COLUMBUS, Ohio | Despite a predicted loss coming to fruition for NIU Saturday at Ohio State, NIU running back Garrett Wolfe left his mark.

Wolfe darted through the OSU defense for 171 yards on 26 carries while catching five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.

“That’s something we got to do more,” said head coach Joe Novak about involving Wolfe in the passing game. “Our wide receivers got to play better, but Garrett’s a guy we got to get the ball to.”

It was Wolfe’s second career 100-plus-yards receiving game and the first time he ran for more than 100 yards in the same game.

“He is a great running back ­— as I watched on film and here today,” OSU defensive lineman Quinn Pitcock said. “He’ll do great this year.”

Though there were numerous big gains by the 5-foot-7 senior, the big score never came.

Screen plays of 31 and 65 yards and a 51-yard fourth quarter run didn’t end with Wolfe bolting past all defenders.

The OSU defense bent, but didn’t break, keeping Wolfe out of the end zone until 10:27 remaining in the game.

“It’s very frustrating,” Wolfe said. “I feel that any time I break away I should get to the end zone. But OSU is a very fast and athletic defense.”

With his 171 yards Saturday, Wolfe passed former NIU back LeShon Johnson to move into fifth place on NIU’s all-time rushing list with 3,407 yards.

The Holy Cross high school product has averaged 191.7 rushing yards against NIU’s last three Big Ten opponents.

“I’ve always felt that I was a very effective football player,” Wolfe said. “I’m playing well against great teams. No one can argue with that.”