DeKalb | He’s back.

After four weeks of sub-par performances, NIU running back Garrett Wolfe tuned MAC West champ Central Michigan to the pitch of 203 yards.

Now, Wolfe and the Huskies (4-3 MAC, 6-5 overall) have one last chance to sway bowl committees at 10 a.m. on Friday at Eastern Michigan (1-6, 1-10). The game will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet.

Wolfe was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week for the fifth time this year for his performance against CMU.

Novak made it known he’s irritated about mainstream media pitying Wolfe for his poor rushing totals over the last four games. However, Wolfe, who can reach 2,000 yards on the season with 264 against EMU, had a different point of view.

“It’d be great to get 2,000 yards,” Wolfe said. “But in the back of my mind all I think about are these last four or five games where the offense didn’t produce.”

NIU will find out if it can get more out of its offense with sophomore Dan Nicholson starting at quarterback this week.

Senior Phil Horvath injured his knee Friday while lead-blocking for receiver Britt Davis on a reverse run. Novak said Horvath’s injury will end his career at NIU.

“Two years ago, Garrett ran for 325 yards against Eastern,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “Last year our team ran for 315 yards. So what the heck should we expect them to do? We’re going to have to throw the ball well.”

Nicholson has completed 30 of 60 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns this year.

Last fall the Chicago native took over after Horvath was injured during the CMU game. He led NIU to three straight wins before it lost the MAC title game to Akron.

“We’re excited to still have an opportunity to play for a bowl game,” Nicholson said. “After a disappointing loss to Toledo, we knew we had to come back and put it together. We hope with a good enough performance against Eastern we can get a shot at a bowl.”