Huskies improve to 4-0
after 24-16 win over Iowa State

by NIU Sports Information

For the first time since the 1965 season, 20th-ranked NIU is a 4-0 football team.

The Huskies wrapped up the non-conference portion of their schedule Saturday with a 24-16 win over the Iowa State University Cyclones at Huskie Stadium at Brigham Field before a record crowd of 28,218.

In addition to its Week Two win over Tennessee Tech, NIU has now defeated teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (Maryland), Southeastern Conference (Alabama) and now the Big 12 Conference with the win over the Cyclones to complete the non-MAC slate with a perfect 4-0 record.

The Huskies rode the legs of Michael “The Burner” Turner to victory as the senior Heisman Trophy candidate broke both the NIU career rushing record and the career all-purpose yard record in the win.

With a 12-yard run at the 12:31 mark of the third quarter, Turner eclipsed the 20-year-old rushing plateau of 3,745 yards held by fullback Mark Kellar (1971-73). In addition to finishing the game with his 15th career 100 yard rushing day, Turner ran past the Cyclone defense for 134 yards on 30 carries and now has 3,807 career rushing yards. Turner also hauled in 30 yards as a receiver and 15 yards as a kick returner, to finish the game with 179 all-purpose yards, breaking the NIU career all-purpose mark of 4,746 yards, which previously was held by wide receiver Deon Mitchell (1995-98).

Turner now has 4,761 career all-purpose yards.

“It's one of the greatest achievements a back can have,” NIU wide receiver P.J. Fleck said. “It’s a great tribute to Mike and the offensive line. That fourth quarter shows what kind of back Mike is. I’m glad he could get that record.”

Iowa State jumped on the board first after NIU went three-and-out on its opening possession. The Cyclones did most of their damage on the ground as they rushed six times during the eight-play drive that ended with a two-yard TD run by tailback Hiawatha Rutland. Rutland toted the ball five times during the series for 24 yards that would end up being ISU’s only trip to the end zone.

After trading punts, NIU defensive end Vinson Reynolds came up with a play that turned the tide in favor of the Huskies. With the Cyclones driving to the NIU 16, Reynolds shed a cut-block by an Iowa State offensive tackle, picked off a swing pass by freshman quarterback Austin Flynn and took it 65 yards down to the Iowa State 13. Three plays later, Turner scored from two yards out to tie the game at 7-7.

“It was a huge play, one of the biggest of the game,” Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney said. “Not only did we turn it over, we came away with minus three points. It was the biggest play of the game. It turned things around.”

Adam Benike made the score 10-7 in favor of Iowa State after he hit a 23-yard field goal, but the Huskies came right back on the next possession to take their first. Following a series of Turner runs, Josh Haldi hit a streaking Dan Sheldon down the right sideline for a 38-yard score to make it 14-10 in favor of NIU.

Iowa State cut the Northern Illinois lead to 14-13 after Benike hit his second field goal of the day, this one from 43 yards out. Benike’s third field goal, a 26-yarder, gave the Cyclones a 16-14 advantage with 11:53 left in the game.

The Huskies came right back with three points of their own however as they marched 59 yards in 11 plays to set Steve Azar up with a 29-yard kick that gave NIU a 16-13 advantage.

The opportunistic Huskie defense thwarted any hopes ISU may have had for a comeback on the ensuing possession as Akil Grant picked off Austin Flynn’s pass near the Huskie sideline to set up the NIU offense at midfield.

“They (NIU defense) are outstanding and well-coached,” McCarney added. “It's a good system and they play with a lot of confidence. They are hard nosed and opportunistic. They have a good chance to win the MAC championship.”

Following eight consecutive runs that marched the ball down to the ISU nine, Fleck took a flanker screen the remaining nine yards to pay dirt as NIU moved to 4-0.

“Last year we were 8-4 and lost three games in the last minute,” NIU head coach Joe Novak said. “Now we are finishing. This year we are winning these games.”

Nationally ranked Northern Illinois opens Mid-American Conference play Saturday, Oct. 4, when it hosts the Ohio Bobcats at 6:35 p.m.

9-29-03