Same stuff, different year. That’s how I would describe Saturday’s game against San Diego State University (3-1). Despite the Huskies (1-3) holding the Aztecs to 6 points, their one-dimensional offense was unable to do much after their first drive.
THE HOLE AT QUARTERBACK
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst’s development continues to be the most important storyline for NIU, and Saturday’s game raised some red flags. NIU is currently ranked at the bottom of the MAC in passing yards, and the most frustrating part is that our quarterbacks have thrown more interceptions than touchdowns.
On paper, Holst has shown growth this season compared to last season. In four games, he’s completing 58% of his passes and averaging 94 yards per game, a step in the right direction for the first-year starter. That’s a step forward compared to 2024 when he was only completing 58% and averaging 68.5 yards per game.
However, Saturday’s game didn’t reflect any of that progress. Holst finished 6-for-14 for just 49 yards, not even half of his season average, leaving the NIU offense without the passing game once again.
The frustrating part is that Holst can flash competency one week, as he did against Holy Cross in the season opener with 101 yards, completing 12 of 18 attempts, but then it disappears the next game. He doesn’t need to be a superstar, but he can’t be leaving the entire offense to the run game. Until that happens the quarterback position remains the biggest hole for the team.
DEFENSE SHINES BRIGHT
In a game where the offense has struggled to make any yardage, the defense has been absolutely spectacular to give the team a fighting chance. Holding San Diego State to only 6 points is incredible considering they won 34-0 against the University of California the week prior. The Huskies racked up 82 total tackles and 2 interceptions, keeping the game within reach the entire game.
Of note is redshirt senior linebacker Quinn Urwiler, who may have had one of the best linebacker performances NIU has seen in a long while. Urwiler finished the game with 16 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
That’s a credit to the defense as a whole, which broke up 4 passes and caught 2 interceptions, forcing the Aztec offense to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns.
This defense is elite and it’s a shame their efforts aren’t paying off.
THE NAME OF THE GAME IS RUSHING
Without much help from the quarterback position, the rushing attack carried the offense’s workload. NIU’s rushing finished the game with a net 112 yards – not exactly dominant but enough to give the team six out of its 10 first downs. Compare this to a meager 57 passing yards and you can see how strategy possibly shifted for this game. Head coach Thomas Hammock seems committed to relying on the running game for some sort of offensive stability.
The problem with this approach, however, is that NIU is reduced to grinding out 3-yard rushes every play, which rarely produces touchdowns.
It’s clear that the coaching staff wants to protect Holst and limit mistakes by funneling the offense through the running backs.
