No. 12 NIU wins in Michigan,
boosts record to 6-0

by NIU Sports Information

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Michael Turner rushed for 199 yards with two touchdowns and NIU forced four second-half turnovers to rally from a 17-point deficit and defeat Central Michigan 40-24 in Mid-American Conference action Saturday.

The Huskies kept their record unblemished at 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference while defeating CMU for the sixth consecutive year. The Chippewas dropped to 2-4 on the year including an 0-3 mark in MAC play.

“We got the victory, but I wish we wouldn’t do it like this,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “They made me mad in the first half but we keep finding a way to win. The score wasn’t what bothered me at halftime, but what bothered me was how we were playing. I was really disappointed in our lack of enthusiasm, especially on defense.”

NIU erased a 17-0 deficit, scoring three touchdowns in a 5:34 span of the third quarter.

Turner started the flurry with a 46-yard run on NIU’s first possession of the second half, finishing his longest run of the season at the 12:51 mark to cut the margin to 17-10.

Randee Drew intercepted a Derrick Vickers pass four plays later and his 38-yard return set the stage for the tying score as Ryan Gilbert scored on a quarterback sneak on his first play of the game. Gilbert replaced starter Josh Haldi, who was shaken up on a dive near the goal line, and his one-yard touchdown leveled the score at 17-17 with 8:43 left in the quarter.

“We figured we had to score right away after halftime. Our defense came out and stopped them quickly, and then Michael’s long run got us going,” Novak said. “Then we had a lot of different people step up and make big plays today. This team keeps believing in itself. When we were behind, they would say, 'Remember this game?' or 'Remember when?' We have so many references to go back to. Sooner or later it isn’t going to happen again, but for now they all believe they're going to come back.”

The Huskie defense halted Central Michigan on the next drive and Marlon Watson blocked a Chippewa punt – the team’s third punt block of the season – to give NIU possession at the four-yard line.

A.J. Harris rushed in from two yards away at the 7:17 mark to give NIU its first lead of the day at 24-17 but Central Michigan tied the score four minutes later when Lawhorne took a Vickers pass and eluded two defenders for the 13-yard touchdown. Turner capped the frantic third quarter with a two-yard score after Gilbert’s 42-yard toss to Sam Hurd set up the go-ahead tally.

NIU intercepted three Vickers passes in the final 15 minutes, setting up three Azar field goals. Adriel Hansbro’s pick led to an 18-yard kick by the Huskie senior at the 12:52 mark and Brian Atkinson stepped in front of a pass before Azar’s 41-yard boot at the 4:34 mark to stretch the margin to 37-24.

Rob Lee’s interception helped put the game away as Azar knocked in a 32-yard field goal – his fourth of the afternoon – with 2:38 to play.

The victory keeps NIU on pace with its best start since 1965 when the Huskies won their initial eight games of the season, and leaves the program one victory away from ensuring its fourth consecutive winning season – the school's longest streak since a five-year run from 1962 through 1966.

NIU returns to DeKalb Saturday to face Western Michigan University. That 3:05 p.m. contest serves as the centerpiece for a weekend of Homecoming activities.

10-13-03