Football | August 21

DeKALB, Ill. – As Northern Illinois University students return to campus, with NIU Week of Welcome activities in full swing and fall semester classes set to begin Monday, the NIU football team went through its final extended scrimmage of fall camp Saturday morning in full pads during a two-hour practice at Huskie Stadium.
 
The Huskie offense came out energized to start the scrimmage, with tailback Harrison Waylee (Johnston, Iowa/Urbandale HS) scoring from 25 yards out on the first play. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi (Clive, Iowa/Valley HS) and wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee HS) each threw touchdown passes with tight end Miles Joiner (Dayton, Ohio/Butler HS) and tailback Jay Ducker (Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West HS) each recording scores.
 
After the defense had earned "wins" on each of the two previous days' practices (each practice of camp is scored by the staff), NIU head coach Thomas Hammock was pleased to see the offense come out strong on Saturday.
 
"The defense won the last two practices and today the offense came out with a little fire, and they got after them," Hammock said. "You saw some gadget type plays, they obviously put some thought and effort into it and wanted to create some momentum and I thought they did a nice job."
 
With NIU's pack of backs still running well, Hammock noted that Lombardi continues to impress.
 
"Our running game is looking strong, we have some backs that can make it a lot easier for the quarterback, and Rocky is doing a phenomenal job managing the whole offense," Hammock said.
 
Along the line, senior Brayden Patton (Elletsville, Ind./Edgewood HS) showed his versatility on Saturday as the starting center and sometime guard lined up at tackle as left tackle Marques Cox (Peoria, Ill./Peoria HS) was given the day off.
 
"[Brayden] is a guy that gives us a lot of flexibility up front," Hammock said. "We want to build depth, and he can play all five positions which is a big plus. The other big plus is that we have three centers that can play between Patton, J.J. Lippe (Milwaukee, Wis./Whitefish Bay HS) and Pete Nygra (North Indianapolis, Ind./Brownsburg HS). So having those three centers allows us, if something happens at another position, to slide Patton over. He's played some tackle here before, and we wanted to get him some reps there this preseason."
 
Nygra is part of a group of first-year players who has Hammock excited about the depth that NIU has been able to build during the preseason.  
 
"We've got two backs on offense, Antario Brown (Savannah, Ga./Beach HS) and Mason Blakemore (O'Fallon, Mo./Centralia [Ill.]) who we feel can help us win," Hammock said as he went through the list. "At the wide receiver position, Mason Pierre-Antoine (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East HS) is a young guy who is an exceptional route runner that has a chance. Then Ethan Hampton (Elburn, Ill./Aurora Christian HS) at quarterback, who was here in the spring, is so mature. On the defensive line, Cade Haberman (Omaha, Neb./Westside HS) is a guy who is in the rotation, and will probably be in the two-deep. At linebacker, Makhi Nelson-Douglas (Omaha, Neb./Elkhorn South HS) is a guy that we feel like we can get him ready along with Brock Lampe (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford HS) and Elijah Hamm (Watkinsville, Ga./Oconee County HS). On the back end of our defense, JaVaughn Byrd (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King HS) is a young aggressive corner who can play man coverage and safety Muhammed Jammeh (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) , a walk on who was a track guy in high school, is a very physical player."
 
As evidence of that depth, Hammock said the rookies will not be counted on to start in two weeks versus Georgia Tech.
 
"The great thing about where we're at is, we don't need these guys to start week one," Hammock said. "Later in the season, week four, week six, we feel these guys can get ready to play. It's not a long list. We need to continue to develop these guys, because we obviously know there will be things that happen throughout the season, but this group as of right now we feel can go out there and contribute and help us win."
 
After opening the season at Georgia Tech on Sept. 4, the Huskie football team plays its first of six 2021 home games on Saturday, Sept. 11 versus Wyoming. Kickoff for the Welcome Back Fans game honoring First Responders and Heroes is at 12:30 p.m. (CT).  
 
Single game and season tickets, as well as mini-plans and Family Packs, are on sale with season ticket prices as low as $85. Purchase a minimum of four tickets for all six games via the Family Pack for just $90 per ticket (in sections B and F) or $66 per ticket (in sections A and G). Three-game or four-game mini-plans are also available with Mission's 3-Game Mini-Plan priced at $79 (including processing), while Victor E.'s 4-Game Mini-Plan is $107. Single game ticket prices vary depending on location and game (Saturday or MACtion). In 2021, the cost of parking in the NIU Convocation Center is included in the price of tickets, making Huskie Football tickets an even greater value than ever before.
 
To see all the ticket options and prices for football and volleyball, and for more information on premium seating options at Huskie Stadium, go to NIUHuskies.com. To purchase tickets, call 815-753-PACK (7225) or go to NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies.
 
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