KALAMAZOO, Mich. | What’s there to look forward to after a loss to Western Michigan?

Well, with two MAC losses, NIU no longer controls its own destiny in its hopes to win the MAC West outright. NIU tailback Garrett Wolfe was held to 25 yards rushing, the lowest of his career as a starter. That’s definitely not good enough for the Heisman.

Three became a number NIU quarterback Phil Horvath loathed after he threw three interceptions and was sacked three times.

And then there’s the NIU defense that allowed 16 points.

Wait, the NIU defense only allowed 16 points after playing almost two-thirds of the game? I’m sure coach Joe Novak had to be proud about that fact, right coach?

“Obviously we got whipped,” Novak said. “Defensively we didn’t play well, but we hung in there.”

Wait, a defense that kept the Huskies in the entire game was whipped?

NIU’s defense played over 22 minutes in the first half and kept the Huskies at three points.

“First half, we’re happier than hell to get out of there,” Novak said.

Okay, at least we’re finally starting to see eye to eye.

Novak, though, had more criticism about his defense allowing 12 of 22 third-down conversions.

But that same defensive unit also had three stops within NIU’s own 25, forcing WMU to kick field goals. One of these stops in the second quarter on NIU’s own three yard line prevented WMU from running away with the game.

And it wasn’t the play of an individual that made these stops — it was the effort of the entire defense.

NIU linebacker Keenan Blalark tied a season-high 14 tackles and tipped a pass that turned into sophomore linebacker Tim McCarthy’s first career interception.

Strong safety Mark Reiter set a career high in tackles. Linebacker Cory Hanson and tackle Craig Rusch both tied career bests. Captain free safety Dustin Utschig also set a season-high tackle mark with 12.

At least the defense has to believe they did a good job of stopping the Broncos.

“I wouldn’t really say we were holding them down,” Utschig said. “Yeah, we held them to 16 points, but that’s not a victory for us.”

Yeah, I guess the defense is right. Holding your opponents to 16 points when you have the best offense in the MAC isn’t enough to guarantee victory, right?

Ben Gross is an NIU football beat reporter for the Northern Star.