TOLEDO, Ohio – Welcome back, Garrett Wolfe.

The catalyst of the NIU offense returned after a three-week absence due to a knee injury and led the Huskies to a 35-17 victory over Toledo at the snowy and cold Glass Bowl Wednesday night.

Wolfe posted 177 yards rushing, 43 yards receiving and two touchdowns in the win.

It’s the first NIU victory over Toledo in 11 years, and the first time in 33 years at Toledo.

“To come in here and win, which we haven’t done in so long, is a great thing,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “We are all better coaches at NIU when Wolfe plays. I’m proud of our kids, they did a great job. We play another week; we aren’t celebrating too much because we have a big game next week.”

NIU can clinch its first MAC West title if it can beat Western Michigan Wednesday at Huskie Stadium.

In the third quarter, NIU used an interception return from Dustin Utschig set up the offense with the ball on the Toledo 30-yard line.

On the ensuing drive, a three-yard touchdown plunge from Wolfe gave NIU a 21-14 lead it would not relinquish.

The junior tailback declared himself 100-percent healthy physically, and attributed a slow start to getting back in the groove of playing football.

“I’m not in pain at all,” Wolfe said. “I just needed to get the mental aspect of the game back; the first half we missed a lot of assignments. The second half we did things the way we were supposed to.”

The defense shared the limelight with Wolfe and forced five turnovers, two interceptions by Utschig, a pick from Alvah Hansbro and a pair of fumble recoveries by Ray Smith.

“It all started up front with relentless pressure on the quarterback,” Utschig said. “The linebackers played well, the secondary did their job and it was a team effort of flying around and making plays.”

With 12 minutes left and a 21-14 lead, Smith’s second fumble recovery of the evening gave NIU the ball on Toledo’s 21- yard line.

“Every turnover was big. It was a great defensive effort from everyone on the team,” Smith said. “On the lateral we are always taught just go get the ball and let the ref make the decision.”

In his first collegiate start, quarterback Dan Nicholson connected on his first 10 passes and ended the first quarter with 97 yards and a TD.

“We ran the ball real well,” Nicholson said. “We mixed in some quick passes and controlled the line of scrimmage in the second half.”

Nicholson completed 21-of-30 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns.

“With Dan’s strong play last week we knew he could get the job done,” Wolfe said

Nicholson found his tight ends for both of his touchdown passes.

A two-yard pass to Pat Raleigh in the corner of the end zone tied the score at 14-14, and Jake Nordin was Nicholson’s favorite target on the opening drive.

Nordin gained 30 yards and had a 14-yard touchdown reception to tie the score 7-7.

Toledo’s Bruce Gradkowski threw three interceptions and completed a career-low 41 percent of his passes. The senior’s struggles came in his last home game, dubbed “Bruce Gradkowski Night.” The first 500 fans received a bobblehead doll of the quarterback.