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  HUSKIE BITES  

• NIU takes on MAC West foe Western Michigan at Huskie Stadium in the 2021 regular season finale Tuesday night.
• With its win over Buffalo last Wednesday, NIU clinched the 2021 MAC West Division title and will play in the Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit for the eighth time in the last 12 seasons. 
• Huskie seniors Lance Deveaux Jr., Matt Ference, Luke Mallette, Zhamaine March, Brayden Patton, Clint Ratkovich and Tyrice Richie will be honored Tuesday night prior to the last home game of their NIU careers.  
• The Huskies have seven one-score wins in 2021, the latest a 33-27 overtime victory over Buffalo last Wednesday in Buffalo. After defensive tackle Demond Taylor pounced on a Bulls fumble on the one-yard line to end their overtime possession, Clint Ratkovich went 25 yards on NIU's first offensive play to give the Huskies the win. NIU scored on the last play of the game to win for the second straight week. 
• After going 0-6 a year ago, NIU's eight-game turnaround has come with a roster that includes 75 players who finished high school in 2020 or 2021 and 11 more who graduated in 2019; of those 86 players, 51 have seen action for NIU in 2021 and 32 are listed on the two-deep this week. 
• A nation-leading nine of the Huskies' 11 games in 2021 have been decided by one score.
• Western Michigan leads the all-time series with NIU, 26-20, after defeating the Huskies, 30-27, last year in Kalamazoo on a field goal by Gavin Peddie with 2:23 to play. In DeKalb, the Huskies hold a narrow 12-11 series lead. Each of the last four games between the teams has been decided by a touchdown or less.   
• Trayvon Rudolph's 75-yard touchdown run on the end around versus Buffalo was his third scoring play of exactly 75 yards in 2021 as he caught 75-yard TD passes versus Central Michigan and Kent State. 
• NIU head coach Thomas Hammock, a two-time first team CoSIDA Academic All-American who rushed for over 1,000 yards for the Huskies in 2000 and 2001, is in his third season as head coach at his alma mater. Last week, NIU announced that Hammock had received a contract extension that will keep him in DeKalb through the 2026-27 academic year. 

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  NIU FOOTBALL FACTS  

Head Coach: Thomas Hammock (NIU '02)
Record at NIU/Years: 13-16/3rd
Career Record/Years: Same
Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-3
First Year of Football: 1899
2020 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 0-6/0-6/6th
All-Time Record: 600-510-51
Last Bowl Game: 2018 Cheribundi Roca Raton Bowl (UAB 37, NIU 14)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 13
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 8, 2018
MAC Championships, Last: 5, 2018
Experience Returning/Lost: 46/16
Starters Returning: 22 (9 offense, 10 defense, 3 specialists)
Starters Lost: 5 (4 offense, 1 defense, 0 specialists)
 

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  WMU BRONCOS FACTS  

Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Tim Lester (Western Michigan/2000)
Record at WMU/Years: 30-35/Fifth
Career Record/Years: 70-48/10th
2020 Record: 4-2
Mid-American Conference Record/Finish: 4-2/Second
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Enrollment: 22,562
Conference: Mid-American, West Division (MAC)
Colors: Brown and Gold 
Stadium: Waldo Stadium    
    Surface/Capacity: Field Turf /30,200
President: Dr. Edward Montgomery
Athletic Director: Kathy Beauregard
Athletics Website: wmubroncos.com
Twitter: @WMU_Football

WMU Schedule & Results
 

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  NIU-WMU SERIES  

Overall: WMU leads 26-20
In Kalamazoo: WMU leads 15-8
In DeKalb: NIU leads 12-11
Streak: WMU, 1
First Meeting: Sept. 23, 1950; WMU 40, NIU 13 (A)
Last Meeting: Nov. 28, 2020; WMU 30, NIU 27 (A)
 

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  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  

TV: NIU-WESTERN MICHIGAN ON ESPNU

• Watch the NIU-Western Michigan game on ESPNU. NIU will make its second appearance of 2021 on the network.
• The Huskies are playing on an ESPNU broadcast for the 24th time and for the eighth time in the last four seasons. NIU is 13-10 all-time in games broadcast on ESPNU.   
• Drew Carter (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst) will be on the call for ESPNU Tuesday.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network broadcast for the Western Michigan game begins at 5:30 p.m. (CT), 30 minutes before kickoff. 
• The game will be carried on NIU network affiliates WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 (DeKalb), AM 560 The Answer (Chicago) and Sports Fan Radio AM 1330 (Rockford).
• Hear the broadcast online via Huskie All Access, and on mobile devices via the FREE NIU Huskies Mobile app or The Varsity Network app. 
• Bill Baker is in his 42nd season as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo has joined him for 36 seasons, while Andy Garcia is in his ninth season on the NIU sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW

• Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show Mondays at Noon at El Jimador Mexican Grill in DeKalb (260 E. Lincoln Hwy).
• Listen live on the NIU Huskies mobile app and on The Varsity Network app, and hear the show Monday at 7 p.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb.
• Due to the NIU men's basketball game, there will NOT be a show on November 22nd; there will be a show prior to the MAC Championship game on November 29th.
• Host Bill Baker welcomes NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock each week, along with Huskie players and special guests. 

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE

• The show features interviews with the NIU football staff, including head coach Thomas Hammock and his assistants, as well as NIU head coaches of other sports. 
• New episodes will premiere on the NIU Athletics YouTube Channel on Tuesdays in November. 
• The show is hosted by Andy Garcia and NIU Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier.

NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE

• See weekly and post-game press conferences, video features, highlights of past games and more.
• Subscribe for FREE and click the bell to be notified every time NIU posts a new video.
• Search "NIU Athletics" on YouTube.
• Archived videos and highlights, replays of some of the greatest games in school history and special features are also available 24/7 on YouTube.  

NIU HUSKIES MOBILE APP

• Download the free NIU Huskies mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
• Link to the NIU radio broadcasts, live stats, complete team rosters, digital game programs and more.
• Connect to the NIU social media channels and sign up for notifications on any Huskie team.

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  NOTING NIU  

THE MACTION CONTINUES: NIU closes out its November MACtion schedule, and the regular season, with a Tuesday night home game versus Western Michigan in Huskie Stadium on Senior Night. NIU is 2-1 in its three previous Wednesday night ESPN2 appearances this season, falling to Kent State on November 3 before recording wins over Ball State and Buffalo over the last two weeks. 

CLINCHED: With its overtime win at Buffalo, NIU clinched the MAC West Division title and a spot in the 2021 Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship game in Detroit. NIU will make its ninth appearance all-time in the game, and will play for a MAC Championship for the eighth time in the last 12 seasons.  

BOWLING, AGAIN: With its win at Central Michigan on October 23, NIU won its sixth game and secured bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. One of the MAC's premiere programs this century, the Huskies will play in a bowl game for the 11th time in the last 14 years and for the 13th time since 2004 - a span of 18 years. Thomas Hammock is the fifth coach to take the Huskies to a bowl game during that time.  

HUSKIES IN THE MAC: NIU is 162-112-2 all-time in Mid-American Conference play. The Huskies are 127-67 (.655) in league action since re-joining the MAC in 1997. Since 2010, NIU is 71-22 (.763) against the MAC with three undefeated campaigns, two one-loss seasons, seven division championships, including a run of six-straight (2010-15). The Huskies are in their 36th season as a member of the league in 2021, including an initial stint from 1975-85. 

HOME SWEET HOME: With a 75-28 (.728) record at home since 2003, NIU's all-time record at Huskie Stadium stands at 182-111-2 for a .620 all-time winning percentage. During that stretch, the Huskies have had 15 winning records at home and five undefeated seasons in DeKalb (2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013). NIU is 4-1 at home so far this season, including a 3-0 mark in league games. 

AT HOME IN THE MAC: In 36 seasons of MAC play dating back to 1975, NIU is 90-46-1 (.660) all-time at home in league games, including a 68-27 (.716) mark in Huskie Stadium versus league opponents since rejoining the league in 1997.  In 48 MAC home games since 2009, the Huskies are 40-8 with four of those losses in the last two seasons. 

NIU VS. MAC WEST: Since the MAC went to divisional play in 1997, NIU is 78-47 versus teams from the MAC West, including a 41-16 mark in the division since 2010. The Huskies are 4-0 against divisional foes this year with wins over Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Ball State and Central Michigan. 

MIDWEEK MACTION: NIU is 25-10 in league games played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays since 2010, including a 11-3 mark in MACtion home games.

A YEAR AGO: Western Michigan claimed a 30-27 win over NIU on a 24-yard field goal by kicker Gavin Peddie with 2:23 to play and the Huskies were unable to mount a last-minute scoring drive. The Broncos scored on a 43-yard run and got a 100-yard kickoff return by D'Wayne Eskridge in the first half, while a 57-yard pass from Kaleb Eleby to Eskridge set up a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. Tyrice Richie caught 12 passes for 131 yards and two TDs to lead the Huskies while the defense held WMU 20 points and 200 yards below its season average.   

SERIES HISTORY: Western Michigan holds a 26-20 advantage in the all-time series, although the Huskies own a 12-11 lead in games played in DeKalb and have not lost to the Broncos at home since 2007. Four of the last five games between the teams have been decided by one possession or less, including NIU's 17-14 win in 2019. WMU won 14 of the first 15 games of the series between 1950 and 1982, while the Huskies are 14-6 versus the Broncos since 2001. 

OVERTIME DRAMA: As if NIU's one- and two-point wins weren't exciting enough, the Huskies took it one step further last week at Buffalo with a 33-27 overtime victory over the Bulls. After NIU broke a 10-10 halftime tie with a pair of third-quarter scores, including on a 47-yard touchdown run by freshman Antario Brown, the Bulls twice came back to tie the game, including with a school record 55-yard field goal. After John Richardson's 38-yard field goal was blown wide left, the Huskie defense recovered a Buffalo fumble on the one-yard line in their overtime possession. NIU's Clint Ratkovich went 25 yards on the Huskies' first play of OT to end the game and give NIU its eighth win.      

CARDIAC CANINES: NIU has played in NINE one-score games in 2021, including each of their last seven, and the Huskies have more "close" (eight points or less) wins than any team in the country with seven. Six NIU games have been decided by six points or less this year.

THIS IS US: NIU has won more games decided by LESS than three points than any school in the country in 2021. In fact, with wins over Georgia Tech (1 point), Toledo (2), Central Michigan (1) and Ball State (1) by a combined five points (three one-point victories and one two-point win), the Huskies have the MOST one or two point wins by a FBS team in a season since Virginia won five games by that margin during a 9-4 campaign in 2007. Source: sports-reference.com/cfb.

NOTHING NEW: In three seasons under head coach Thomas Hammock, the Huskies have played in 18 games decided by eight points (one score) or less. In Hammock's first season of 2019, NIU played six one-score games, winning three games by three points each. Last year, three of NIU's six losses were by eight points or less. This year, NIU is 7-2 in one-score games for a three-year record of 10-8. 

THAT WAS DIFFERENT: While the Huskies have played plenty of close games (see previous notes), the Buffalo game was the first overtime contest of Thomas Hammock's tenure, and NIU's first overtime game since September 29, 2018. With the win at Buffalo, NIU is 9-4 in overtime games all time and has won four straight overtime contests.      

CLUTCH: Including the one-play overtime possession at Buffalo, the Huskies have put together eight "late" scoring drives to either win a game, or to end a half, with less than a minute on the clock, this season. NIU has recorded five game-winning scores with less than a minute to play - at Georgia Tech, at Toledo, at Central Michigan, versus Ball State and at Buffalo, the latter in overtime. In three of those games – at Toledo and CMU and versus Ball State – NIU also scored with less than a minute remaining in the half. The drives ranged in length from 60 to 80 yards and lasted from 32 seconds to five minutes. The complete list: 
 

Opponent	Quarter	Time	Scoring Play	Drive (Pl-Yds-TOP)
GT	4th	00:38	Ratkovich 3 pass from Lombardi (2 Pt PAT)	9-80-2:04
TOL	2nd	00:36	A. Brown 37 run (PAT)	6-75-1:49
TOL	4th	00:26	Richardson 29 FG	9-60-3:02
CMU	2nd	00:33	Rudolph 15 pass from Lombardi (PAT)	12-79-4:20
CMU	4th	00:54	Woodill 26 FG	12-62-5:02
BSU	2nd	00:29	Tucker 58 pass from Lombardi	4-78-0:32
BSU	4th	00:00	Richardson 32 FG	10-62-1:42
BUFF	OT	NA	Ratkovich 25 run	1-25-0:00

FOURTH QUARTER SCORING: NIU's ability to win close games has come down to its ability to outscore its opponents late in games. NIU has nearly doubled up on its opponents in the fourth quarter and overtime with 114 points compared to 64 for its opponents. The Huskies' top scoring quarter is the second (121 points) while NIU has totaled just 47 points in the opening period.    

EXTENDED: On Tuesday, November 9, NIU announced that Thomas Hammock had received a contract extension to remain as head coach at his alma mater through the 2026-27 academic year. Hammock is in his third year at the helm of the Huskies' program in 2021.

SPARTAN CONNECTION: When NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi looks across the field Tuesday night, he will see a familiar face in Western Michigan running back La'Darius Jefferson. Lombardi and Jefferson were teammates at Michigan State from 2018-19. Jefferson transferred to Western Michigan following the 2019 season, joining the Broncos last season while Lombardi joined NIU in the spring of 2021 following his 2020 season with the Spartans.

WILD FOR 75: Trayvon Rudolph's 75-yard end around for a touchdown at Buffalo marked his THIRD 75-yard scoring play of 2021 and the Huskies' fourth score of exactly 75 yards this year. Against both Central Michigan and Kent State, Rudolph caught medium range passes and turned them into touchdowns on the first play of drives after a fair catch on the kickoff. At Buffalo, he scored NIU's second 75-yard rushing touchdown as Harrison Waylee had a 75-yard run for a score early in the season versus Wyoming. 

RECEIVING FOR 100 AND 1,000: Three Huskie pass catchers have compiled six 100-yard receiving games in 2021 and with 80 receiving yards last week, Rudolph - a second year freshman - has joined teammates Tyrice Richie and Cole Tucker in NIU's 1,000-yard career receiving club. Rudolph put together a streak of three straight 100-yard receiving days versus Central Michigan, Kent State and Ball State, while Cole Tucker went over the century mark versus Maine and Ball State. Rudolph (6-160) and Tyrice Richie (8-147) accounted for 307 of NIU's 351 receiving yards at Central Michigan. 

LEADING THE WAY: Trayvon Rudolph's 18.8 yards per catch average ranks eighth nationally and is FOURTH among players with at least 40 catches on the season. Rudolph's seven touchdown receptions in 2021 are the most by a Huskie since tight end Shane Wimann caught seven TD passes in 2017. Rudolph tied Tyrice Richie for the team lead in catches with four at Buffalo to give him 44 on the year and became the 38th player in school history to tally 1,000 receiving yards in his career.   

IN THE NCAA RECORD BOOK: It doesn't take long to get to 1,000 career receiving yards when you get 309 in a single game, as second-year freshman Trayvon Rudolph, a high school quarterback, did at Kent State on 14 catches, Rudolph recorded the 25th 300-yard receiving day in NCAA FBS history to break the Mid-American Conference and NIU single game records. His 309 yards rank as the 18th highest total ever recorded in a FBS game and are the most by any FBS player in 2021, while his 328 all-purpose yards (with 19 kickoff return yards) rank second in the FBS this year. He caught touchdown passes of 36, 75 and 34 yards in the game. 

RUDOLPH'S NIGHT: Trayvon Rudolph's 14 catches at Kent State tied him for second on the NIU all-time single game list and are the most by a Huskie since 2016, when current N.Y. Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay made 14 grabs versus Toledo. He became the first NIU player to record three receiving TDs in a game since Nathan Palmer versus Toledo in 2011 (Nov. 1). As a true freshman in 2020, Rudolph caught 14 passes for 232 yards in the entire six game season. 

THE RAT DOG ROLLS: Grad transfer fullback Clint Ratkovich has made a major impact on the NIU offense in his lone season as a Huskie and had one of his top games of the season at Buffalo. Ratkovich scored a pair of touchdowns - his third multi-TD game of the season - ran 11 times for a season-best 75 yards and threw key blocks on both of the Huskies' long TD runs. Ratkovich scored on a 25-yard run on NIU's first offensive play of overtime to give the Huskies the win and added a seven-yard rushing TD in the third quarter. Ratkovich leads the Huskies in touchdowns with 12 (10 rushing, 2 receiving) and has scored in eight games with six rushing TDs in NIU's last four games. His 12 touchdowns are the most by a Huskie in a season since 2015 when Joel Bouagnon scored 18 TDs.

RECORD SETTER: Quarterback Rocky Lombardi joined Rudolph in the Huskie record book as he completed 33-of-57 passes for a school record 532 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions at Kent State. Lombardi's 532 passing yards broke the record of 486 yards, set by Phil Horvath versus Akron in 2005 by 46 yards to become the first 500-yard passer in school history. His 57 attempts rank second all-time at NIU while his 33 completions were fifth. Lombardi's 554 yards of total offense (22 rushing) are the most in FBS this year, while his 532 passing yards are third. 

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Rocky Lombardi is quietly putting together one of the top seasons by a passer in NIU history.  His 2,314 passing yards are currently ninth on the Huskie single seson charts and are the most by a NIU QB in a single season since 2014 (Drew Hare), his 173 completions are tied for 10th, while his 210.4 yards per game average ranks eighth. 
  
HE'S NO ROOKIE: Quarterback Rocky Lombardi came to NIU with nine starts in 22 games in three seasons at Michigan State. The Iowa native, whose grandfather Bob was a hall of fame coach in the Illinois high school ranks, completed 159-of-332 passes for 1,902 yards with 11 TDs and 14 interceptions from 2018-20 at MSU and was a 1,000-yard passer in 2020, leading the Spartans to wins over Michigan and Northwestern. His father, Tony, was a long-time college and high school football coach, while his younger brother, Beau, is a sophomore offensive lineman at Army West Point. 

RUNNING FOR 100: Four different NIU players have run for 100 or more yards in a game nine times this season. Eight of the 100-yard games have been notched by freshmen with Harrison Waylee posting three 100-yard games early in the season (vs. Georgia Tech, Wyoming, Maine), Antario Brown going for 101 versus Eastern Michigan and quarterback Rocky Lombardi totaling 119 yards on the ground versus Maine in addition to Jay Ducker's string of four consecutive 100-yard games (Bowling Green, CMU, Kent State, Ball State). 
  
DUCK, DUCK, DUCK, DUCK: Freshman Jay Ducker became the first Huskie since Joel Bouagnon in 2015 to record four consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Ducker began the streak with a 210-yard game versus Bowling Green, the most yards by a Huskie since Heisman finalist and quarterback Jordan Lynch gained 321 yards versus Western Michigan on November 26, 2013. Ducker followed that with 183 yards at Central Michigan and kept the streak alive with 101 yards on 19 carries at Kent State while adding the first two touchdowns of his Huskie career. Ducker totaled 155-yards on 24 carries in the win over Ball State and despite not making his first start until eighth game of the season, leads NIU with 785 yards on 152 carries.    

LONG? TERM COMMITMENT: Thomas Hammock's commitment to running the football starts with his background as a running back at NIU - he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in both 2000 and 2001 - and has been nourished along his coaching journey. At Wisconsin (2011-13), his running backs included Montee Ball, James White and Melvin Gordon, while he coached NIU Hall of Famer Garrett Wolfe during his stint as an assistant at NIU (2005-06) under Joe Novak. Working for John Harbaugh as running backs coach with the Baltimore Ravens (2014-18), Justin Forsett, Kyle Juszczyk and Alex Collins were just three of the backs Hammock helped flourish. 

UP FRONT: The Huskie offensive line is led by super senior Brayden Patton, a 37-game starter, at center. Patton is flanked by a pair of redshirt freshmen guards in Logan Zschernitz and J.J. Lippe, along with second year freshman John Champe. Sophomore tackles Marques Cox and Nolan Potter man the edges. Behind this group, the Huskies rank THIRD nationally in fewest sacks allowed with opponents collecting just seven sacks to date, while clearing the way for nine 100-yard rushing games, 26 rushing TDs and 228 rushing yards per game. 

FOURTH DOWN FORTUNES: The Huskie offense has converted 11 of its last 12 fourth down tries and is 19-of-23 (.826) on fourth down this season, the top percentage of any FBS team with 20 or more attempts. NIU has converted each of its last nine fourth down attempts, dating back to the third quarter of the Central Michigan game. The Huskies' 19 conversions are tied for ninth-most in the FBS this year. .  

THE LONG...: Sixteen of NIU's scoring drives have lasted at least five minutes, including seven drives lasting seven minutes or longer. The Huskies had a season-long seven minute 24 second drive in the fourth quarter at Buffalo to take a 27-24 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Buffalo. Kent State was only the second game on the year where NIU did NOT have a drive of at least five minutes. NIU also has 26 drives of 10 plays or more on the season.   

AND SHORT OF IT: Conversely, NIU has 17 scoring drives of less than 2:10 on the season, 13 of which have lasted five plays or less. In that group are six one-play drives, three of 75 yards each courtesy of Trayvon Rudolph, with Antario Brown scoring from 47 yards out on the first play at Buffalo. Not included is the untimed, one-play, 25-yard drive to end the Buffalo game in overtime.

DEBUTS: Fifteen true freshmen now have seen action in at least one game in 2021, with running back Antario Brown, cornerback JaVaughn Byrd linebacker Makhi Nelson-Douglas and defensive tackle Cade Haberman all earning starts. Byrd and Nelson-Douglas have started each of the last four games, while Haberman started at Kent State. Brown drew the starting running back assignment at Toledo and versus Bowling Green. Byrd and Haberman have played in every game this season, Nelson-Douglas in eight games and Louis Frye has seen action in seven games on special teams.   

FOREVER YOUNG: Throughout the 2021 season, NIU's starting defense has been overwhelmingly made up of players in their first, second or third year of college football. Four positions - one cornerback spot, defensive end and both safety positions - have been manned by either a first or  second year player in every game. Four other spots - both defensive tackles, linebacker and cornerback - have starters in their third year (redshirt freshmen or sophomores) mixed in with true and "COVID" freshmen. Only three veterans - super senior Lance Deveaux Jr. (LB), redshirt junior Dillon Thomas (ROV) and redshirt junior Michael Kennedy (DE) have started regularly on the NIU D.  

RED ZONE O: NIU came up empty in the red zone at the end of regulation at Buffalo - barely - when John Richardson's 37-yard field goal (with the ball snapped from the 20-yard line) was blown left by a strong wind. It was just the second time NIU has reached the opponents 20 without scoring. NIU continues to rank third in the nation in red zone offense with a .952 (40-of-42) success rate. The Huskies have scored 23 touchdowns and made 17 field goals in 42 trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line in 2021. NIU's only previous miss in the red zone came at Toledo when Clint Ratkovich's touchdown run was reversed after review and John Richardson's 23-yard attempt went awry after a poor snap. 

BIG RETURN: Second year freshman Trayvon Rudolph's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown versus Bowling Green was the Huskies' first kickoff return score in 55 games, since October 22, 2016 when Aregeros Turner had a 97-yard kickoff return for a score versus Buffalo. The return tied NIU's school record as the longest scoring play in school history, matching Tommylee Lewis' 100-yard kickoff return on Nov. 1, 2011 at Toledo and Dave Petway's 100-yard interception return versus Southern Illinois on October 22, 1977. 

GAME-WINNING KICKS: NIU redshirt sophomore kicker John Richardson has made four game-winning field goals in his career with two in his freshman season of 2019 and two this season. Richardson's kicks this season won the Toledo (10-9) and Ball State (11-10) games by 22-20 and 30-29 scores, respectively (see play details above). In 2019, Richardson's 37-yard field goal as time expired gave the Huskies a 39-36 win at Ohio (10-12); he made a 25-yard three with 41 seconds left to lift NIU to a 31-28 win at Toledo (11-13). With Richardson out for the Central Michigan game, true freshman kicker Kanon Woodill made a game-winning three of his own with 54 seconds to play. 

IRON MAN: NIU senior punter Matt Ference will add another school record to his ledger when he enters the game Tuesday night against Western Michigan. Ference, who owns nearly every NIU punting record, will tie former Huskie offensive linemen Andrew Ness and Aidan Conlon in games played with 56. Ference made his first appearance for NIU in the 2017 season opener versus Boston College (Sept. 1) and has taken the field for every Huskie game since. The St. Louis native, who serves as punter and holder on field goals and extra points, played 13 games in 2017, 14 in 2018, 12 in 2019, six in 2020 and all 11 this season. Ness, a center, and Conlon a guard, started every game for NIU from 2012-15. 

GROZA SEMIFINALIST: Sophomore kicker John Richardson was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the top college kicker in FBS. Richardson has made 18-of-22 field goal attempts in 2021, including a school record tying five field goals at Toledo and game-winning threes at Toledo and versus Ball State. He is a perfect 29-for-29 on PATs and leads NIU in scoring with 83 points. 

SENIOR WITH CLASS: NIU senior punter Matt Ference was named one of 30 candidates for the 2021 Senior CLASS award for football. The award honors seniors who have excelled in the areas of community, classroom, character and competition. Ference is the first Huskie to make the exclusive candidate list - with just 30 players annually selected - since Jordan Lynch in 2013 and is the sixth NIU player to earn the honor all-time. The St. Louis native has already earned his B.S. in marketing and MBA from NIU and is pursuing a second master's in finance.  

WALK-ON U: Of the 85 scholarship players currently on the roster, 15 started at NIU as walk-ons. The list includes senior punter Matt Ference, as well as Nick Rattin, Trayvon Rudolph and Jordan Gandy. During 2021 preseason camp, offensive lineman Matthew Schooley and tailback Mason Blakemore were put on scholarship. Most recently, back-up quarterback Jeffery Lowery and safety Louis Frye received scholarships. They join a long and distinguished list of NIU players who arrived as walk-ons, including 2010 MAC MVP Chad Spann and former NIU cornerback and current NFL veteran Rashaan Melvin.

SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION: After playing cornerback and safety in his first four seasons at NIU, Dillon Thomas moved to the hybrid "rover" position in 2021 and took over as a starter versus Eastern Michigan. He leads NIU in quarterback sacks (3.0) and ranks second in tackles for loss (5.5) despite entering the season without a single TFL or sack in his career. His 57 tackles are a single season career high.

STRONG SAFETY: Second-year safety C.J. Brown has been one of the Huskies' most consistent defenders since stepping into the starting position in the season's second game after Devin Lafayette's injury at Georgia Tech. The Canton, Michigan native leads the Huskies in tackles with 80 after making a career high 12 tackles at Buffalo. He has made at least seven stops in eight of the 10 games he has started. 
     
DBS DEVELOPING: NIU's defensive back quartet of cornerbacks Jordan Gandy and JaVaughn Byrd and safeties C.J. Brown and Jordan Hansen helped the Huskies hold Ball State to a season-low 126 yards on 11-of-26 passing and followed that up by limiting Buffalo to 16-of-23 passing for 162 yards with none longer than 38 yards. Gandy is in his third year of college football, Brown and Hansen are COVID freshmen while Byrd is a true freshman. 

A START TO REMEMBER: The Huskies stunned Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Sept. 4 when Tyrice Richie's diving catch of Rocky Lombardi's two-point conversion pass with 38 seconds left gave NIU a 22-21 "Boneyard Win". Boneyard Wins - over prominent and/or "Power 5" opponents - have been collected since 1983. Versus Georgia Tech, Harrison Waylee ran for 144 yards on 27 carries and Lombardi threw a pair of touchdown passes. NIU made two fourth down stops and forced three punts while Georgia Tech missed three field goals. NIU has collected nine Boneyard Wins in the last 12 years and 17 all-time.