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FB23 - Jashon Prophete & Javaughn Byrd vs BC
Gaelen Morse

Huskies and Salukis Battle Saturday in NIU Home Opener

In-State Foes Meet for First Time Since 2007

September 5

FB23 - Game Notes Header (SIU)

  DOG TREATS  
  • NIU welcomes in-state foe Southern Illinois to Huskie Stadium for its 2023 home opener on Saturday, September 9th. 
  • The Huskies and Salukis meet for the 44th time; the teams have played just five times in the last 35 years dating back to 1988 and have not played since 2007.
  • In the last game between the teams, SIU scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to earn a 34-31 comeback win in 2007. Current Salukis head coach Nick Hill threw two touchdown passes in the final 1:01 of the game to secure the win.
  • NIU is coming off a 27-24 overtime win at Boston College to earn its 18th "Boneyard Win" since 1983, and second over an ACC opponent in a season opener in the last three years. 
  • Huskie alum and 2022 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Thomas Hammock is in his fifth season at the helm of the NIU program in 2023. He guided the Huskies to the 2021 MAC Championship. 
  • NIU will honor the "Voice of the Huskies" - radio play-by-play broadcaster Bill Baker - during halftime of Saturday's game. Baker will retire following the 2023 football season, his 44th behind the mic for NIU.
  • The Huskies are 10-5 all-time in overtime games following the victory at Boston College, which came on a Rocky Lombardi quarterback sneak after the Huskie defense held Boston College to a field goal on its overtime possession. 
  • Sixteen players who started their collegiate careers elsewhere saw action for NIU at Boston College with six - three first-year Huskies and three returnees - starting the game.
  • Last week at BC, the NIU defense recorded the first shutout half by the Huskies since the first half of the 2021 MAC Championship game win over Kent State. 
  • Since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program among the state of Illinois' seven Division I - 3 FBS -  football programs with a 104-64 record for a .619 winning percentage. 
  • Over the last 15 years - since 2008 - every freshman class has left NIU with at least one MAC Championship. The Huskies' five MAC Championship game victories are more than any other current league member and NIU has made a record nine appearances in the game.  
  • The Huskies were ranked third in the West Division in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. See the complete poll on page 2.
  • Next: NIU takes on Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, September 16. 

  NIU FOOTBALL FACTS  

Basic Offense/Defense: Multiple/4-2-5
First Year of Football: 1899
2022 Record/MAC Record/Finish: 3-9/2-6/6th
All-Time Record: 605-521-51
Last Bowl Game: 2021 Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41)
Bowl Appearances (FBS): 14
MAC Championship Appearances, Last: 9, 2021
MAC Championships, Last: 6, 2021
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 49/27
Starters Returning: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense, 2 specialist)
Starters Lost: 11 (4 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist)
 

 SALUKIS' FACTS  

Head Coach (Alma Mater/Year): Nick Hill (Southern Illinois, 2008)
Record at Southern Illinois/Years: 36-43/8th
Career Record/Years: Same
2022 Record: 5-6
Conference Record/Finish: 4-4/T-6th
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Enrollment: 11,107
Conference: Missouri Valley Football Conference
Colors: Maroon and White 
Stadium: Saluki Stadium
Surface/Capacity: FieldTurf Classic HD/15,000
Chancellor: Dr. Austin A. Lane
Athletic Director: Tim Leonard
Athletics Website: SIUSalukis.com
Twitter: @SIU_Football

Southern Illinois Schedule & Results
 

  NIU-SIU SERIES  

Overall: NIU leads 28-14-1
In DeKalb: NIU leads 17-5-1
In Carbondale: NIU leads 11-9
Streak: SIU, 1
First Meeting: SIU 7, NIU 6 (A), 11/21/31
Last Meeting: SIU 34, NIU 31 (H), 9/8/07
 

  FOLLOW THE HUSKIES  

TV: NIU-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ON ESPN+
  • The NIU-Southern Illinois game will be streamed on ESPN+, accessible via the ESPN App available on both iOS and Android devices, desktop and TV-connected devices (e.g. Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV).
  • Subscriptions to ESPN+ are available on both a monthly and annual basis and can be used on up to five streaming devices simultaneously.
  • Jim Barbar (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (color analyst) will be on the call for ESPN+ Saturday.

RADIO: HUSKIE SPORTS NETWORK
  • The Huskie Sports Radio Network coverage for the Southern Illinois game begins 90 minutes before kickoff, at 1 p.m. (CT), on 94-9 WDKB with the Toyota Pre-Game Tailgate Show.
  • Coverage on NIU network affiliate SportsFan AM 1330 and on The Varsity Network app begins 30 minutes before the game, at 2 pm (CT).
  • Hear the broadcast on mobile devices via the free NIU Huskies mobile app or The Varsity Network app. 
  • Bill Baker begins his 44th and final season (see note) as the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Huskies." Color analyst Mark Lindo is alongside for the the 39th consecutive season, while Andy Garcia begins his 11th year on the sidelines. 

INSIDE HUSKIE FOOTBALL RADIO SHOW
  • Fans are invited to attend the one-hour weekly show every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Fatty's Pub & Grille in DeKalb (1312 W. Lincoln Hwy).
  • Listen live on the NIU Huskies or The Varsity Network mobile app and hear the show live on 94-9 WDKB and on SportsFan AM 1330 in Rockford.
  • Host Andy Garcia welcomes NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock each week, along with Huskie players and special guests. 

NIU WEEKLY ON YOUTUBE
  • Host Andy Garcia talks NIU football, basketball and more with the Huskie head coaches and administrators, including a weekly spotlight on Huskie Football. Get all the latest news and updates in this fast-paced 30 minute show.
  • Also, hear from Huskie legend Bill Baker in each episode with a special "Looking Back with Bill Baker" segment.  
  • Watch new episodes on the NIU Athletics YouTube Channel on Thursdays. 

NIU ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE
  • See weekly and post-game press conferences, special features, game highlights, NIU Weekly and more.
  • Subscribe for FREE and click the bell to be notified every time NIU posts a new video.
  • Search "NIU Athletics" on YouTube or go to YouTube.com/NIUAthleticsOfficial. 
  • 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.

  NOTING NIU  

COMING HOME: After opening the season with a 27-24 overtime Boneyard Win at Boston College, the NIU Huskies return home to play host to in-state foe Southern Illinois in the first of six Huskie Stadium home games Saturday at 2:30 pm. The Huskies are in their 122nd season of intercollegiate football, and 55th as a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly "Major College") team in 2023. 

HOME OPENERS: Since 1969 when NIU joined the "major college" ranks, the Huskies are 29-23 in home openers at Huskie Stadium, not including two home openers played at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2007 and 2012. The Huskies won its 2022 home, and season, opener versus Eastern Illinois, after losing its two previous home openers. 

IN THE DOGS' HOUSE: NIU has won nearly 70 percent of its games played in Huskie Stadium since 2003 with a 76-34 (.691) record at home over the last 20 years, NIU's all-time record at Huskie Stadium is 184-118-2 for a .608 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).

THE SIU SERIES: NIU and Southern Illinois meet for the 44th time, which ranks as the seventh-oldest opponent in NIU's history, although the teams have not played since 2007 and have met just five times in the last 35 years, since 1988.  The Huskies own a 28-14-1 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to 1931, and are 17-5-1 versus the Salukis in DeKalb. SIU ranks as the second most frequent opponent among in-state foes behind only Illinois State (57 meetings).

THE LAST MEETING: Southern Illinois earned a 34-31 comeback win over NIU in DeKalb on Sept. 7, 2007 by scoring 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter behind quarterback - and current SIU head coach - Nick Hill. NIU built a 28-7 lead midway through the third quarter as Montell Clanton scored on a 59-yard run and Justin Anderson tallied three scores (two receiving and one rushing). The Huskies led 31-14 following a 46-yard field goal by Chris Nendick with 2:30 to play in the third quarter. SIU's comeback began with a 52-yard interception return TD; a 26-yard pass from Hill to Ryan Kernes pulled the Salukis within three, 31-28, with 1:01 to play. SIU recovered the onside kick and Hill's 30-yard pass to Justin Allen with 22 seconds left provided the winning margin. 

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 an 18-3 record versus FCS opponents since 2000 and has won nine of its last 10 games and four straight. Western Illinois was the last FCS team to defeat NIU with a 28-23 win at Huskie Stadium in 2016. 

FILLING THE BONEYARD: With its 27-24 overtime win over Boston College in the 2023 season opener, NIU earned its 18th "Boneyard Win," defined as wins over prominent opponents and teams from leagues now designated?as "Power 5." The Boneyard tradition began in 1983 and NIU now has collected 10 Boneyard Wins in the last 15 years, including in back-to-back games versus ACC opponents. All-time, the Huskies have Boneyard Wins over teams from the ACC (4), SEC (1), Big 12 (5) and Big Ten (7), as well as over independent BYU. 

OPENING DAY W: NIU opened the 2023 season with a 27-24 win over Boston College in Chesnut Hill as Rocky Lombardi scored on a quarterback sneak in overtime after the Huskie defense held Boston College to a 39-yard field goal in its OT period. The Huskies led 7-0 at halftime as the NIU defense recorded its first shutout half since 2021, and took a 14-0 lead on the opening drive of the third quarter. BC cut the lead in half after recovering a fumble at the NIU 25, and the teams traded touchdowns to start the fourth quarter before the Eagles tied the game with 1:44 to play on a six-play, 83-yard drive. Antario Brown scored touchdowns rushing and receiving, the latter on a pass from fellow running back Justin Lynch, with fullback Brock Lampe scoring his first career TD on a one-yard run.  

AGAINST THE ACC: With Saturday's win over Boston College, the Huskies are 4-8 all-time versus teams who were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference at the time the game was played and have won their last two match-ups versus ACC teams. NIU defeated Georgia Tech in the 2021 season opener, 22-21, while its two previous wins came in 2002 and 2003 over Wake Forest and Maryland, respectively. Three of NIU's four ACC wins have come in overtime. 

DOGS IN OT: NIU won in overtime for the 10th time in school history to improve its all-time overtime record to 10-5. The Huskies have now won five of their last six overtime games after its four-game winning streak in OT was snapped at Ball State last year. NIU is 4-3 in overtime games on the road and is 1-0 in neutral site OT games. The Huskies have won three of four overtime games versus non-conference opponents and are 7-4 when MAC games go to extra periods.  

HUSKIE LEGEND: The 2023 season marks the 44th and final year behind the mic for the "Voice of the Huskies," legendary play-by-play man Bill Baker. Baker will call his 509th football game this week, and has missed just one football game since calling his initial game between the Huskies and Long Beach State in Anaheim, Calif. on Sept. 5, 1980. He also has called more than 1,200 NIU basketball games – including several years when he called both men's and women's games. Baker, who ranks tied for sixth in longevity for FBS play-by-play voices, will be honored during halftime of the Huskies' 2023 home opener versus Southern Illinois on Sept. 9. 

LAND OF LINCOLN LEADERS: Since 2010, NIU is the winningest football program among the state of Illinois' seven Division I football programs. The Huskies are 1-1 versus their fellow in-state FBS programs with a 2014 win over Northwestern and a 2010 loss at Illinois, and are 4-1 versus in-state FCS opponents over the last 12 seasons, including wins over Illinois State (2019) and Eastern Illinois (2022) under Thomas Hammock. 

Illinois' Division I Schools Since 2010
Team W L Pct.
NIU 104 64 .619
Illinois State 90 60 .600
Northwestern 83 79 .512
Southern Illinois 68 80 .459
Illinois 62 96 .392
Eastern Illinois 56 89 .386
Western Illinois 52 95 .354

IN-STATE FOES: NIU is 104-74-13 all-time versus current FBS and FCS schools in Illinois for a winning percentage of .578. NIU has defeated both Southern Illinois and Eastern Illinois 28 times and has defeated Illinois State 26 times. The Huskies are 21-18-1 versus Western Illinois, 0-4 versus Illinois and 1-6-1 in eight meetings with Northwestern. 

THEY'RE ALL HUSKIES NOW: Transfers are a way of life in college football in 2023 and NIU added 15 new transfers this offseason to the eight returnees who started their collegiate careers elsewhere. Six transfers - three newcomers (K Jake Seibert, TE Chris Carter, LB DaRon Gilbert) and three returnees (P Tom Foley, QB Rocky Lombardi, S Nate Valcarcel) - started for the Huskies at Boston College and another 10 (five new)saw action in the game. 

TRANSFER IMPACT: First and second year transfers accounted for nine of the Huskies' 14 receptions at Boston College for 123 yards, or 71 percent of the team total, led by second year Huskie Kacper Rutkiewicz (5 catches, 46 yards) and newcomers Chris Carter (2-46) and Grayson Barnes (2-31). Four transfers - including first year Huskie Gavin Williams with 15 carries for 61 yards - accounted for 89 rushing yards on 25 carries. NIU's leading tackler versus BC, DaRon Gilbert, is also a newcomer in 2023, as is fellow linebacker Tyler Jackson. The two combined for 10 stops last week.    

PITCHING A SHUTOUT: The Huskie defense shut out Boston College for the first half last Saturday, the first shutout half for NIU since the first half of the 2021 MAC Championship Game versus Kent State (12/4/2021). The Huskies held the Eagles to seven first downs and just 45 passing yards, while allowing BC to convert just 2-of-8 third downs. Boston College ran for 90 yards on 14 carries in the first half, but gained just 56 rushing yards on 14 carries in the second half and finished the game with 314 yards. A year ago, opponents averaged 395.7 yards per game versus NIU. The Huskies forced BC to punt seven times, a mark reached just once in 2022. 

DUAL THREAT BACK: Running back Antario Brown scored the Huskies' first two touchdowns of the season versus Boston College, on a seven-yard catch and run in the second quarter, and on a two-yard rush in the third. Brown is the first NIU back to score a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the same game in six seasons, since Jordan Huff versus Ball State in 2017 (Nov. 9). Brown's receiving touchdown was the first of his NIU career and came on his second career catch. He has scored 14 total touchdowns in 20 games over the last three seasons. 

PAVING THE WAY: NIU returned six offensive linemen who started at least seven games a year ago and the group came into the season with 118 career starts which ranked first among all FBS starting offensive lines. Junior Logan Zschernitz leads all Huskies with 32 career starts, followed closely by sixth-year senior offensive tackle Nolan Potter who now has 31 starts. Junior utility man J.J. Lippe, who started games at guard, tackle and center a year ago, enters the SIU game with 22 career starts while junior John Champe has started 16 games. The "youngster" of the group is sophomore center Pete Nygra who started 11 games a year ago. Junior Evan Buss stepped into the left tackle spot and started nine games there in 2022. The most experienced starting units in the FBS heading into 2023:   

Career OL Starts (Entering the Season)    
    1.    NIU    118
    2.    Kansas State    116
    3.    West Virginia    111
    4.    Clemson    95
        Duke    95

NIU Returning Starters Current Career Starts (includes 2023)
1.    Logan Zschernitz    32
2.    Nolan Potter    31
3.    J.J. Lippe    22
4.    John Champe    16
5.    Pete Nygra    12
6.    Evan Buss    10
TOTAL    123

VERSATILITY: Defined as "the state or quality of being useful for or easily adapted to various tasks," it also describes NIU fullback Brock Lampe and running back Justin Lynch. Their versatility was on display at Boston College as Lampe served as a lead blocker while lined up at tight end, a ballcarrier with three third down conversion runs and a one-yard touchdown, and a receiver with two catches for 28 yards. The second, a one-handed grab, put NIU inside the Eagles' 10-yard line in overtime. Lynch carried the ball three times for 12 yards, was targeted as a receiver and, threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Antario Brown off a direct snap. Not to mention they both play special teams.   

OFFENSIVE OPTIONS: NIU head coach Thomas Hammock has said throughout the preseason that the 2023 Huskies have more playmakers on offense than his previous NIU teams and many of those options were on display at Boston College. Six different receivers caught passes with new tight ends Chris Carter and Grayson Barnes recording long receptions of 32 and 24 yards, respectively. Meanwhie, eight different players carried the ball at BC including two receivers, three running backs, quarterback Rocky Lombardi, fullback Brock Lampe and hybrid receiver/running back Billy Dozier. 

WELCOME BACK: A pair of impact players returned to the Huskie offense for 2023 after missing all (Trayvon Rudolph) or most (Rocky Lombardi) of the 2022 season.. Wide receiver Rudolph, who sustained a season-ending injury during 2022 training camp, caught a team-leading 51 passes for 892 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021. He also led the Huskies in all-purpose yards with 1,462. Lombardi led NIU to the 2021 MAC Championship while throwing for 2,597 yards on 200-of-343 passing with 15 touchdowns and rushing for 473 yards and nine touchdowns. He played in just four games in 2022 and was granted a seventh season via a medical redshirt. At Boston College, Lombardi played ever snap, accounting for 172 yards of total offense and the game-winning touchdown in overtime, while Rudolph caught a pair of passes for 14 yards, returned a kickoff and had three carries. 

HUSKIE DEBUTS: Sixteen of the 61 Huskies who played at Boston College were making their NIU debuts. The group included 11 transfers (10 new, 1 returning), redshirt freshmen Malik Armstrong (WR), Jalen Johnson (WR) and Evan Malcore (OL), redshirt sophomore Luke Pinnick (OL) and true freshman Santana Banner (S). Five players recorded their first starts in a Huskie uniform: Chris Carter (TE) and DaRon Gilbert (LB), sophomores Roy Williams (DE) and Izzy Ozoh (TE) and  junior Nate Valcarcel (S). 

FIRSTS: Several Huskies went beyond debuts to recording career "firsts," with three involving touchdowns. Running back Antario Brown collected his first receiving touchdown, fullback Brock Lampe scored his first touchdown (rushing) on the day he also earned his first carries and Justin Lynch threw his first touchdown pass as a Huskie. Newcomers Chris Carter and Grayson Barnes caught their first passes in a NIU uniform. Defensively, cornerback JaVaughn Byrd's third quarter interception was the first of his career while sophomore Roy Williams posted his first career sack.

LEADERS OF THE PACK: Five players were named 2023 permanent team captains this week. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi, offensive tackle Nolan Potter, safety C.J. Brown, linebacker Jaden Dolphin and defensive tackle James Ester were chosen in voting by the Huskie team. Lombardi and Ester were named captains for the third consecutive season, while Potter is in his second year in the role. They will be joined by a different teammate selected each game.

WATCH-LISTED: Five Huskies were named to a preseason watch list in August. Running back Antario Brown earned a spot on the Doak Walker Award Watch List for the second consecutive year. Wide receiver and return man Trayvon Rudolph collected recognition on the Paul Hornung Award list, while defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley and offensive tackle Nolan Potter were named to the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy Watch Lists, respectively. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi earned a spot on the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. 

THE POWER OF THREE: Over the years, good things have happened for NIU Football in years that have ended in the number "3". 
  • The 1963 Huskies finished 10-0, won the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and were voted College Division National Champions by the Associated Press.
  • In 1983, NIU won its first Mid-American Conference Championship and finished the season with a 10-2 record after winning its first bowl game as a "Major College" (now FBS) program.
  • In 1993, running back LeShon Johnson led the NCAA Division I-A in rushing with 1,976 yards on 327 carries with 2,028 all-purpose yards to become the first consensus All-American in school history; Johnson finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.  
  • The 2003 Huskies defeated No. 15 Maryland (20-13 OT), No. 21 Alabama (19-16) and Iowa State (24-16) to open the season and were ranked as high as No. 12 in the country (AP) behind eventual All-Pro running back Michael Turner. 
  • Quarterback and Heisman finalist Jordan Lynch finished third in voting for the Trophy in 2013. He earned AP All-America honors after leading NIU to an undefeated regular season, setting NCAA quarterback records for rushing (1,920) and touchdowns (23).
NEW FACES: Four members of the coaching staff will be making their debuts on the Huskie sideline at Boston College. Cornerbacks coach D.J. Bland, tight ends coach Cory White, linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Adam Breske, and running backs coach and passing game coordinator Wesley Beschorner are the newest members of the NIU staff. Bland joined the Huskies from Eastern Illinois, White was at San Diego and Breske came from Washington State. Beschorner was the head coach at Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the last three seasons.

GRADS: NIU's 2023 roster includes 17 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees - either at NIU or from another institution. James Ester (DT), Tom Foley (P), J.J. Lippe (OL), Nolan Potter (OT), Kacper Rutkiewicz (WR), Demond Taylor Jr. (DT) and Tristen Tewes (TE) are all Huskie graduates while transfers Gabe Amegatcher (CB), Keshon Artis (LB), Chris Carter (TE), Kendrell Flowers (RB), DaRon Gilbert (LB), Tyler Jackson (LB), C.J. Jordan (QB), Rocky Lombardi (QB), Gavin Patrick (TE) and Davis Patterson (WR) all arrived at NIU with their bachelor's degrees. 

COAST TO COAST: The Huskies' 2023 roster includes players from 18 different states stretching from coast to coast, as well as Canada, represented. Among the newcomers on the roster are players from California, Oregon and Texas. Georgia has outpaced Florida with 12 Peach state natives compared to five from the Sunshine State.

OFF THE FIELD: Huskie kicker Kanon Woodill is a member of the ROTC program at NIU. Over the summer, the Huskies once again participated in a Habitat for Humanity build in Rockford, Illinois, the second year in a row the team has collectively participated. 



 
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