There’s a saying that goes “good things come in small packages.”

The NIU football team will have to deal with a small package in Ball State running back MiQuale Lewis tonight in Muncie, Ind. The 5-foot-6-inch junior is having a career season for the 16th ranked Cardinals, rushing for 989 yards with 14 touchdowns in 2008.

The Huskie defense will have a challenge in Lewis. The MAC-leading NIU defense has allowed only 105.6 rushing yards per game and four rushing touchdowns and looks to continue its trend of shutting down the run.

“We have to do a good job staying in our gaps and just playing fundamental football,” said NIU head coach Jerry Kill. “We have to continue tackling and pursuing the ball and getting more than one guy to the ball. It’ll be a big challenge for our defense.”

This year, Lewis has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in all but two games. The junior saved his best performance for in-state rival Indiana.

Lewis romped for 166 yards on 29 carries and found the end zone four times in a 42-20 victory over the Hoosiers Sept. 20.

Lewis also burned Toledo for 157 yards on the ground with two rushing touchdowns on Oct. 4, as well as piling up 154 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Akron Sept. 13.

Lewis will have to go back to the basics in order to be successful against the Huskie defense.

“Up front, on both sides of the ball, they’re probably the most powerful,” Parrish said. “They do a good job of plugging the gaps, but when [Lewis] does get a crease, he’ll have to hit it and just run north and south.”