After beating Maryland, Alabama and Iowa State in the 2003 season, NIU solidified itself as a football school.

After that, moral victories became a thing of the past. Still, with an injury-depleted roster, one can’t help but claim Saturday’s 35-24 road loss to Navy as just that – a moral victory.

The Poinsettia Bowl-bound Midshipmen scored 74 points last week, and this week, the Huskies (2-9) held them to five points under their average while making Navy (7-4) punt three times after punting only 12 times all year.

“We did some good things out there,” head coach Joe Novak said. “Our defense did well and I was proud of the way we competed.”

NIU was within four points at 28-24 with 11:53 left in the game after Chris Nendick hit a 42-yard field goal. However, Navy responded with a 10-play, 68-yard drive to put the Midshipmen up 35-24 with 7:51 remaining. NIU had a chance to cut the Navy lead to eight points with 1:44 left, but Nendick’s 42-yard field goal sailed left. Had the field goal gone through, Novak planned on doing an on-side kick and taking his chances from there.

“We needed two scores, but unfortunately we couldn’t connect on the field goal to even give us a shot at the on-side kick,” Novak said.

Justin Anderson, one of only two healthy NIU running backs, paced the Huskies on the ground, rushing for 140 yards on 39 carries while hauling in seven catches for 36 yards.

“[David] Bryant was pretty nicked up,” Novak said. “Anderson wasn’t 100 percent either, but he came through for us. He’s a tough kid and carried the load today.”

Backup quarterback Ryan Morris started the game due to Dan Nicholson’s head injury and completed 21-of-35 passes for 206 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Both touchdown passes went to the Huskies’ leading receiver, Matt Simon, who ended the night with 100 receiving yards, giving him 883 yards on the season.

NIU closes out its season this Saturday against Ball State at Huskie Stadium.