Fans braved the wind and cool weather Saturday as the NIU football team finished its spring practice schedule.

In past years, the final practice has been a game. However, the team opted this spring for a controlled practice and set scrimmages, starting from the 30-yard line. No clock or downs were kept.

This had some players split on which format they preferred.

“I’m 50-50 on it,” NIU running back Justin Anderson said. “Football is football, though. It was different at first, but got better as it progressed.”

For Anderson, getting to play in front of a crowd for the first time this season was refreshing.

“It’s a boost,” Anderson said. “Seeing the crowd gets you more excited.”

Many “big names” sat out the practice due to injury for NIU. The list includes quarterback Dan Nicholson, wide receiver Brit Davis and defensive end Larry English, last season’s MAC MVP.

These injuries opened the door for players like freshman quarterback DeMarcus Grady.

Grady had the highlight of the day with a 57-yard touchdown run.

“It felt really good out there,” said Grady, a Michigan native. “The last few weeks I feel like I’ve been able to play and just be me. I need to put it all together and not think as much, just react.”

Grady rushed eight times for 118 yards. He also threw for a touchdown, connecting with tight-end Jack Marks on a 25-yard pass.

Quarterbacks Chandler Harnish and Ryan Morris also took some snaps, but struggled with some due to the high winds.

With Nicholson rounding out NIU’s four possible quarterbacks, coach Jerry Kill said he has a tough decision to make.

“We’re looking for the one that’s going to win us games,” Kill said. “We need to find a guy to head the team.”

Kill will not rotate quarterbacks, he said.