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Back-up QB, Record Reception Yards by Hurd, And NIU Defense Hold Off CMU For MAC Triumph

Mt. Pleasant, Mich --- Contrary to the statistics and circumstances, Northern Illinois University hung on for a 31-28 Mid-American Conference victory over Central Michigan University in what head coach Joe Novak labeled as "one of the greatest




November 5, 2005

Box Score

Back-up QB, Record Reception Yards by Hurd, And NIU Defense Hold Off CMU For MAC Triumph

Mt. Pleasant, Mich --- Contrary to the statistics and circumstances, Northern Illinois University hung on for a 31-28 Mid-American Conference victory over Central Michigan University in what head coach Joe Novak labeled as "one of the greatest wins" in his tenure.

Back-up quarterback Dan Nicholson (Chicago / Brother Rice) helped senior wide receiver Sam Hurd (San Antonio, TX / Breckenridge) compile a school record 266 yards off 12 pass receptions before the Northern Illinois defense withstood a second-half rally in order to snap a four-game win streak by the Chippewas, who were fresh off an upset of the University of Toledo. Although both teams came out of the contest at 5-4 overall and 4-2 for MAC play, the victory kept the Huskies' West Division title hopes alive as NIU visits Toledo on Nov. 16 hoping to gain the tiebreaker advantages.

Already playing without the nation's No. 4 rusher in Garrett Wolfe (Chicago / River Grove Holy Cross) * Nothern Illinois opened with a no-huddle attack and claimed a 7-0 lead when quarterback Phil Horvath (Naperville / Central) put together eight straight pass completions during a 10-play, 66-yard drive off the initial possession. That series ended with a 27-yard end strike * the first of three Hurd touchdowns. It's the second time the senior had three touchdown receptions.

"That's one of the greatest wins we've ever had in my book," Novak insisted. "Not having Garrett, losing Phil, to come in here and pull this off, I just can't say enough about our kids. After not playing well against Ball Sate, it was certainly a gut check. To come to a difficult place to play and face a 4-1 team that's on a roll and playing for a championship, is a great challenge. These guys just made a super gut-check."

Just after CMU tied it, Horvath suffered a broken left arm and that series ended with two Nicholson incompletions.

"Phil told me 'Danny, get these guys. It's our game to win.' Ever since I came here, Phil's been right there encouraging me," Nicholson said. "A lot of today's win has to do with having confidence in the guys around you."

Northern Illinois red-shirt freshman Craig Rusch (Hilbert, WI) forced a fumble and then recovered it to give NIU the ball on the Central Michigan 20. Nicholson's fourth straight completion was a five-yarder to Hurd in the end zone for a 14-7 advantage. Chippewa quarterback Kent Smith * who had a stellar day completing 33-of-51 passes for 382 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions * once again tied the contest.

But the Huskies responded with a four-play, 80-yard drive that was highlighted by pass completions of 34 yards to Britt Davis (Broadview / Riverside-Brookfield) and 44 yards to Jarett Carter (Florrisant, MO / Hazelwood Central). It ended with a three-yard rush by Nicholson. Davis' six catches (61 yards) enabled him to tie the freshman single-season mark for receptions with 35, matching Keith Perry's tally from the 2000 season.

After Central Michigan's Rick Albreski was wide right on a 34-yarder with just 1:18 left before halftime, Northern Illinois surprised the Chippewas with another 34-yard completion by Nicholson to Hurd. That helped move the Huskies into position for a season-long 40-yard field goal by Chris Nendick (Naperville / Central) for a 24-14 intermission lead.

"That field goal certainly looks pretty good right now," Novak said after the Huskies' three-point triumph.

After the NIU defense forced a punt on Central Michigan's initial possession of the second half, Nicholson stunned the home crowd with a 79-yard touchdown pass to Hurd * the eighth-longest pass completion in school history. Nendick then continued his school-record for consecutive PATs with his 80th straight PAT kick made it a 31-14 lead.

"How about Danny? He took some shots out there but I certainly couldn't be prouder of him," Novak said. "And with Sam, you throw it up there and somehow he just gets it. Because their front four is really stout, we felt we had to mix it up more and came out throwing. It kept working, so we kept throwing it."

NIU's quarterbacks combined for 435 yards while the Huskie ground attack was limited a shocking six yards. Horvath completed 12-of-16 passes (115 yards, one TD) in order to become the fifth member of the school's 2,000-Yard Club as he boosted his season total to 2,001. Nicholson connected on 19-of-27 for 320 yards and two TDs.
Central Michigan rallled to within three points (31-28) to start the fourth quarter. Northern Illinois had several notable defensive stands before the Albreski was wide left on a potential game-tying 39-yarder with one minute left.

"We just knew we had to keep getting the ball back so our offense could help run out the clock," Rusch said of the defensive unit's efforts. The red-shirt frosh recorded a team-best seven tackles, three tackles-for-losses (-15) including two quarterback sacks (-14), plus a pass break-up to go with his forced fumble and recovery.

*NIU*.

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