DeKALB, Ill. – On a rainy Saturday in DeKalb, the Northern Illinois University Huskies spent the majority of the Huskie Spring Showcase in scrimmage situations as several hundred fans watched from the Huskie Stadium stands.
 
While the offense had its moments during the 11-on-11 action, especially early, the defense ended the day on top and was able to watch while the offense ran, in a reverse of the previous Saturday's result.
 
"We came out offensively and were able to make some plays, and then the defense got some momentum," said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock.  "That's what you want to see you want to see give and take. If you have give and take, then you know you have a good football team."
 
After running through 15 minutes of individual drills, the Huskies scrimmaged for all but 10 minutes of the 1:50 minute workout, working on third and fourth down and short situations early before moving into goal line, red zone and move the ball periods from various spots on the field.
 
Freshman safety Devin Lafayette (Brunswick, Ga./Brunswick HS) grabbed a pair of interceptions during practice, while fellow safety Joshua Earl (Naperville, Ill./Nequa Valley HS) and linebacker Nick Rattin (Palatine, Ill./Fremd HS) also recorded interceptions during the scrimmage sessions.  The practice concluded on an INT as cornerback Zhamaine March (Detroit, Mich./East English Village Prep) out-wrestled Messiah Travis (Chicago, Ill./Solorio Academy) on a jump ball in the end zone.
 
"That's excellent work by the defense," Hammock said. "We want to get the ball. The defense made plays and that's what we want to do. We want to take the ball away and make plays."
 
Hammock said Saturday's practice showed that 1. The defense has caught on to some of the offense's calls during spring and 2. The - primarily - young secondary has made impressive strides this spring.
 
"We have guys that are stepping up," Hammock said. "You look at the two safeties today in Devin Lafayette and Jordan Hansen, Josh Earl made a nice play, and then our corners are playing excellent, guys like Myles McGee, Eric Rogers, Jordan Gandy and then Zhamaine March made the play at the end of the day. I think they are really going to be a weapon for us and our secondary is going to be a strength of our defense."
 
Offensively, the Huskies were especially effective during goal line situations, while Fabian McCray set up one touchdown with a long reception and scored another during "move the ball" periods.  The second-year freshman has impressed this spring, according to Hammock and gives NIU an even deeper group of talented wide receivers.
 
"[Fabian McCray] has had an excellent spring practice," Hammock said. "He's really matured, he's gotten better, and he's making the jump. We have a lot of guys that can play wide receiver and we are excited about all of them. You can't just single out one guy, we've got Tyrice [Richie], Cole Tucker, Trayvon Rudolph, Messiah Travis, Mohamed Toure, Jeremiah Howard, Fabian McCray. We have a deep wide receiver group; we have to get them the ball and they'll make plays for us."
 
In charge of getting them the ball – behind a wall build by the offensive line – is quarterback Rocky Lombardi (Clive, Iowa/Valley HS), who has risen to the top spot on the QB depth chart, according to Hammock. Lombardi, Rodney Thompson (San Diego, Calif./St. Augustine HS) and Dustin Fletcher (Flint, Mich./Carmen-Ainsworth HS) all took snaps under center on Saturday with Lombardi working with the ones.
 
"Rocky has established himself [as the top QB]," Hammock said. "Ethan [Hampton] will be back [this week] and we'll get him up to speed, but he's certainly a guy that we think can continue to progress forward."
 
With three practices left in spring ball, the Huskies' third-year head coach was pleased with what he saw Saturday but knows it was just one more step in the improvements he expects to see this spring.
 
"We're trying to keep moving forward on schedule and I think that's important for us," Hammock said. "Today was another practice, it was fun to have people in the stands, there was weather. The guys will watch the film and then we'll come back next week and try to improve on what we did today."
 
The Huskies will wrap up spring with an open practice at Huskie Stadium next Saturday, April 17 from 10 a.m.-Noon.  
 
NIU Football season tickets renewals are now available for 2019 or 2020 season ticket members. Returning season ticket members can renew their season tickets online at NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225) Monday through Friday during business hours. The ticket office can also be reached via email at huskiestickets@niu.edu.
 
NIU anticipates being able to accommodate all season ticket members for games at Huskie Stadium next fall. On the West Side, reserved seats in sections A, B, F and G are $132 for all six games with senior citizens (62+), NIU Faculty/Staff, NIU Alumni Association and Varsity Club members will pay $132 for season tickets in any non-premium area on the West Side. For all others, reserved seats in sections C, D and E on the West Side are $150. Benchback and chairback seats in sections C, D and E on the West Side are $150 and require a per seat payment.
 
-- NIU --