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  HUSKIE BITES  

• NIU puts a wrap on its 2021 non-conference schedule when the Huskies welcome the Black Bears of Maine to Huskie Stadium for a 1:30 p.m. Band Day match-up.  
• The Huskies and Maine meet for the first time, the second non-conference debut opponent for NIU this season; NIU also plays a current Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) team for the first time. 
• Two of the  Huskies' first three games have each been decided in the final minutes.     
  •    In the season opener at Georgia Tech, Tyrice Richie made a diving catch of Rocky Lombardi's two-point conversion pass in the back of the end zone with 38 seconds to play, giving the Huskies a 22-21 win.
  •    Versus Wyoming, NIU came back from 26 points down in the final 20 minutes of the game to take a 43-42 lead before Wyoming scored with 1:35 to play to earn the victory. 
• The Huskie offense has already proven to be more potent than the 2020 version; NIU's six rushing TDs this year are one less than the seven totaled in six games in 2020 and NIU's 190.3 rushing yards per game are 63 more per game than the Huskies had a year ago.  
• While Harrison Waylee's consecutive 100-yard rushing game streak was snapped at four by Michigan, the freshman from Iowa continues to lead the MAC and rank in the top 12 in the country in rushing yards (119.0/game). Waylee ran for a career high 179 yards versus Wyoming, the highest total by a Huskie since 2016.
• NIU head coach Thomas Hammock, a two-time first team CoSIDA Academic All-American who rushed for over 1,000 yards to lead the Huskies in both 2000 and 2001, begins his third season as head coach at his alma mater.     
• After allowing friends and family only in the stands for its two November home games and playing with no fans at all for the 2020 home finale, NIU welcomes fans at full capacity to Huskie Stadium with masks required in indoor spaces. 
• With players retaining their eligibility from a year ago, NIU's 2021 roster features 87 players classified as "freshmen." That group includes 44 newcomers, 33 "COVID" (second year) freshmen and 10 redshirt freshmen.  

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  NIU FOOTBALL FACTS  
Head Coach: Thomas Hammock (NIU '02)
Record at NIU/Years: 6-15/1
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: 593-509-51
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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  MAINE FACTS  
Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Nick Charlton (Boston College/2011)
Record at Maine/Years: 8-10/3
Career Record/Years: Same
2020 Record: 2-2
Colonial Athletic Association Record/Finish: 2-2/Fourth
Location: Orono, Maine
Enrollment: 11,168
Conference: Colonial Athletic, North 
Colors: Navy Blue and Sky Blue 
Stadium: Alfond Stadium
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf /10,000
President: Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy
Athletic Director: Ken Ralph
Athletics Website: goblackbears.com
Twitter: @BlackBearsFB
Ticket Information: 207-581-BEAR

Maine Schedule & Results
 

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  NIU-MAINE SERIES  
First Meeting
 

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  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  

TV: NIU-MAINE ON ESPN3

• The NIU-Maine game will air on ESPN3 live online and on mobile devices via the ESPN App. Games on ESPN3 are available with pay television credentials at WatchESPN.com and through the ESPN app. 
• Get the direct link to watch on GameDay Central and on the football schedule page at NIUHuskies.com..
• Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Forrest Conoly (analyst) will be on the call for ESPN3 Saturday.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS RADIO NETWORK

• The Huskie Sports Radio Network broadcast for the Maine game begins at 1 pm (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 every Monday at Noon at El Jimador Mexican Grill in DeKalb (260 E. Lincoln Hwy).
• Listen live on the NIU Huskies mobile app and hear the show Monday at 7 p.m. on WLBK AM 1360/FM 98.9 in DeKalb.
• 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 weekly interviews with the NIU football staff, including head coach Thomas Hammock, his assistants and staff, as well as NIU coaches of other sports and guests. 
• Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics YouTube Channel on Thursday nights. 
• 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.com. 
• 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 new, 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  

SETTING THE STAGE: NIU returns home to wrap up its 2021 non-conference schedule versus Maine Saturday on Band Day at Huskie Stadium. The Huskies are 1-2 on the season after falling to Michigan 63-10 in the Big House last Saturday.  

HOME SWEET HOME: With a 72-27 (.727) record at home since 2003, NIU's all-time record at Huskie Stadium stands at 179-110-2 for a .619 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). 

FULL SLATE: After playing a six-game, all Mid-American Conference schedule in November and December last year, NIU and the rest of the MAC return to a full 12-game slate in 2021. The Huskies faced their five MAC West foes and played one crossover game versus the East Division in 2020. While teams across the country saw games cancelled due to COVID-19, NIU went through the entire season without one player contracting the coronavirus. 

FAR EAST: Maine is the easternmost team NIU has ever played. The Black Bears' home in Orono is located at longitude 68.6719 west which is farther east than places like Boston (71.0589 W), home of 2015 and 2017 opponent Boston College, and even Miami (80.1918 W) who the Huskies faced in 1986.

CHECKING THEM OFF: Maine is the second first-time opponent NIU has faced this season as the Huskies have now played teams from 40 different states in their 118-year history. Season opening foe Georgia Tech was NIU's first opponent all-time from the state of Georgia. NIU has never played teams from New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Jersey, Colorado, Washington, Hawaii, South Dakota or Connecticut, while Alaska does not have a Division I football program. 

LAST WEEK: NIU dropped a 63-10 decision at No. 25 Michigan as the Wolverines scored on their first nine possessions, including eight rushing touchdowns. The Huskies' John Richardson kicked a 21-yard field goal on NIU's second possession of the game to cap a 72-yard, 10-play drive, and Rocky Lombardi connected with Cole Tucker from nine yards out for a fourth-quarter touchdown. The final score was set up by a 45-yard run by Lombardi. 

LAND OF LINCOLN LEADERS: Since 2010, NIU is the winningest of the three FBS program in Illinois with a .634 winning percentage and a 92-53 record. Northwestern comes in with a 80-60 record for a .571 win percentage over the last 11 seasons, while Illinois is 48-87 (.355). The Huskies defeated Northwestern in the teams' most recent meeting in 2014, and dropped a 28-22 decision to Illinois in 2010 the last time those teams met. NIU has played in eight bowl games and a record seven MAC Championship games during the same time span.

NIU VS. THE CAA: NIU has never faced one of the 12 football teams that currently make up the the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) before. However, Maine was supposed to be the second CAA team to visit NIU as the Huskies were scheduled to open the 2020 season at home versus CAA member Rhode Island. The CAA is traditionally one of the strongest leagues in FCS football whose members include James Madison, Delaware, Elon, Stony Brook, Villanova and William & Mary.  

FCS SUCCESS: Since moving to the "major college" ranks in 1969, NIU has enjoyed success versus opponents in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). NIU owns a 16-3 record versus FCS opponents since 2000 and has won seven of its last eight games. The Huskies' last win over an FCS team came in 2019 when NIU defeated Illinois State in the 2019 season opener at Huskie Stadium. The last FCS team to defeat NIU was Western Illinois in 2016 when the Leathernecks earned a 28-23 win at Huskie Stadium. The last FCS team from outside the state of Illinois to face NIU was Murray State in 2015. 

IN THE CLUTCH: DeKalb native Cole Tucker has become quarterback Rocky Lombardi's favorite third down target so far in 2021. Of the junior's eight catches, seven have resulted in a first down or a touchdown. Versus Wyoming, five of Tucker's six receptions went for  first downs, including a sliding catch at the one-yard line to convert on fourth down. Tucker caught his first touchdown pass of 2021 - and the fourth of his career - in the fourth quarter at Michigan. He needs 85 yards to become the 37th member of NIU's 1,000-yard receiving club, joining teammate Tyrice Richie in that group. Tucker enters the game versus Maine with 77 career catches for 915 yards.  

HE'S NO ROOKIE: Quarterback Rocky Lombardi came to NIU as a well-seasoned veteran with nine starts in 22 games over the last 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.

WAY(LEE) TO GO: Despite seeing his streak of four consecutive 100-yard rushing games - dating back to the final two games of 2020 - snapped at Michigan, tailback Harrison Waylee continues to lead the Mid-American Conference in rushing yards (357), rushing yards per game (119.0) and all-purpose yards per game (121.00). He ranks 11th in the country in yards and 12th in yards per game.   

GO YOUR OWN WAY(LEE): Second year freshman Harrison Waylee earned his second consecutive MAC West Offensive Player of the Week honor after rushing for a career high 179 yards on 26 carries versus Wyoming to power the Huskies' fourth-quarter comeback. After carrying the ball eight times for minus three yards in the first half, Waylee averaged more than 10 yards per carry in the second half with two touchdowns. His 75-yard touchdown run was the longest by a Huskie since Oct. 1, 2016. He scored again just 13 seconds later on a 14-yard run after the NIU defense forced a turnover. 

MR. VERSATILITY: Senior running back Clint Ratkovich's versatility was heralded during the preseason by NIU head coach Thomas Hammock and to date the Western Illinois transfer has lived up to his billing. Ratkovich is two yards shy of being the Huskies' second leading rusher (94 yards), he ranks fourth on the team in catches (4), has dropped back to return kickoffs in NIU's last two games and leads the team in scoring with 24 points. For good measure, Ratkovich has made two tackles on special teams He scored three rushing touchdowns versus Wyoming, the most in a single game by a Huskie since Jordan Huff versus Eastern Michigan in 2016.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: After recording just seven rushing scores in six games a year ago, Waylee and Ratkovich have combined for six rushing touchdowns in NIU's first two games of 2021. The Huskies' five rushing TDs versus Wyoming were the most by NIU in a game since Nov. 1, 2016 versus Bowling Green.

BIG PLAY HUSKIES: With five rushing plays of 25 yards or longer already in 2021 - including touchdown runs of 75 and 35 yards by Harrison Waylee, a 52-yard rush by Clint Ratkovich and a 45-yard pick-up by quarterback Rockly Lombardi at Michigan - NIU has more long runs in just three games this year than in the entire 2020 season. The Huskies' longest rush a year ago went just 28 yards. Lombardi also has four passing plays of longer than 25 yards, including completions of 39 (to Tyrice Richie) and 40 (to Trayvon Rudolph) yards. In three games, NIU already has 11 long plays, halfway to last year's season total of 22. 

IN A RUSH: Through three games, including two versus Power 5 opponents, the Huskies are averaging 190.3 rushing yards per game which ranks 40th in the country and third in the MAC. NIU is also averaging 4.9 yards per rush while running behind nearly the same offensive line as a year ago (with the exception of guard J.J. Lippe). Those numbers show a big improvement from 2020, when the Huskies averaged 127.0 yards per game and 3.4 yards per rush.   

TWO DO: Thomas Hammock's decision to go for two to win the Georgia Tech game after scoring with 38 seconds to play should not have been a surprise. Under Hammock, NIU has attempted 10 two-point PATs and converted four, including a 50 percent mark (2-4) in 2020. The popularity of two-point tries is a fairly new phenomenon. Prior to 2018 (when NIU went 1-for-5 on two point conversion tries), the Huskies' last successful two-point PAT was in 2011. 

MAC SWEEP: NIU made a clean sweep of the MAC West Division Player of the Week honors after the win over Georgia Tech as freshman tailback Harrison Waylee earned the Offensive Player of the Week honor, senior linebacker Lance Deveaux Jr. named the Defensive Player of the Week and senior punter Matt Ference the Special Teams POTW. It was the first "sweep" of the MAC Weekly awards for NIU since Sept. 24, 2004 when Garrett Wolfe (offense), Javan Lee (defense) and Chris Nendick (special teams) were winners after NIU's 34-17 victory over Bowling Green. NIU did not have a player win a MAC Weekly award in 2020. 

ALL THE RECORDS: Fifth-year punter Matt Ference already holds nearly every NIU punting record and after three games, he has Andy Dittbenner's 2007 mark for single season punting average (43.5) in his sights. Through three games, Ference has punted 16 times for a 45.1-yard average after seven punts for a 48.3-yard average at Michigan.  He picked up his fifth career MAC Player of the Week honor this season after twice pinning Georgia Tech inside its 10-yard line.  

THE GANDY MAN CAN: Cornerback Jordan Gandy has started every game for NIU since transferring back to his hometown team in July 2020. In the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, he led NIU in tackles (41) and passes defended (8) en route to second team All-MAC honors. He has picked up where he left off in 2021 with four pass break-ups already to rank second in the MAC, and has added 13 tackles.  

LIKING LANCE: After playing in just one game over the last two seasons due to injury, super senior linebacker Lance Deveaux Jr. has returned to lead the Huskies in tackles with 28 through the first three games. Deveaux made a career high 13 tackles to lead a strong defensive effort versus Georgia Tech to earn his first MAC Player of the Week honor. He ranks first in the MAC and eighth in the country in solo tackles going into the Maine game. The Florida native has made 134 tackles, 89 solo, in 36 career games and had a career-best 67 stops in 2018.
 
SACK STORY: NIU's four sacks at Georgia Tech were the most by the Huskie defense since the 2018 MAC Championship game win over Buffalo - a span of 18 games. Five different Huskies earned sacks, including solo efforts by Daveren Rayner, Pierce Oppong and Dillon Thomas. On the other side of the line, NIU did not give up a sack to the Jackets, the first time since the 2019 Toledo game (Nov. 13) that the Huskies did not surrender a sack. 

FOURTH DOWN STOPS: The Huskie defense has been tough on fourth down in 2021 as opponents have been successful on just three-of-eight fourth down tries this season. Michigan went just 1-for-3 on fourth downs last week, helping the Huskies hold the Wolverines scoreless in the fourth quarter, while Wyoming was 0-for-1 and Georgia Tech 2-for-4.

SUPER SENIOR: After a breakout season in 2020 led to first team All-MAC honors. Tyrice Richie is once again atop the Huskie receiving charts with 10 catches for 105 yards in 2021. The 1,000-yard rusher who currently ranks 31st on NIU's all-time list for receiving yardage, caught five passes at Wyoming and had three catches for 70 yards at Georgia Tech. That does not include the diving grab of a game-winning two-point conversion pass with 38 seconds to play to give NIU the upset victory.  

SUCCESS STORY: Tyrice Richie achieved another milestone as he is NIU's 2021 nominee for the William Campbell Trophy, presented by the National Football Foundation to the top football Scholar-Athlete in the country. Richie, who went to junior college out of Homewood-Flossmoor High school to get his academics in order, has compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.24 in sport management and is set to graduate from NIU in December. 

HUSKIE PRIDE: As a two-time Academic All-American, Thomas Hammock's emphasis on academic success and graduation is real, and he has the numbers to prove it. Over the last three semesters, Hammock's Huskies have posted the best cumulative team GPAs in school history, compiling a school record 3.08 GPA for the spring 2021 semester. 
 
GRADS: The NIU roster includes 14 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees - either at NIU or from another institution, and one who already has two degrees. The list is topped by punter Matt Ference, who is currently pursuing his third degree from NIU. Transfers Braxton Chapman, Miles Joiner, Rocky Lombardi, Luke Mallette and Clint Ratkovich all came to NIU with degrees from their previous institutions. Erik Abrell, Erin Collins, Lance Deveaux Jr., Michael Kennedy, Brayden Patton, Kyle Pugh, Dillon Thomas and Cole Tucker are Huskie alumni.

ADDING TO THE BONEYARD:  With its 22-21 win over Georgia Tech in the 2021 season opener, NIU claimed its 17th "Boneyard Win," which are ?wins over prominent opponents and teams from leagues now designated as "Power 5." The Boneyard tradition began in 1983 with a win over Kansas and NIU has collected nine Boneyard Wins in the last 12 years. NIU has seven Boneyard Wins over Big Ten teams all-time, most recently with a 21-17 win over Nebraska on Sept. 16, 2017 when the Huskies became the first Mid-American Conference team to win in Lincoln. 

BIG WIN: 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 lead. After the Jackets' last second field goal attempt was blocked, NIU had a season-opening Boneyard Win. Harrison Waylee ran for 144 yards on 27 carries to power the Huskie offense, and Lombardi completed touchdown passes to Miles Joiner and Clint Ratkovich. Lance Deveaux Jr. led a stout performance by the NIU defense with 12 tackles as NIU made two fourth down stops and forced three punts to go along with three Georgia Tech missed field goals. 

LEAD DOGS: Six players were elected team captains for 2021, including newcomers Rocky Lombardi (QB) and Clint Ratkovich (RB). Super seniors Lance Deveaux Jr. (LB) and Brayden Patton (C) and third-year players Nick Rattin (LB) and James Ester (DT) round out the group. This is the first year that NIU has selected captains prior to the season under Hammock.
   
NEW TO NIU: All told, NIU brought in eight transfers for 2021. In addition to QB Rocky Lombardi and running back Clint Ratkovich, Braxton Chapman (Youngstown State), Nate Valcarcel (South Dakota) and Dayven Shinhoster (Nebraska-Kearney), have seen action on special teams for NIU, while tight end Miles Joiner caught a touchdown pass at Georgia Tech. 

DEBUT-DOGS: A year ago, 10 true freshmen started at least two games for the Huskies and 21 saw action during the COVID-19 shortened season. With first-year freshman linebacker Makhi Nelson-Douglas making five tackles in his NIU debut in the second half at Michigan, four true freshmen have seen action for the Huskies in the first three games. In addition to Nelson-Douglas, true freshmen JaVaughn Byrd, Cade Haberman and George Gumbs have played with Gumbs playing on special teams.   

FR.-C: NIU's roster includes 33 "COVID" or second year freshmen, designated as Fr.-C on NIU printed materials. The team's 87 total "freshmen" includes 2020 and 2021 high school grads, as well as redshirt freshmen who played in four or less games in 2019. Eighteen COVID-19 freshmen saw action during NIU's six-game 2020 season, and six started four or more of the Huskies' games. 

WALK-ON U: Thomas Hammock has made a habit of rewarding players who walk-on to the Huskie program with scholarships. The list of former walk-ons includes senior punter Matt Ference, holder of nearly every NIU punting record, and current starters Nick Rattin, Devonte O'Malley, Trayvon Rudolph and Jordan Gandy. During 2021 preseason camp, offensive lineman Matthew Schooley and tailback Mason Blakemore were put on scholarship. They join a long and distinguished list of NIU players who arrived as walk-ons including 2010 MAC MVP Chad Spann and NFL veteran Rashaan Melvin.

COACH TO CURE: This week the NIU coaching staffs will be wearing special arm patches in honor of the AFCA's Coach to Cure MD program. The goal of CTCMD is to raise awareness and funding for Duchenne muscular dystrophy while demonstrating coaches' commitment to the betterment of young men and the core academic research missions of their universities. 

NEXT:  NIU moves on to Mid-American Conference play for the remainder of the 2021 season beginning with a Homecoming date with Eastern Michigan in Huskie Stadium on October 2.