DEKALB, Ill. (AP)—Garrett Wolfe ran for 198 yards and scored four touchdowns Saturday to lead Northern Illinois to a 48-14 victory over Indiana State, extending the Sycamores’ losing streak to 21 games.
The Sycamores (0-4) had no answers for Wolfe, who scored on runs of 12, 17, 1 and 6 yards in the first half as the Huskies grabbed a 38-0 lead. After rushing for 68 yards on the Huskies’ opening drive of the second half, including a 49-yard scamper up the left sideline, Wolfe did not return to the game.
As Wolfe was rolling up big numbers, the NIU defense kept the Sycamores in check. In the first half, the Huskies held Indiana State to 89 total yards and five first downs. The Sycamores crossed the 50-yard line once, and were forced into four consecutive three-and-out punting situations.
Northern Illinois (2-2) held the Sycamores well below their offensive averages of 448.7 yards and 32 points per game. ISU mustered just 264 total yards and didn’t score until quarterback Reilly Murphy plunged in for a 1-yard touchdown run with 10:12 remaining in the game.
The Sycamore’s first play from scrimmage turned into a touchdown for the Huskies. Murphy’s lateral to running back Tony West at their own 14 was too high and bounced on the turf behind him. Huskies defensive end Ken West scooped up the ball and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown 34 seconds after the opening kickoff.
Indiana State’s 21-game losing streak, which dates back to Oct., 2004, is the longest current skid in Division I.
Head to Head - Week 4
| Team | Total Yds | Pass Yds | Rush Yds | First Downs | 3rdD% | Pen./Yds | Turnovers | Time of Poss. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana State | 264 | 160 | 104 | 15 | 28.6% | 6/65 | 2 | 25:58 |
| Northern Illinois | 420 | 106 | 314 | 25 | 60.0% | 8/90 | 0 | 34:02 |
