COLUMBUS, Ohio | For the first time in his career, NIU running back Garrett Wolfe recorded more than 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game Saturday against the Buckeyes. Wolfe, who now has rushed for 100-plus yards 15 times in his career, gained 171 yards on 26 carries and caught five passes for 114 receiving yards to total 285 all-purpose yards.

Wolfe tied former wide receiver P.J. Fleck — who, incidentally, is now a graduate assistant on OSU’s staff — for the sixth-best all-purpose yard performance in school history.

Still, Wolfe said he was upset with the loss.

“We didn’t execute,” Wolfe said. “We got the ball in the redzone three or four times and we only had one touchdown.”

In his last three games against Big Ten opponents — OSU on Saturday and Michigan and Northwestern last season — Wolfe has averaged 191.7 rushing yards.

Put it on the board… again

Wolfe can add Ohio State to the impressive list of schools he’s scored touchdowns against. Of the 21 games in Wolfe’s career, the only time he failed to reach the endzone was last year in the regular-season loss against Akron. That means Wolfe has now scored against BCS schools Maryland, Iowa State, Michigan, Northwestern and Ohio State.

No. 1 in Novak’s book

NIU football coach Joe Novak revealed in the post-game press conference Saturday that his No. 1 vote for the preseason coaches poll was OSU, and said he would pick the Buckeyes again for this week’s poll.

Still, OSU lost its top four tacklers from last season to graduation, and Novak said he thought the young Buckeye defense wasn’t quite up to par with last season’s defense.

“They’re not as good as last year, but they’re not bad now,” the 11th-year Huskies coach said.

Fightin’ words

Wolfe and OSU cornerback Malcolm Jenkins apparently had a miscommunication late in the fourth quarter that resulted in the NIU running back shoving Jenkins after the play.

“At the end of the game we had a couple of words because there was a misunderstanding,” Wolfe said.

No penalty was called after the play.

Nendick notes

With NIU kicker Chris Nendick’s 35-yard field goal in the second quarter, NIU extended its streak of consecutive games with a score to 79. The last time the Huskies were shut out was Sept. 18, 1999, at Iowa in a game NIU lost 24-0.

With Nendick’s two field goals against the Buckeyes, the junior moved into a tie for ninth on NIU’s all-time scoring list. He tied former NIU receiver Justin McCareins, who now plays for the New York Jets.

Quarterback queue

NIU quarterback Phil Horvath was sacked three times and threw an interception, completing 15-of-26 passes for 185 yards, but was replaced in the fourth quarter by Dan Nicholson, who started last year in Horvath’s absense.

“We wanted to give Dan some work,” Novak said. “I have two of them I like; we have two quarterbacks, but Phil’s our starter.

Horvath said he didn’t take the swap negatively.

“Dan’s a great quarterback too,” the senior said. “He’s got to get in there and play, too, but I’m never ready to get out of the game. I’m ready to play Ohio State again.”