Saturday at 8:30 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).

NIUTUBE (HUSKIE ALL-ACCESS)

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features and Huskie Olympic sports live game video.
• 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

THIS WEEK'S GAME

MOST FREQUENT FOE: The Huskies have played Central Michigan 54 times since 1939, more than any other current NCAA FBS team. The Chippewas lead the all-time series 29-24-1 and are 17-16 in 33 games as MAC opponents versus NIU. Central Michigan owns an 18-9 record over the Huskies in Mount Pleasant and won five of the last six meetings against NIU at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The last NIU victory at Central Michigan was Oct. 19, 2013 when the Jordan Lynch-led Huskies defeated the Chippewas, 38-17.

THE LAST TIME WE MET: NIU earned a 24-16 victory over Central Michigan (Sept. 15) in the 2018 conference opener at Huskie Stadium. Quarterback Marcus Childers threw three touchdowns, and Tre Harbison rushed for 124 yards on 13 carries.  Central Michigan was driving for a potential game-tying score when linebacker Vinny Labus thwarted the rally when he intercepted a deflected pass inside the 10-yard line to secure the victory for NIU.

HAMMOCK AND THE CHIPPEWAS: Saturday's game versus the Chippewas is Thomas Hammock's first as NIU head coach against Central Michigan, but his seventh as either a player or assistant coach for the Huskies versus the MAC West rival. Hammock, who lettered at NIU from 1999-2002 and served as an assistant from 2005-06, is 6-0 all-time versus Central Michigan. He rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries in a 33-24 come-from-behind win at CMU (Oct. 27, 2001). 

CONFERENCE CALL

NIU VS. MAC WEST: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 72-40 versus teams from the MAC West, including a 36-10 mark in the division since 2010. The Huskies, who were 4-1 against divisional foes last season, suffered a 27-20 setback to Ball State (Oct. 5) in this season's MAC opener. 

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: With its 49-0 victory over Akron, NIU improved to 154-103-2 all-time in MAC play and 118-58 (.670) in league action since 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 63-13 against MAC foes and has recorded three undefeated campaigns and two one-loss seasons, winning six-straight division championships and seven overall during that stretch. The Huskies are in their 34th season as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 2019-20, including an initial stint in the league from 1975-85.

LEADER OF THE MAC: With a .679 winning percentage since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program in the MAC this decade. The Huskies have made seven trips to the conference championship game in the last nine years, winning the league crown four times. Add eight bowl games to the list, and the Huskies have played 131 games since 2010, seven more than their nearest competitor, Toledo, which has played 124. NIU currently owns a 12-game winning streak over Buffalo and an 11-game winning streak over Eastern Michigan.

Mid-American Conference Team Records Since 2010
 

Team	W-L	Pct.
NIU	89-42	.679
Toledo	84-40	.677
Ohio	78-48	.619
Western Michigan	65-58	.528
Bowling Green	57-69	.452
Central Michigan	53-69	.434
Ball State	51-67	.432
Buffalo	49-69	.415
Kent State	40-77	.342
Eastern Michigan	38-80	.322
Akron	37-82	.311

START TO FINISH: Ball State's 27-20 victory over NIU was just the Huskies' third loss in a conference opener since 2011 and their first since 2015. NIU suffered a 29-19 setback at Central Michigan on Oct. 3, 2015 and a 48-41 loss to the Chippewas on Oct. 1, 2011. Both years the Huskies advanced to the MAC Championship Game, finishing with a 6-2 and 7-1 MAC West Division mark, respectively. NIU also lost the 2005 conference opener and advanced to the MAC Championship Game.

RECAPPING LAST GAME

HIGHS AND LOWS: NIU's 49-0 victory over Akron was the Huskie defense's first shutout of an opponent since a 63-0 win over UMass on Nov. 3, 2013, a span of 92 games. The Huskies' 49 points were a season high and the most points scored by NIU since a 63-17 victory over Ball State on Nov. 9, 2017, 24 games ago.

STUCK ON REPEAT: From its final possession in the second quarter to its first 17 offensive plays of the third quarter, the NIU offense ran the ball on 24 consecutive plays. During that span, Tre Harbison carried the ball 11 times for 53 yards.

A LOW (FIRST) DOWN SHAME: The NIU defense held Akron to seven first downs in the Huskies' victory over the Zips. It was the lowest first down total by an NIU opponent since allowing a school-record tying six to Presbyterian on Aug. 28, 2014 in the season opener.

LONG TIME COMING: Brett Bostad became the first Huskie fullback to score a touchdown in exactly six years when he was on the receiving end of a five-yard pass from quarterback Marcus Childers. Ricky Connors was the last true Huskie fullback to record a touchdown reception when Drew Hare hit him for an 11-yard score against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 26, 2013. Both touchdowns came on their first career catches.

CONVERTING TURNOVERS INTO POINTS: The Huskies converted three Akron turnovers into 21 points in its 49-0 shutout victory over the Zips. A second quarter interception by Devin Haney set up NIU's second score of the game, while safety Trayshon Foster recovered a Michiah Burton fumble in the endzone for the Huskies' first touchdown of the second half. Nick Rattin capped off an opportunistic day by the Huskie defense when he returned a Robbie Kelley interception 31 yards for NIU's final TD of the contest.

IN THE LONG RUN: Huskie cornerback Devin Haney tallied his first career interception when he was on the receiving end of Akron quarterback Zach Gibson's pass attempt in the second quarter of NIU's victory over the Zips. The redshirt freshman returned it 40 yards to set up a 30-yard touchdown run by Tre Harbison on the very next play. It was the longest return by a Huskie this season.

SCORE TWO FOR THE DEFENSE: Saturday's two defensive scores were the first by an NIU defense since the Huskies' 21-17 victory at Nebraska on Sept. 16, 2017. NIU cornerback Shawun Lurry and linebacker Jawuan Johnson each returned an interception for a touchdown in the victory over the Cornhuskers.

PLAYING LIKE A HUSKIE: A week after tallying a career-high eight tackles at Miami in his first career start, freshman linebacker Nick Rattin recorded his first career interception and returned it for a touchdown, also a career first. The Huskie walk-on linebacker has 15 tackles seeing action in all eight games this season after playing primarily on special teams in NIU's first six games. 

HAMMOCK HOMECOMING

HAIL ALMA MATER:  In addition to being the school's first African-American head coach, Thomas Hammock is the first NIU graduate to lead his alma mater's football team as an FBS program, and the first overall since Howard Fletcher led the Huskies from 1956-68. Fletcher ranks second on NIU's all-time wins list with a .606 winning percentage after posting a 74-68-1 record in 13 seasons. 

HAMMOCK'S HUSKIE PLAYING CAREER:  A four-year letterwinner at NIU, Thomas Hammock was a tailback for the Huskies from 1999-2002. Hammock gained 2,423 yards rushing in 32 games in his NIU career, which still ranks 13th all-time in Huskie history. He earned first team All-MAC honors in 2000 and 2001 after back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.

HUSKIE CONNECTIONS: Fremd High School football coach Lou Sponsel lettered at NIU from 1997-98 and was the fullback for NIU head coach Thomas Hammock during their playing days. Sponsel was Nick Rattin's head coach when he prepped at Fremd. Sponsel recommended Rattin to Hammock when the latter was named NIU head coach.

YOUTH IS SERVED:  At 38 years old, Thomas Hammock is the eighth youngest head coach in FBS in 2019. He is a little over two months younger than Akron's Tom Arth, while Kent State's Sean Lewis is the youngest at 33 years of age.

HUSKIE HEADLINERS

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Through eight games this season, NIU has already played almost as many freshmen and redshirt freshman, 25, as it did last year. Of those 25, nine appear on the Huskies' two-deep and three – Mark Aitken, Marques Cox and Nick Rattin – have started games. In 14 games last season, 29 freshmen or redshirt freshman saw action for the Huskies. 

FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME: Wide receiver Cole Tucker followed up his first career 100-yard receiving game (118 yards on eight receptions at Ohio) by making his first career touchdown catch when Marcus Childers connected with the DeKalb native on a 10-yard score in the fourth quarter of NIU's 27-24 setback at Miami (Oct. 19). 

TUCKERED OUT: With 200 yards receiving in the last two road games, 118 at Ohio and 82 at Miami, Cole Tucker now leads NIU in receiving. The Huskie sophomore has 408 yards receiving on 29 receptions and is averaging 14.1 yards a catch and 58.3 yards a game. Tucker had at least one reception in each of the Huskies' first seven games this season, including a career-high eight catches against the Bobcats, and has five catches of 20 yards or more yards for his career, with all of those recorded in 2019.

JOINING THE 300 CLUB: In the win at Ohio, quarterback Ross Bowers became the ninth Huskie and first since Marcus Childers (Nov. 30, 2018) to throw for 300 yards or more in a contest. Bowers recorded 338 yards on 23-of-39 passing with one touchdown and an interception. Bowers is ranked fourth in the league and 32nd in the nation averaging 246.6 yards a game.

HUSKIE HARDWARE: Tailback Tre Harbison and John Richardson joined Jalen McKie as Huskies to earn MAC Player of the Week honors as the Huskie duo were named MAC West Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively, following their performances in NIU's win at Ohio. Harbison rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns against the Bobcats, while Richardson hit a career-long 51-yard field and a game-winning 37 yarder. McKie earned his second career MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors following his game-clinching interception return for a touchdown against Illinois State.

TRIPLE CROWN: For the seventh time in school history, and the first time since 2015, the Huskies had a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver in the same game as quarterback Ross Bowers threw for 338 yards, Tre Harbison rushed for 113 yards and Cole Tucker and Mitchell Brinkman tallied 118 and 100 yards receiving, respectively, in NIU's victory at Ohio. The last time NIU accomplished this feat was a Sept. 5, 2015 contest against UNLV when Drew Hare threw for 360 yards, current Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay amassed 213 yards receiving and tailback Joel Bouagnon tallied 152 yards rushing in the victory over the Rebels.

TURNOVER A NEW LEAF:  The NIU offense recorded its second turnover-free game of the season at Miami. The Huskies also did not turn the ball over at Vanderbilt. The Huskies have thrown five interceptions and lost three fumbles for a turnover margin of -0.13, which ranks seventh in the league and 71st in the country.

TACKLING THE BOOKS: NIU senior offensive lineman Jordan Steckler is a semifinalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy. Considered the academic Heisman, the William V. Campbell Trophy annually recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation and is selected from across every division of college football. Steckler, a three-time Academic All-MAC honoree, is a management major with an emphasis on leadership and carries a 3.62 GPA. Current Houston Texans offensive lineman Max Scharping was a finalist for the award last year.

FOR THE DEFENSE

DOGGED DEFENSE: The NIU defense continues to be one of the top defenses in the MAC. The Huskies are second in the league in total defense, allowing 342.4 yards per game and lead the MAC in opponents' third down conversions (.314 percent) and fourth down conversions (.333). With its shutout of Akron, the Huskie defense ranks second in scoring defense, allowing 25.4 points a game and in pass efficiency defense. 

SACK LUNCH: The NIU defense recorded its fourth multi-sack game this season when Michael Kennedy and Matt Lorbeck each recorded a sack against Akron for their first sacks of the season. The Huskies recorded a pair of sacks at Ohio (Oct. 12), with Antonio Jones-Davis and Vinny Labus, each collecting a sack and tallied two more, one each by Jack Heflin and Jones-Davis, against Ball State (Oct. 5). Senior Marcus Kelly and freshman Cam Mattox each recorded their first career sacks Vanderbilt. Eight different players have now accounted for NIU's 10 sacks on the year.

DOUBLING UP ON TACKLES: A week after tallying a career-high 14 tackles at Ohio, Mykelti Williams amassed a team-best 10 stops at Miami (Oct 19). The Huskie senior tallied seven solo tackles and three assists against the RedHawks for his third career double-digit tackle effort. Williams recorded his first double-digit tackle game Sept. 16, 2017 at Nebraska when he tallied 10 stops. Williams leads the team with 55 tackles on the year and has amassed 203 in his Huskie career.

MY COUSIN VINNY:  Linebacker Vinny Labus moved into the team lead in sacks with Antonio Jones-Davis when he dropped RedHawk quarterback Brett Gabbert for a four-yard loss in the second quarter in the Huskies' setback at Miami (Oct. 19). His sack of Gabbert was Labus', a former walk-on long snapper, second of his career and the second in as many weeks. He tallied one at Ohio the previous week. 

SAFETY FIRST:  The Huskie defense recorded its first safety in 100 games when Jordan Cole tackled Nebraska running back Maurice Washington in the endzone on a swing pass in the second quarter. The last Huskie safety was recorded Nov. 25, 2011 by defensive end Sean Progar who tackled the Eastern Michigan ballcarrier in the endzone.

ON THE OFFENSIVE

MILLENIAL: After tallying a game-high 158 yards against Akron, Tre Harbison became the 19th Huskie to rush for 2,000 yards in his career.  The Huskie junior has amassed 2,048 yards during his NIU career to rank 18th all-time. He needs 48 yards to surpass Cameron Stingily for 17th. Harbison tallied 1,034 yards last year on 206 carries to become the first Huskie since Joel Bouagnon in 2015 to gain 1,000 yards rushing in a season.

HARBISON'S HUNDRED: Tailback Tre Harbison earned his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game and eighth of his career when he ran for 158 yards on 31 carries, both season-highs, against Akron. He amassed a game-high 113 yards on 25 carries at Ohio and tallied 146 yards on 22 carries against Ball State (Oct. 5). Harbison's career best is 169 yards rushing at Akron (Nov. 1) last year. The Huskie junior ranks fifth in the league in rushing, averaging 90.5 yards a game.

NOSE FOR THE ENDZONE:  Tailback Tre Harbison recorded his third multi-touchdown game of the season and fourth of his career when he ran for touchdown scores of five and 30 yards in NIU's victory over Akron. Harbison became the first Huskie since Jordan Huff to rush for three touchdowns in a game when he ran for three scores at Ohio (Oct. 12). The Huskie junior became the first NIU tailback since Joel Bouagnon in 2015 to tally back-to-back multi-touchdown games when he rushed for a pair of scores against Ball State (Oct. 5) the week prior.

RARE AIR: With 71 yards on 7-of-9 passing against Akron, Marcus Childers surpassed Huskie Hall of Famer Bob Heimerdinger for ninth all-time at NIU. The Huskie junior has 4,101 yards on 412-of-702 passing and has moved up several other career lists at NIU.
 

Plays	1,062	5th
Pass Completions	412	6th
Total Offense Yards	5,249	8th
Touchdowns Responsible For	48	T8th
Touchdown Passes	35	T10th

ALL MY CHILDERS: Marcus Childers' 70-yard rush in the third quarter at Ohio was the longest rush by a Huskie since Anthony Maddie ran for 75 yards at Ball State on Oct. 1, 2016. The play went to the Ohio seven-yard line and NIU scored its first offensive touchdown two plays later. Childers finished the game with 75 yards rushing on two carries. Childers' 144 yards rushing this season gives him 1,148 yards for his career.

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME: NIU ranks second in the league and 16th in the nation in time of possession with a 33:02 TOP per game average. The Huskie offense has held the time of possession advantage in six of eight games this season. NIU possessed the ball for a season-high 39:25 against Akron, the longest time of possession for NIU since Oct. 25, 2008 when NIU held the ball for 38:37 in a 16-13 victory over Temple.

RARE ACCOMPLISHMENT: The Huskies' 300-yard passing game from Ross Bowers, 100-yard rushing effort by Tre Harbison and 100-yard receiving performances from both Cole Tucker and Mitchell Brinkman at Ohio is just the second time in school history NIU had two 100-yard receivers in addition to a 100-yard rusher and 300-yard passer in a game. The first time the Huskies recorded this achievement was Oct. 23, 2004 when Josh Haldi threw for 333 yards, while Garrett Wolfe rushed for 185. Wide receiver Dan Sheldon and tight end Brad Cieslak amassed 213 and 111 yards receiving, respectively, in a victory over Western Michigan.

TAKE A PASS: The NIU offense has almost doubled last year's passing yards after the first eight games. The Huskies have thrown for 1,978 yards on 159-of-272 passing this year. Through the first eight games last year, NIU threw for 1,064 yards on 130-of-238 passing. The Huskies rank fourth in the league in passing offense, averaging 247.3 yards per game.

RECEIVERS OF THE CENTURY:  Cole Tucker (118) and Mitchell Brinkman (100) became the third and fourth Huskies to record 100-yard receiving games this season with their performances at Ohio. Spencer Tears eclipsed the century mark twice this season when he tallied 100 yards on three catches at Vanderbilt and a career-high 112 yards receiving at Utah. Tyrice Richie topped the century mark with 102 receiving yards against Illinois State. Tears is the first Huskie since Kenny Golladay to have multiple 100-yard receiving games in a season. Golladay tallied four 1,000-yard games in 2016. 

TWICE AS NICE: Cole Tucker's 118 yards on eight receptions and Mitchell Brinkman's five catches for 100 yards at Ohio marked the first time since Sept. 30, 2017 at San Diego State the Huskies had two different players with 100-yard receiving performances in the same game. Christian Blake tallied 160 yards, while Spencer Tears added 105 in the setback to the Aztecs that year.

DYNAMIC DUO: Daniel Crawford and Mitchell Brinkman are the only two tight ends in the country from the same to school to be ranked among the nation's top receivers. Brinkman ranks 14th among tight ends in the country with 360 yards on 26 receptions, while Crawford's 346 receiving yards ranks 17th. 

TIGHT WORK: NIU's tight ends have accounted for 37.5 percent of the Huskies' receiving yards this season with 743 yards on 56 receptions. Mitchell Brinkman surpassed Daniel Crawford after tallying two receptions for 36 yards against Akron and has 26 receptions for 360 yards. Crawford is right behind him with 346 yards on 27 receptions. Corey Lersch has 29 yards and a touchdown on two catches, while Max Thower has one catch each for eight yards. 

WELCOME BACK: Tight end Daniel Crawford, who missed the entire 2018 season recovering from a knee injury suffered in the spring, ranks second on the team in receiving with 27 catches for 346 yards on the season. He had five grabs versus Nebraska, Ball State and Ohio, and a career-high 85 yards against the Bobcats. Crawford entered the season with seven career receptions for 65 yards. 

TIGHT RECORD: With 346 receiving yards on 27 receptions, Daniel Crawford is 130 yards away from the school record for receiving yards by a tight end (475 by Reggie Sims in 1984) and 13 catches away from surpassing Sims' mark for receptions by a tight end in a season. Sims amassed 39 receptions in 1984. 

EXCLUSIVE COMPANY: NIU tight end Mitchell Brinkman caught five passes for 100 yards in NIU's 39-36 win over Ohio to become just the sixth tight end in school history to have a 100-yard receiving game.  He set new career highs for both catches (5) and yards (100) in the contest. Brinkman's career-long 48-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter set up the Huskies' final touchdown of the game as it put NIU on the Ohio three-yard line.  One play later, NIU scored to go ahead 36-29. On the season, Brinkman has 26 catches for 360 yards for a 13.8 yards per catch average.

SPECIAL FORCES

JUST FOR KICKS: Redshirt freshman John Richardson, who has made at least one field goal in the first seven games of the season, improved to 10-for-14 on field goal attempts after connecting on one of two attempts at Miami (Oct. 19). Andrew Gantz made 13-of-18 field goals for NIU last year and the school record for made field goals in a season is 21 by Steve Azar in 2003. Of Richardson's 14 attempts, 10 have come from 36 yards and beyond. Richardson hit a career-best 51-yard field goal in the first quarter against Ohio (Oct. 12) before making a 37-yarder as time expired for the win. He is two-for-four on field goals of 45 yards or longer with misses coming from 49 and 50 yards. 

KICKING THE STREAK ALIVE: John Richardson extended NIU's streak of consecutive PATs to 143 when he connected on seven point-after-touchdowns against Akron. The streak began Sept. 6, 2016 when Christian Hagan hit his last three extra points in the season opener at Wyoming. NIU's streak is currently the fourth-longest streak in the nation, behind third-place Utah State, with 160 and current NCAA leader Georgia (274). Ohio State sits at No. 2 with 215.

FIELD GOALING: Kicker John Richardson connected on a career-long 51-yard field goal in the first quarter at Ohio (Oct. 12) and hit his first career game-winner at NIU when he hit a 37-yarder as time expired to give NIU a 39-36 victory at Ohio. Richardson's previous career long was 46 yards set at Utah (Sept. 7) earlier this season.

KICKING THE WIN: John Richardson's game-winning 37-yard field at Ohio is the first game-winner for the Huskies since Aug. 31, 2013 at Iowa. Mathew Sims made a 36-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock as NIU earned a 30-27 victory over the Hawkeyes in the season opener. Sims made three game-winning field goals during his career, including a 33-yarder as time elapsed in the 2011 MAC Championship Game against Ohio.

FOUR THE BLOCK: The Huskies, who have four blocked kicks on the season, are tied for the national lead in blocked kicks. NIU set a new record for blocked placekicks in a game with three at Nebraska on Sept. 14. In that game, Antonio Jones-Davis and Jalen McKie each blocked a field goal and McKie added a blocked extra point attempt. The last time the Huskies blocked three kicks in a game was Dec. 19, 2006 when NIU blocked two TCU punts and an extra point in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl.

TWICE AS NICE:  Huskie cornerback Jalen McKie recorded a pair of blocks in NIU's setback at Nebraska, blocking an extra point attempt and field goal. It was the first blocked PAT by a Huskie since Ben LeRoy's block at Akron (Nov. 1) last season. NIU's last blocked field goal was by Jack Heflin against Utah (Sept. 8) last year. McKie is the first Huskie to block two kicks in the same season since Ben Compton, who blocked a PAT at Buffalo (Nov. 11) and a field goal against Ohio (Nov. 24) in 2015.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

BLOCK PARTY:  NIU blocked its first punt of the season and eighth in the last three years when Corey Lersch blocked Michael Farkas' first punt of the game at Ohio (Oct. 12). Adam Buirge ran it in for the Huskies' first touchdown of the game. NIU blocked a punt for a touchdown last year when Sutton Smith blocked a Toledo punt and ran it 27 yards for a touchdown last season. 

TEARS FOR 1,000: Spencer Tears has climbed to 24th on NIU's all-time list for receiving yards with 1,212 yards on 101 receptions in 44 games played in his Huskie career, and is the Huskies' first 1,000-yard receiver since Kenny Golladay. Tears is 70 yards away from passing Willie Hatter (1970-72) for 23rd on the list.

DEGREES IN HAND: Nine players on the 2019 NIU roster are college graduates. Five have earned their degrees from NIU, while three came to DeKalb as graduate transfers. 

Ross Bowers (QB) - American Studies, Cal
Adam Buirge (S)   Leadership and Management, NIU
Daniel Crawford (TE) - Enterprise Software, NIU
Trayshon Foster (S) - Organizational & Corporate Communications, NIU
Marcus Jones (TB) - General Studies, NIU
Antonio Jones-Davis (LB) - Communications, NIU
Andrew Starr (OL) - English, Sacred Heart
Marshé Terry (S) - Communications, Connecticut
Quintin Wynne (DE) - Biological Sciences, NIU