DeKALB | For the second straight week, NIU had the game in hand by the fourth quarter.

The NIU (2-2, 1-1 MAC) defense dominated the game, helping the Huskies earn their first MAC victory with a 37-0 win Saturday at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich. The Huskie defense has allowed only three points the last two games combined.

“This is our best team performance,” said NIU head coach Jerry Kill after the win. “Because we played great on defense, we won the kicking game, and we didn’t turn the ball over.”

The Huskies out-gained the Eagles (1-3, 0-2 MAC) 339 yards to 259 yards, and were helped out by two first half turnovers, interceptions by cornerback Bradley Pruitt and linebacker Tim McCarthy. The defense also scored when defensive tackle D.J. Pirkle came up with a safety in the fourth quarter.

NIU held the Eagles to 119 yards rushing and held EMU quarterback Andy Schmitt to 140 yards through the air on 37 attempts. Schmitt took over at quarterback after starter Kyle McMahon left the game in the first quarter with an apparent shoulder injury.

“They did a tremendous job, they created turnovers, they played aggressive,” said Kill of the defense’s performance.

“They played like maniacs,” said NIU quarterback Dan Nicholson, who was 11-15 with 92 yards and a touchdown on the day.

Me’co Brown got the scoring started for NIU with a 26-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Huskies took a 14-0 lead after a nine yard run by backup quarterback DeMarcus Grady, who Kill likes to use in certain packages, utilizing his speed and athletic ability.

The NIU offensive line of Trevor Olson, Jason Onyebuagu, Eddie Adamski, Dan Keller and Jon Brost dominated the Eagles as the Huskies ran for 235 yards in the victory, with Me’co Brown leading the way with 17 carries for a career-high 111 yards. However, Brown left the game in the fourth quarter with a foot injury.

Kill went with the same strategy he has used the entire season, using different running backs and splitting carries.

“All our backs ran well,” Kill said. “Our offensive line had their best performance today.”

Saturday’s contest against probably the worst team in the MAC West was almost a must-win for the Huskies in terms of a chance at a bowl game or the MAC championship. NIU travels to Knoxville next week to take on Tennessee before key MAC contests against Toledo, Ball State, and last year’s MAC champion Central Michigan.

“We came into this as a team,” Nicholson said. “We knew it was a huge game for us.”