Northern Illinois football coach Joe Novak was very cautious in calling his team's Oct. 5 matchup with Miami a must-win game this early in the season.
The further you get into the season
the more important the games are Novak said after his Huskies knocked off the RedHawks (2-3, 1-2 Mid-American Conference), 38-27. It's not like it was win or you're out.
The Huskies (2-3, 1-1 MAC) played like their postseason lives were on the line, however, jumping out to a 28-7 lead at halftime and never looking back.
The offense was paced by star running back Garrett Wolfe, who powered his way for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries.
Garrett's the kind of player who can take a play and go 80 yards with it at any time
Novak said. The defense always has to be aware of him
and he's been extremely productive for us.
Stepping up alongside Wolfe in the spotlight were quarterback Phil Horvath and wide receiver Sam Hurd, who caught seven passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns.
I am extremely pleased
Novak said of his quarterback's play. He was a bit of a question mark coming into the season
but I couldn't be more pleased.
Horvath, who had played sparingly prior to this season, has completed an unheard-of 72.4 percent of his passes for 1,483 yards and 13 touchdowns.
After playing behind future NFL players Brad Cieslak and Dan Sheldon for most of his career, Hurd has finally gotten his chance and made the most of it.
He's a tremendous impact player for us
Novak said. He's a great all-around football player
and he's had a great senior year for us.
The game was shown on ESPN2, which in recent years has opened the nation's eyes to what Novak views as an under appreciated conference.
I'm not a fan of the mid-week games
but you have to grab the opportunity (to play on national television) anytime you can take it. It helps us all in recruiting
and I think it shows we've made progress.
One for the history books
On a day when each MAC division pitted its top two teams against each other, the most exciting game within the conference ended up giving Ball State its first win of the season.
Brian Jackson hit a 30-yard field goal in the fifth overtime to push the Cardinals over Western Michigan (3-3, 1-2 MAC), 60-57, in the longest game in conference history and the longest game of the season so far.
Any time you get into overtime
