10-31-2004, 10:13 AM
Now NIU can focus on Toledo showdown
By Bobby Narang - Chronicle Sports Staff
MUNCIE, Ind. - Northern Illinois University's latest chance for a first-ever solo Mid-American Conference West Division title nearly slipped out of the hands of the Huskies' hands on Saturday.
NIU avoided a gigantic upset with a thrilling, too-close-for-comfort, 38-31 overtime victory over Ball State University.
"We made key plays when we needed," said NIU coach Joe Novak. "Ball State had a good gameplan. We have to get better at putting teams away."
The sixth straight victory over the Cardinals was all but secured at halftime. The Huskies led 21-10 and dominated the yardage total (284-91). Ball State quarterback Joey Lynch was just 6-of-22 passing for 31 yards. BSU freshman tailback Adell Givens accounted for 68 rushing yards, but the Huskie defense limited him to 15 yards rushing in the second quarter.
Everything changed in the second half. The Cardinals played more aggressive, and started mixing in runs by Givens with an effective short-range passing games.
"They did a excellent job of gapping us," said linebacker Jason Hutton, who filled in for injured starter Brian Atkinson. "Givens is a hard back to tackle."
Quarterback Josh Haldi and tailback Garrett Wolfe saved the day on the first drive in overtime. Haldi slipped between a tackler for a 16-yard run on second down.
"I was just trying to make plays," Haldi said. "I was just reacting and going on instincts. They did a lot of things to get us out of our rhythm. We needed it at the time. We made a big play and were able to get this one done."
One play later, Wolfe shed two tackles for a nine-yard touchdown, the third score of the day for the sophomore. Wolfe, who rushed for a career-best 280 yards and scored three touchdowns, praised Haldi for setting up his game-winning run.
"I happened to look back after I gave my play fake," Wolfe said. "He's a big-play quarterback. It was another big play."
Now, the Huskies can finally talk about playing the University of Toledo.
"We've got to get by Toledo," said wide receiver Dan Sheldon, who caught a career-high 78-yard touchdown pass from Haldi in the second quarter. "It's been a big hump. We feel this could be our year."
Haldi said the Huskies can't wait for the chance to avenge losing the Mid-American Conference West Division title in back-to-back years to the Rockets.
"We've got an extra three days to prepare for them," Haldi said. "They're a great football team and it always seems to come down to them. They're the reason we haven't gone (to a bowl game). If you tell us we would be in this situation back in December and January, we would take it. Even in camp we would take it. This is what we want, and we have to just go out and execute.
It's a special game. They're the standard in the MAC West and if you want to win a championship it goes through Toledo and we know that. We have to go out and prepare, and it's nice to be at home and hopefully the place will be rocking."
By Bobby Narang - Chronicle Sports Staff
MUNCIE, Ind. - Northern Illinois University's latest chance for a first-ever solo Mid-American Conference West Division title nearly slipped out of the hands of the Huskies' hands on Saturday.
NIU avoided a gigantic upset with a thrilling, too-close-for-comfort, 38-31 overtime victory over Ball State University.
"We made key plays when we needed," said NIU coach Joe Novak. "Ball State had a good gameplan. We have to get better at putting teams away."
The sixth straight victory over the Cardinals was all but secured at halftime. The Huskies led 21-10 and dominated the yardage total (284-91). Ball State quarterback Joey Lynch was just 6-of-22 passing for 31 yards. BSU freshman tailback Adell Givens accounted for 68 rushing yards, but the Huskie defense limited him to 15 yards rushing in the second quarter.
Everything changed in the second half. The Cardinals played more aggressive, and started mixing in runs by Givens with an effective short-range passing games.
"They did a excellent job of gapping us," said linebacker Jason Hutton, who filled in for injured starter Brian Atkinson. "Givens is a hard back to tackle."
Quarterback Josh Haldi and tailback Garrett Wolfe saved the day on the first drive in overtime. Haldi slipped between a tackler for a 16-yard run on second down.
"I was just trying to make plays," Haldi said. "I was just reacting and going on instincts. They did a lot of things to get us out of our rhythm. We needed it at the time. We made a big play and were able to get this one done."
One play later, Wolfe shed two tackles for a nine-yard touchdown, the third score of the day for the sophomore. Wolfe, who rushed for a career-best 280 yards and scored three touchdowns, praised Haldi for setting up his game-winning run.
"I happened to look back after I gave my play fake," Wolfe said. "He's a big-play quarterback. It was another big play."
Now, the Huskies can finally talk about playing the University of Toledo.
"We've got to get by Toledo," said wide receiver Dan Sheldon, who caught a career-high 78-yard touchdown pass from Haldi in the second quarter. "It's been a big hump. We feel this could be our year."
Haldi said the Huskies can't wait for the chance to avenge losing the Mid-American Conference West Division title in back-to-back years to the Rockets.
"We've got an extra three days to prepare for them," Haldi said. "They're a great football team and it always seems to come down to them. They're the reason we haven't gone (to a bowl game). If you tell us we would be in this situation back in December and January, we would take it. Even in camp we would take it. This is what we want, and we have to just go out and execute.
It's a special game. They're the standard in the MAC West and if you want to win a championship it goes through Toledo and we know that. We have to go out and prepare, and it's nice to be at home and hopefully the place will be rocking."