NIU’s passing game finally came to life Saturday night, but Kansas State made history with its aerial assault to deflate the Huskies 34-17 in front of 27,229 fans here at Wagner Field.

Stacey McKinney, in just his third start as NIU’s QB, tossed for a career-high 178 yards on 9-of-19 from the field—the highest total from a Huskie quarterback since 1990’s home-opener vs. Eastern Illinois (211 by Stacey Robinson).

But, Wildcat quarterback Paul Watson countered with a 21-of-29, 311-yard and one-touchdown performance etching his name into the Kansas State record books as the 11th-best effort ever.

“I thought we got outmanned,” NIU coach Charlie Sadler said about his defense. “I thought Kansas State had bigger, stronger guys. They transferred formations and balanced us up and then it’s just who’s biggest and strongest.”

Watson came out with his arm cocked. On Kansas State’s first series of the game, the 6-2, 205-pounder hit two consecutive passes for 41 yards as the Wildcats marched through the NIU defense for a 7-0 lead with just over two minutes elapsed.

Leading 7-3, the Wildcats started the second half just like the first. Watson threw for 39 yards and punctuated the 11-play, 66-yard drive with a three-yard toss into the endzone.

After KSU extended the lead to 20-3, freshman Sean Allgood sparked NIU with a 28-yard kickoff return to start NIU on its 39. Adam Dach, who rushed for a career-high 195 yards last week, found a rare hole as he broke for eight of his scarce 44 yards.

Following a face-mask penalty, McKinney found Larry Wynn in the endzone for a 14-yard touchdown. Roy Jr. booted the extra point and the Huskies trailed, 20-10.

Things started looking even better for NIU when Steve Henriksen—who led both teams with 14 tackles, an interception and a caused fumble—picked off a Watson pass on KSU’s next play.

“I think we got some momentum going there,” a disappointed Henriksen said. “But I don’t know. In the second half, we looked like we had momentum going a couple of times, but we never made anything of it.”

Both defenses held on the next two series. When the Huskies got the ball back, they drove down to the Kansas State 28, only to see a McKinney pass sail into the hands of Wildcat cornerback Thomas Randolph.

“We had a quick protection call and the halfback didn’t get his block completely,” McKinney said. “And I hit my hand on the helmet of the defensive guy and the pass was just too high.”

KSU capitalized on the turnover by punching in another TD three minutes later. On NIU’s next possession, Brett Schroeder tiptoed down the left sideline for a 20-yard score that would halt NIU’s scoring for the evening.