As far as NIU football coach Joe Novak is concerned, the honeymoon period is over.

After stomping rival Toledo 35-17 Wednesday for the first time since 1989, the 10th-year coach has refused to bask in the glory.

“No, we’re down,” Novak said about whether he was still coming down from the Toledo win. “It’s time to focus on Western Michigan. That was a great victory but we can’t keep patting ourselves on the back. We got to move ahead, so now our focus is all on the Broncos.”

The Huskies (6-4 overall, 5-2 MAC) end their regular-season schedule against WMU (7-3, 5-2) with a 12:35 p.m. kickoff Wednesday at Huskie Stadium. NIU would clinch the MAC West with a win over the Broncos.

When the two teams met last season, NIU rolled up 652 yards of total offense and got 185 rushing yards from running back Garrett Wolfe in a 59-38 blowout of WMU in Kalamazoo. But Novak said the Broncos are far removed from their 1-10 record in 2004.

“Well, obviously they’re the most improved football team, possibly in the country,” Novak said. “Bill Cubit has done a great job to renew the enthusiasm in that program. They’ve always had talent and ability. He has them believing and they’re on a roll.”

After compiling only six wins over the previous two years, the senior duo of wide receiver Greg Jennings and running back Trovon Riley have spearheaded a potent offense that leads the MAC with 34.7 point per game. Jennings leads the nation with 91 receptions and averages 120 yards per contest. Freshman quarterback Tim Hiller has found Jennings early and often with an efficient passing attack that has produced 20 touchdowns versus only three interceptions.

As good as WMU’s offense has been, their defense has been the opposite. The Broncos’ secondary surrenders a MAC-worst 317 yards per game and 30 points per game.

“I expect to have a good game,” NIU wide receiver Sam Hurd said. “Toledo tried to keep us from having a big game with the passing attack, so our run game picked up. Hopefully, they’ll see Wolfe is back and key on Wolfe. So when they do, it makes trouble for them in the secondary.”

The return of Wolfe was the story of the Toledo game as the 5-foot-7 junior ran for 177 yards and two scores after missing three games with a knee sprain. While the Huskies are No. 2 in the MAC with 187 rushing yards per game, they will encounter a WMU defense that is No. 2 in stopping the run.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Dan Nicholson has been NIU’s offensive catalyst in Wolfe’s absence, throwing for a combined 496 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games. But Nicholson said for the Huskies to win, they need Wolfe to produce out of the backfield.

“He’s our guy,” Nicholson said. “He makes our offense and team that much better. He’s such an explosive guy. He’s good for at least one of those big runs per game.”