Football | September 25
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Rocky Lombardi scored the first rushing touchdown of his college career with a seven-yard run in the second quarter, then added two more rushing touchdowns, including touchdown runs of 64 and 18 yards in the fourth quarter. He matched the three-touchdown day by his roommate,
Clint Ratkovich, versus Wyoming.
***Lombardi passed for a season and NIU career high 282 yards on 17-of-24 passing, highlighted by a 66-yard.
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Cole Tucker recorded the second 100-yard receiving day of his career with four catches for 114 yards (previous best 118 yards vs. Ohio in 2019). Tucker's day included a career long 66-yard reception.
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Tyrice Richie caught a season-high seven passes, including six for 71 yards in the first half alone. Richie finished with 76 receiving yards.
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Harrison Waylee recorded his third 100-yard rushing game of the season, and his fifth 100-yard game in his last six games dating back to 2020, with 23 carries for 130 yards on the day.
***With
Harrison Waylee and
Rocky Lombardi each rushing for more than 100 yards today, it marks the first time since the Toledo game in 2018 (November 7) that two players gained over 100 yards on the ground in the same game. The last duo to do it was Tre Harbison and Marcus Jones.
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Cole Tucker's 100-yard receiving game is the first by a Huskie receiver this year and is the second 100-yard game of his career. His previous best was an eight-catch, 118-yard day versus Ohio in 2019.
***Lombardi's 100-yard rushing day was the first by a Huskie quarterback since Marcus Childers ran for 169 yards on 23 carries versus Ohio on Oct. 12, 2018.
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Matt Ference's 65-yard punt in the first quarter was his longest punt since 2017 versus Central Michigan when he had a career long 70-yard boot.
***NIU posted season highs in first downs (29), rushing yards (292), passing yards (282) and total offense (574).
***Cornerback
Jordan Gandy continues to collect pass break-ups. After coming into the game with a team-leading four pass break-ups, he broke up two more and added a pair of tackles for loss.
***Maine was held to 110 yards of total offense and was shut out in the second half; the 14 total points surrendered were the fewest by a Huskie opponent this year and the fewest since NIU defeated Western Michigan 17-14 in the 2019 season finale.
