It’s quite possible that no other team in the NCAA needed a bye week more than the Huskies.

After nine games in a row, the Huskies have produced only one win and a number of injuries. But with only three games left, two of which are at home, the NIU football team is looking to finish the season strong.

“Our focus is on trying to do the best we can for the last three games of this season,” head coach Joe Novak said. “Any time you finish off the year on a high note, it makes the winter seem better, it makes the spring program better and it makes the summer program better, as well. It makes the whole program feel better.”

Similar foe

Not only have the Huskies had a down year, but the entire MAC has, too. Currently, there are only two MAC teams with an overall record above 500.

Kent State (3-6, 1-4), the Huskies’ opponent this Saturday, is the cellar-dweller in the MAC East while NIU (1-8, 0-5) sits in last place in the MAC West.

Despite the record, KSU has the No. 1 rushing offense in the MAC along with the No. 1 rusher, Eugene Jarvis, who is averaging 140 yards per game.

“They have a running back that reminds you of Garrett Wolfe,” Novak said. “And I am not exaggerating. He is smaller than Garrett at about 5-foot-5, but he’s a good football player, fast and leads our conference in rushing.”

Approaching Saturday

Even though the Golden Flashes and the Huskies are out of contention for a bowl game and a division title, Saturday’s game is important for NIU in terms of not wanting to go winless at home and in conference, which hasn’t happened since 1997.

“We want to send the seniors out on a good note,” quarterback Dan Nicholson said. “They have done a lot for this program and have been around for five years now. We want to get them a win, but most importantly a home win. It’s been a long time since this program went winless at home in a season. Getting a home win is our focus right now.”

After Saturday’s game against KSU, the Huskies go on the road to face a jubilant Navy team, which cancelled classes this past Monday after beating Notre Dame.

NIU returns to DeKalb to close out the season against Ball State.