Football | August 31

NIU's 706 yards of total offense Saturday marked the third highest total in school history. The Huskies' total ranked behind only the Oct. 6, 1990 game versus Fresno State when NIU had a school record 806 yards of total offense and a 710-yard game versus Ball State on November 15, 2011.
 
In his first start since October 8, 2022 versus Toledo, Ethan Hampton completed 18 of 20 passes for a career high 328 yards and five touchdowns.  Hampton's passing efficiency rating of 310.3 broke NIU's single game record, previously held by College Football Hall of Famer George Bork, who had a rating of 261.3 versus UW-Whitewater on Sept. 14, 1963.
 
Hampton's five TD passes tied for the sixth-most in NIU history and are the most by a Huskie QB in a game since Nov. 1, 2011 when Chandler Harnish threw six TD passes versus Toledo. Hampton's previous high for touchdown passes in a game was two (multiple times).
 
Hampton posted the first 300-yard passing game in NIU's last 30 games, since November 3, 2021 when Rocky Lombardi threw for a school record 532 yards against Kent State.   
 
Trayvon Rudolph recorded his fifth career 100-yard receiving day with 104 yards on four catches.  The senior wide receiver added two carries for 67 yards. Rudolph's 60-yard rushing TD was his longest run since 2021 when he had a career long 75-yard rushing score at Buffalo.
 
The Huskies scored just 25 seconds into the 2024 season on a two-play, 46-yard drive. 23s were wild as Ethan Hampton hit Dane Pardridge on a 23-yard touchdown pass one play after a 23-yard pickup by Antario Brown.
 
Hampton connected with five different receivers on his five TDs. Cam Thompson and Keyshaun Pipkin each recorded their first touchdowns as Huskies, with both plays going for 11 yards.