After two games, the NIU football team had passed for only 38 yards.

That meager total didn’t please head coach Charlie Sadler, but he chose to stick with his starting quarterback, Stacey McKinney.

“I get more confident in him all the time,” Sadler said last Wednesday, three days before the Huskies third game. “He hasn’t played a game in two years. We expect him to improve on a weekly basis.”

McKinney didn’t pass his way into any halls of fame this weekend, but like his coach predicted, he did improve on his second game.

In Saturday’s 34-17 loss at KSU, the junior-college transfer completed 9-of-18 passes for 178 yards. He threw one interception and his first NIU touchdown. For the season, McKinney has completed 11-of-32 passes for 209 yards, with two interceptions.

“I’m not satisfied,” McKinney said. “I’m kind of relieved I got off the bubble. I just relaxed and had confidence. I had confidence in my (offensive) line.

“I just relaxed and got it done. I got in my rhythm. I’m looking forward to Iowa (this Saturday).”

Of McKinney’s passing yards, 109 of them went to split end Larry Wynn. For the season, the junior has 147 of the Huskies’ 216 yards receiving. Against KSU, he caught five passes, including a 14-yard TD.

“It was a slant route,” Wynn said of the touchdown. “I was supposed to run six yards and cut, but I shortened it down to two steps because I saw a hole in the zone. Stacey put the ball right there. (KSU) didn’t get a good pass rush because we stopped them up front.”

Wynn said a demanding week of preparation is what improved NIU’s passing numbers.

“First of all,” he said, “the coaches had practices very intense. We practiced really hard on our passing game. It’s progressing as the weeks go on. (Flankers) William Patrick and Sean Allgood and (wide receiver) Vaurice Patterson are all coming along.”

Sadler said the passing offense is coming along because of better execution.

“What made the difference is the fact that we’re beginning and continuing to improve our passing game,” Sadler said. “We caught the balls thrown at us. Stacey did a much better job of throwing the ball. He hit William Patrick (three times for 32 yards). We also hit the tight end (Raymond Roberts) on a really big play (for 28 yards).

“I think Larry Wynn is one of the best players on our football team. He might be the toughest player we’ve got.”