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Haldi's Return Sparks Decisive 49-19 Northern Illinois Win Over MAC East Leader Akron

DeKalb, IL - Northern Illinois has its "Field General" back. After playing only the first series of the 2004 season-opener at Maryland (Sept. 4) senior quarterback Josh Haldi made his triumphant return and led the Huskies on four scoring d




Oct. 2, 2004

Haldi's Return Sparks Decisive 49-19 Northern Illinois Win Over MAC East Leader Akron

Box Score

DeKalb, IL - Northern Illinois has its "Field General" back. With his only action of the season coming in the first series of the 2004 season-opener at Maryland (Sept. 4) senior quarterback Josh Haldi made his triumphant return from a stress fracture (foot), leading the Huskies on four scoring drives that lasted less than :47 seconds and securing a dominating 49-19 win over the University of Akron Saturday afternoon at Huskie Stadium.

In addition to those four quick scoring drives, Northern Illinois also found the endzone via a 73-yard punt return by Dan Sheldon early in the second quarter. It was the fourth punt return for TD of Sheldon's career and the fifth longest punt return in NIU history.

It took Haldi and the quick-strike Huskies just :04 seconds to grab hold of the contest. After Brett Biggs fumbled a Charlie Frye pass on the game's second play, Haldi went to the air, hitting Sheldon on a 23-yard fly pattern to give NIU a lead it would never relinquish. It was the first completion and first TD pass of the season for Haldi, who would move into second place on the NIU career touchdown passes list (43) by the day's end. Despite seeing his first action in nearly a month, the Madison, OH, native showed little signs of rust, finishing 14-of-22 passing for 191 yards and three scores before giving way to reserve Phil Horvath midway through the third quarter.

After the two teams traded punts, NIU found the endzone yet again, this time on a drive that lasted just :47 seconds and was capped by a four-yard Garrett Wolfe scoring plunge. NIU failed to attempt a rush on its initial two drives, but made the speedy Wolfe the focus of Drive No. 3. Wolfe rushed the ball four times for 46 yards on the drive which included a 30-yard burst up the middle on his first carry of the game.

Northern Illinois' third touchdown of the quarter may have proven catastrophic for the Zips as Haldi and Wolfe combined for a 13-yard screen pass to make it 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. While the drive lasted just 3:57, NIU marched 80 yards in 10 plays with Haldi completing 4-of-6 passes for 78 yards, 47 of which went to Wolfe on two receptions.

After the Sheldon punt return made it 28-0, Akron finally mounted its first scoring drive to cut into the Huskie margin. The Zips showed great balance on the drive, gaining 43 of their 74 total yards on the ground, including a two-yard scoring rumble by Biggs. The ensuing extra point by Jason Swiger was wide right however keeping the NIU margin at 28-6.

The lone Frye scoring pass got Akron within 16, 28-12. After an NIU drive stalled near midfield, Frye hit all four of his throws for 55 yards including a 23-yard pass to Biggs for the TD. The Huskies foiled Akron's two-point conversion attempt however, swinging momentum and setting the stage for a picturesque two-minute drill.

Lionel Hickenbottom got the drive started with a 39-yard kick return to put NIU in business at its own 39. After an incompletion to start the drive, Haldi hit four of his next five passes to lead NIU into the endzone for the fifth time of the first half. The senior duo of Haldi and Sheldon hooked up three times for 52 yards on the drive including a 30-yard post to reach paydirt. It was the third and final TD toss for Haldi and second score for Sheldon.

A pair of Northern Illinois TD runs to open the second half put the game on "ice". Taking over at their own 20, the Huskies needed just two running plays to get back on the scoreboard. Already a menace to the Zips in the return game and through the air, Sheldon became a menace on the ground, taking a reverse 31 yards to get NIU back near midfield. Wolfe then took the next carry 49 yards up the middle for his third score of the day, making the NIU margin 42-12.

Adrian Davis' first touchdown put the finishing touches on the 30-point win. Subbing for a winded Wolfe, Davis toted five times for 28 yards including a one-yard dive over center for the score.

A 37-yard interception return for TD by the Akron defense (Steve Agyeman) capped the game's scoring, but it was the NIU defense that dominated on this day. Facing Frye, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, the Huskie defense flustered and harassed the Zip QB all afternoon, sacking him seven times and forcing him into a number of hurried throws. The Huskie defense also recorded a season high 13 tackles-for-loss, three shy of the school record 16 TFL's tabulated on Nov. 16, 2002, against Eastern Michigan. Ken West led the charge with four of those (TFL) stops, including three sacks.

Those three sacks tied the school single-season record, which was previously held by eight other Northern Illinois defenders. Sixth on the MAC career passing-yardage list (9,298 yards) entering the contest, Frye finished 16-of-24 with just 186 yards through the air.

Northern Illinois, now winners of 10 consecutive home games, will go in search of its first road win of 2004 when it travels to Orlando, FL, to take on the University of Central Florida Knights. Game time is slated for 4 p.m. (CDT).