Chippewas Fall at Northern Illinois, 31-10

Friday, November 17

DeKalb, Ill.

7:00 PM

Central Michigan University

7-4 , 6-1

Northern Illinois

6-5 , 4-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Central Michigan

Northern Illinois

11/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Final Stats

Postgame Notes

DeKALB, Ill. – Garrett Wolfe ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns to lead Northern Illinois to a 31-10 win over Central Michigan University on Friday.

The loss snaps a five-game winning streak for CMU (7-4 overall, 6-1 Mid-American Conference), while the victory ends a two-game skid for the Huskies (6-5, 4-3).

NIU controlled the contest from the outset, driving for touchdowns on three of its first four possessions while holding the Chippewas to three punts and a pair of turnovers in the first half. The Huskies held a 214-140 edge in total offense in the opening two quarters.

Wolfe scored on runs of 10 and 2 yards, respectively, to cap NIU’s first two drives, then added a 13-yard score in the fourth quarter.

Following a CMU punt, NIU covered 74 yards in 10 plays to take an early 7-0 lead. Dan LeFevour was intercepted on the Chippewas’ next possession, and Northern Illinois responded with a seven-play, 46-yard drive to go up 14-0.

NIU converted the Chippewas’ second turnover of the half into a touchdown as well. After Damien Linson fumbled, the Huskies moved 46 yards in six plays. Dan Nicholson, on in relief for the injured Phil Horvath, erased the final 20 yards on a scoring toss to David Koronkiewicz. Chris Nendick’s third-point after of the opening half made it 21-0 with 8:51 remaining.

The Chippewas drew no closer than 14 points in the second half. LeFevour threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Ontario Sneed to make it 21-7 a minute into the final quarter, and after Nendick and CMU’s Rick Albreski traded field goals, Wolfe added his 13-yard touchdown run in the closing minutes.

Wolfe amassed his 203 yards on 33 carries. He passed Michael Turner to become NIU’s all-time leading rusher with 4,972 yards. It was his third game this season with at least 200 rushing yards and 10th of his career.

LeFevour completed 25-of-42 passes for 217 yards and ran 10 times for a career-high 88 yards for CMU. His touchdown pass to Ontario Sneed was his 19th of the year, second-most in a single season in CMU history.

Horvath, who suffered a broken arm against the Chippewas in 2005, left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury. Nicholson came off the bench to complete 11-of-18 passes for 116 yards and a score.

Defensively, Daniel Bazuin, Pacino Horne and Doug Kress all had eight tackles for CMU, with Horne adding his fourth interception of the season. Dustin Utschig paced NIU with 12 tackles.

CMU closes the regular season next Friday, visiting Buffalo at 1 p.m.