For the first time this season, the NIU football team played an actual away game.

And for the first time this season, the Huskies earned a victory as they beat Idaho 42-35.

After an earlier Vandals (1-3) touchdown, NIU responded by scoring 35 unanswered points.

The Huskies offensive power surge started with quarterback Dan Nicholson completing a 59-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Matt Simon. The junior led the team with four receptions for 115 yards.

Nicholson generated 168 yards of offense and two touchdowns by completing 10 of 17 passes.

Idaho tried to respond to Nicholson’s long scoring drive by marching down to NIU’s eight-yard line. However, junior cornerback Chase Carter provided an abrupt end to the Vandals’ drive.

The junior college transfer would pick off Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle and return the interception 95 yards for a touchdown.

NIU grabbed a 21-7 lead after another Nicholson touchdown pass, this one to junior wide receiver Britt Davis. The Huskies next two scores, though, would not be provided by the offense.

With 8:28 remaining in the first half Simon would block an Idaho punt. The ball landed in the end zone and NIU free safety Jeff Fontana landed on the ball.

Just four minutes later the NIU defense would join in on the fun, as defensive end Larry English would cause and recover a fumble for a touchdown.

The junior would set a school record with five sacks, causing the Vandals to move backwards a total of 34 yards. English also set a career-high with 12 tackles.

Idaho didn’t go into the half quietly though. Just before the end of the second quarter, Vandal safety Shiloh Keo returned an NIU punt for 100 yards and a touchdown.

The Huskies would only score one touchdown in the second half, but it would prove to be the crucial winning points.

In the third quarter NIU running back Justin Anderson ran out from 11 yards to score his only touchdown of the day. The redshirt sophomore rushed for 167 yards on 35 carries.

Up 42-21, NIU would let Idaho get within a touchdown with 1:01 remaining in the game.

The Vandals recovered an onside kick and marched down to the Huskies 18-yard line.

Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle threw two incomplete passes and rushed for zero yards on the first three downs. On fourth-and-10 the quarterback looked to continue the drive, but English would stop it by recording his final sack of the day.