Updated: 11:30 p.m. Saturday

MUNCIE, Ind. | It was a night of oddities and records for the NIU football team as it prevailed in a 40-28 victory over Ball State.

NIU tailback Garrett Wolfe set multiple records on the night, as he rushed for 364 yards and three touchdowns.

Wolfe beat his own school record for single-game rushing yards of 325 yards against Eastern Michigan in 2004. The senior also passed former NIU running back Michael “The Burner” Turner’s school record of 48 for career rushing touchdowns. Wolfe now owns the record with 50.

The Chicago native went further into the record books as he set an NCAA Division I-A record. Wolfe is now the player who has rushed for the most yards in the first five games of the season with 1,181 yards.

NIU (3-2 overall, 2-1 MAC) began its first offensive drive from their own 21-yard line. It was on the fifth play of the game that NIU tailback Garrett Wolfe ran for a 70-yard touchdown, only to be brought back on a holding call.

The penalty only delayed the inevitable as Wolfe would run for a 51-yard touchdown three plays later.

That wouldn’t be the last run of the night for the senior as he broke out two more touchdown runs of 48 and 53 yards. Wolfe also ran for a game-long 75-yard rush that brought NIU from their own 14-yard line to BSU’s 11-yard line.

“They got a darn good back,” said BSU coach Brady Hoke. “He’s special. He is special.”

BSU (1-4 overall, 1-1 MAC) also had their own problems guarding against the pass as quarterback Phil Horvath completed 20 of his 27 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns.

Horvath had three receivers with over 50 yards as Britt Davis, Brandon Davis and Marcus Perez caught for 115, 61, and 56 yards, respectively.

Brandon Davis didn’t start the night, though, as he had to fill in when senior tight end Jake Nordin was injured in the second quarter. X-rays were taken, but results were unknown. It appears though, Nordin may have broken his left leg, according to NIU sports information.

Davis wasn’t nervous about filling in for Nordin: “Since I’ve been here if one guy does down you have to be ready to set up,” Davis said. “That just goes back to the preparation.”

NIU sophomore cornerback Bradley Pruitt and senior Brand Benson both came off the field later on the same play in the third quarter. While Benson returned to the field, Pruitt did not.

Preparation became a key factor for NIU not only due to injuries, but also as a 51-minute weather delay stopped the game in the first quarter. The delay also forced the stadium to be evacuated as lighting was detected within three miles.

BSU came back from the delay to eventually score a touchdown and tie the game at 7-7. It was on the next NIU offensive possession that the Huskies’ preparation became apparent. Wolfe had rushed the ball to BSU’s 2-yard line, but failed to score after three downs.

It seemed the Huskies would have to settle for a field goal to go up 10-7 in the second quarter. But BSU accepted a hold penalty, giving NIU a second chance from the 16-yard line.

Horvath was given plenty of time from an offensive line that held their own the entire night. Finally, the senior saw Marcus Perez open in the front corner of the end zone. Perez was able to not only capture Horvath’s pass, but get one foot down as it knocked over the front pylon making the score 14-7 NIU.

The game also featured one last oddity, as wide receiver Britt Davis lined up as the quarterback in the shotgun formation to run with the ball for the second week in a row.

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