Cal Poly (1-2) will most likely try to stop the NIU’s (1-2) passing attack Saturday.

If Cal Poly wants to win this weekend, it will need to stop NIU’s quick strike offense, which won’t be easy as the Huskies look to rebound after dropping their last two games.

“Everyone has a bad taste in their mouth, so I know everybody wants to come out and play well, put on a show for our home fans and come out with the victory,” said Huskies right tackle Keith Otis.

The Mustangs are expected to employ a combination of defenses against NIU’s offense. The Huskies might come out aggressively through the air against a Cal Poly defense that has allowed a combined 1,293 yards and 13 touchdowns in three games.

The benefactors of productive passing could be NIU’s wide receivers.

Huskies junior wide receiver Perez Ashford comes off a career-high six catches for 77 yards against Wisconsin.

Ashford did not register a catch against Army in week one but cracked the starting lineup in the Huskies’ second game against Kansas and caught five passes for 67 yards.

After his career day at Soldier Field last weekend, Ashford now leads the team in receiving with 11 total receptions for 144 yards and is quickly becoming a favorite target of NIU senior quarterback Chandler Harnish.

Ashford displayed reliable hands against the Badgers, as he was one of the few wideouts to not drop a pass last Saturday.

The junior said the Huskies will not be taking the matchup against the Mustangs lightly.

“Coming off the two games we’ve just played, this is a must-win for us,” Ashford said. “No team is taken for granted, no matter who it is. We’re going to come out and look to win.”