Football will look to redeem itself after its Homecoming loss when it faces the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, who are a stronger team than their one-win record shows.

The Huskies (4-2, 1-1 MAC) will take on the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (1-6, 1-2 MAC) 4 p.m. Saturday at Huskie Stadium. The RedHawks are 1-6 this year after losing all 12 of their regular season games last year. The Huskies have already matched their loss total from last year at two losses, but they are not out of contention of playing in what could be their fifth-straight MAC Championship game.

“I don’t know about winning out; I know about trying to win this game, and that’s our only thought as it comes to anything,” said head coach Rod Carey. “It’s a one-week season. That’s all it is every week. Whether you’re coming off a win or a loss, that’s what it is.”

Miami (Ohio) is stronger than its record suggests: The RedHawks went into Michigan this season, keeping the Wolverines close in the first half with a score of 17-10. They continued that tough play when they went into Cincinnati and only lost by one possession, 31-24.

“It’s going to be a four-quarter game,” said redshirt junior linebacker Boomer Mays. “… We just need to come out ready to play. We’re going to work this week and hope that transfers over to Saturday.”

The RedHawks come into the game with a dangerous passing attack. Senior quarterback Andrew Hendrix has already thrown for 2,131 yards and 17 touchdown passes this season. If NIU is going to win Saturday, stopping the RedHawks’ passing game will be vital.

“He’s got a cannon for [an] arm, that’s the first thing,” Carey said. “He moves around really well. He can hurt you with his feet. It seems like he is always going in the right place with the ball, so he is obviously very accustomed to this offense.”

After giving up 270 rushing yards and 269 passing yards last week against Central Michigan, the Huskies look to improve their defensive play against the RedHawks.

“First thing is it starts from the line, obviously, and from there you just keep moving back, just knowing the routes, knowing the situation and the down and distance,” Mays said

The Huskies’ offense has struggled so far in conference play. They only scored 17 points in each of the last two games, and at times they had a hard time moving the ball down the field. With the RedHawks’ fast-paced offense coming into DeKalb, the Huskies will need to find a rhythm in their offensive attack.

“Most of their losses have been pretty close,” said redshirt senior left tackle Tyler Loos. “They’re going to play hard and finish all four quarters… .”