Chippewas trying to knock off ‘heavyweight champ’ Northern Illinois
Greg Cornwell | Staff Photographer
Senior running back Thomas Rawls dives for the end zone against Ohio at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, 2014.
Former Central Michigan University quarterback Dan LeFevour led the Chippewas to a 33-30-overtime victory over Northern Illinois in 2008. No Mid-American Conference team has won at NIU since.
The Huskies have four consecutive 11-win seasons, and last season graduated Heisman candidate quarterback Jordan Lynch.
In Lynch’s absence this fall, NIU has plugged in a pair of speedy underclassmen passers that have the team at 4-1 overall and undefeated in conference play once again.
“They think when they play a league game, that’s a win,” said CMU Head Coach Dan Enos. “They’ve been doing it for many years now. They’re the heavyweight champ and everyone in our league is trying to get after them and trying to knock them down.”
Drew Hare and Anthony Maddie have split time under center for the Huskies. A dual-quarterback look will be an additional challenge for CMU, although it’s not the first time the Chippewas have faced that offensive style this year.
“You have to look at, in particular what they do with each guy,” Enos said. “If they’re emphasizing certain run schemes with certain players or they’re letting one throw certain types of routes, you have to educate your players.”
Both quarterbacks have shown the ability to run, which is part of the reason why NIU is 16th in the country with 256 rushing yards per game.
CMU senior running back Thomas Rawls has rushed for 570 total yards, while just six NIU players have at least 99 rushing yards on the season.
“What slows us down a little bit in practice is just making sure everyone is looking at what they’re supposed to look at,” said junior defensive end Blake Serpa. “If you’ve got the running back, making sure your eyes are on him and not somebody who’s coming in motion.”
CMU Senior wide receiver Titus Davis continues to heal from his knee injury, although his 181-yard performance in Saturday’s 28-10 win over Ohio proved he can still be a playmaker while playing through the pain.
“We don’t try to force feed (Davis),” Enos said. “Great receivers find a way to get open and create separation with the guy that’s guarding them. The quarterback has confidence when they look at them that they can throw the ball and fit it in there. That’s what Titus did last week.”
Davis went to high school 41 miles north of NIU’s campus and is one of 15 Chippewas from the state.
Saturday’s matchup with the Chippewas will serve as the Huskies Homecoming Game for 2014. NIU has won 15 of its last 16 Homecoming Games.
Convert on third down like they did against Ohio (13 of 17), is what senior running back Thomas Rawls said is essential to a Chippewas victory Saturday.
“I’m very aggressive and I’m going to fight for extra yards,” Rawls said. “I know the down and distance every play. That’s one thing about the big boys is that as we’re in the huddle, I tell them ‘open it up. Just keep grinding, keep grinding.’ And that’s one thing they were doing (Saturday).”
Rawls said he was sore after running the ball 40 times last week, but has recovered well rested for NIU.
“I’m expecting to be out there and getting as much as I can get as far as helping the team and impacting the game,” Rawls said. “If that’s five carries or 45 carries, it doesn’t matter. I can tell you if I have one carry, it’s going to be the hardest carry that I can tote.”
The Huskies are nine-point favorites entering the matchup, even after scratching out a 17-14 win over still winless Kent State.
“They’ve been the best in the MAC for awhile now,” said sophomore quarterback Cooper Rush. “They’re a top dog. We have to play well and execute. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”
The game starts at 5 p.m. EST Saturday at Huskie Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
