DeKALB | “Gross” is more than just a synonym for disgusting, nasty or foul. It also represents the number 144.

It’s a useful word that has been forgotten in our modern age.

Uses ranging from a chef needing a gross of eggs for a recipe to someone weighing a gross are no longer heard these days.

The same could be said of the idea of a Division I-A football team winning with 144 total yards of offense.

But somehow Ohio not only won last weekend with a gross of offense, but blew out Tennessee-Martin. With just 62 yards on the ground and 82 from the air, the Bobcats defeated Tennessee-Martin 29-3.

The defense did score nine of those points, but still, Ohio’s offense was able to put up 20 points. That’s an average of 7.2 yards of offense per point.

The inflation of yards per points seems puzzling until examining the box score.

The longest of Ohio’s four scoring drives was only 49 yards. Ohio’s other marches down the field lasted for 41, 26, and negative six yards.

Ohio’s success was all about field position; Something that Tennessee-Martin was unable to keep in their favor as they had five three-and-outs in 13 drives.

Three-and-done drives are something NIU has to do a better job of too. The Huskies had four of their 11 drives last for fewer than 10 yards against Ohio State.

“The offense has to move the ball,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “That’s the offense’s responsibility. It’s a combination of our kicking game and our offense.”

And the offense will have a tough responsibility as they face a defense that held Tennessee-Martin to 123 total yards of offense, plus scored on a fumble recovery and safety.

“We have to match their physical ability and play,” senior tight end Jake Nordin said.

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