DeKALB | Homecoming couldn’t have come at a better time for the NIU football team, as it will take on Temple at 2:05 p.m. at Huskie Stadium on Saturday. The game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet.

A loss last week at Western Michigan ended the Huskies’ three consecutive road games on a sour note, as the team had won its first two contests of the road trip stretch.

NIU (4-3 overall, 3-2 MAC) comes into this week having only produced 157-yards of total offense against WMU, far below the offense’s average of 404.6-yards per game — No. 23 in the nation.

But that was last week against the Broncos, who have the No. 10 defense in the country. The Owls come into DeKalb with the No. 117 defense in the country, two spots above last-place Kentucky.

Still, NIU coach Joe Novak wonders how his team will rebound against Temple (0-7).

“This is a week, as a coach in my position at least, when you’re challenged the most — you’re coming off a disappointment,” Novak said. “It’s a concern for any coach in this situation it is.”

A concern that many fans and media workers have voiced this week was the performance of NIU quarterback Phil Horvath against WMU. The senior threw for one touchdown on 157 yards of offense, but also threw three interceptions and was sacked three times.

Many have questioned why Novak didn’t give backup quarterback Dan Nicholson a chance.

“Was it thought about — yeah. Did we come close to making that move — no,” the 11th-year coach said. “Have we thought about it since then? A little bit, but I don’t think right now we’re going to make a change.”

There are changes, though not personal, that will be made this week. NIU wide receiver Britt Davis pointed out that the Huskies have to exploit their opponent’s defensive schemes.

Davis knows his team will have to emphasize the passing game. This is because opponents are constantly loading the box with eight to ten players on defense in an attempt to stop NIU running back Garrett Wolfe.

“One of the things that I know we have to do is we have to throw the ball down the field,” Davis said. “We have to stretch defenses out because if we can’t do that then they’re going to constantly have 10 guys in the box. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they start putting 11 in the box.”

Ben Gross is an NIU football beat reporter for the

Northern Star.