IOWA CITY, Iowa | As the crisp, cool breeze sifted through the bleachers of University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium, one could’ve heard the wind rustling through the turf.

Even with the majority of Iowa’s crowd donning black clothing for its Blackout Day, the stadium holding 70,585 began to tremble while NIU fans just smiled.

That’s what happens to the opposition’s fans when Huskie running back Garrett Wolfe takes over a game. Even if, for these last three outings, the 5-foot-7 back has not looked 100 percent healthy.

Near the end of the third quarter, the Huskies were down 17-0, but building momentum.

It began with a run for 11 yards, a screen pass for five, a dash off right tackle for four, a jolt for 10 more yards and “that’s another Huskie [pause] first down.”

After an eight-yard pass to Britt Davis for a crucial fourth-down conversion, Wolfe ran for nine more yards and caught another pass for a gain of five.

One final blast up the middle by Wolfe got NIU down to the one-yard line as the third quarter expired.

Though the students sitting in the end zone seats were upset they didn’t get to see the Huskies’ first touchdown of the day up close, the group went nuts when Wolfe punched in his next carry on the opposite end of the field to begin the fourth quarter.

Finally, you could see the thought penetrating Iowa fan’s minds — is this Wolfe guy for real?

A win wasn’t out of the question with NIU’s young defense showing how great it will eventually be.

The defense came through with a stop on Iowa’s next drive, and the attempted comeback began.

Over NIU’s next five plays, Wolfe ran for 10 more yards and Horvath threw three incompletions. But two 15-yard penalties by Iowa kept the Huskies’ drive alive.

At last, Horvath and Davis showed the potential they have as the senior hit a streaking Davis, who made an acrobatic catch in the back of Iowa’s end zone — touchdown.

No way. This couldn’t be happening, could it, Iowa?

All of a sudden, NIU had cut the score to 17-14. There was pandemonium amongst pockets of red tucked within the black shadows of the Hawkeyes’ humble abode.

But as NIU has done all season, it fell short.

One thing this writer can’t figure out is how Iowa’s best player, tight end Scott Chandler, got open from 10 yards out to score the game’s final touchdown on the ensuing drive. Iowa had just thrown to Chandler on the previous play. He was going to get the ball, one way or another.

Then again, maybe the Huskies didn’t fall short. After all, Iowa is a Big Ten team.