KENT, Ohio – Rain beat out a tune on the window Saturday morning.

From his hotel room, NIU’s Adrian Davis could only see dreary shades of gray. The cold weather outside fogged up the corners of the glass, and leaves cascaded from the trees with every gust of wind.

It was classic football weather: cold, damp, ugly. It’s what football players love to play in, but Davis still couldn’t help wishing the first start of his career came on a nicer day.

Having waited four years for Saturday, Davis only hoped to do his job and make sure his team left with a win. The senior did more than his share.

Behind Davis’ 252 rushing yards and three touchdowns, NIU beat the elements as well as Kent State and boarded the bus with a 34-3 victory.

“I’m really proud of Adrian,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “I felt all along that he was a good football player and he showed that today.”

As the teams warmed up prior to the game, both teams’ coaches knew Saturday wasn’t going to be a good day to air it out.

The light rain of the morning had steadily increased and while it increased the temperature did the opposite.

Saturday was going to come down to who could run the ball, Novak said.

The first thing his coaches told Davis when he reached the field was “hold onto the ball.” Over and over, “hold onto the ball, just hold onto the ball.”

Davis did what he was told and clutched the ball with both hands on his first few carries. But with his focus on the ball, Davis wasn’t focused on getting yards, and the offense stalled on its first two drives.

It wasn’t until the third drive when Davis finally remembered he was supposed to run with the ball. His 5-foot-5-inch frame burst a 46-yard run up the left sideline, and the floodgates opened.

“That was a confidence builder for me,” Davis said. “I was so worried about fumbling I forgot about actually running. But after that run … I wasn’t worried anymore.”

Davis never did fumble. All 37 times he touched the ball it stayed with him from start to finish. And once his worries were gone the yards started coming.

By the time halftime came, Davis had 205 yards – the fourth-highest halftime total in NIU’s history – and had out gained the entire KSU team by 83 yards.

Davis said afterwards Saturday would be a day he will always cherish. His 252 yards were more than he had the last two seasons combined, and his 37 carries were as many as he got all last season.

But the running back wasn’t the only one making plays for the Huskies in the rain.

The defense forced three turnovers – two of which were interceptions – and held KSU to 195 yards of total offense.

Quarterback Phil Horvath completed 10 of 16 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns.