There was a collective sigh of relief in Huskie Nation after the NIU football team’s 34-3 victory over Kent State on Saturday.

With their two top running backs out for the game, the Huskies proved they had depth at the running back position.

Senior third-string running back Adrian Davis filled in and rushed for 252 yards in his first career start – the most for a Huskie this season.

Davis’ 37 carries filled the void left by junior running back Garrett Wolfe. Wolfe is out indefinitely with a knee injury, NIU coach Joe Novak said.

Senior running back A.J. Harris also missed Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury.

Novak said Wolfe will not play this weekend against Ball State and Harris’ status is uncertain.

“Garrett is out this week and it could be a while, but he’s working hard,” Novak said. “A.J. worked out with us with no contact and if he does play, he won’t be 100 percent.”

TWO-MAN SHOW

Davis’ performance wasn’t noticed just by Huskie fans. Davis, whose 252 yards were the seventh-most for a single game in the nation this season, was awarded for his efforts by being named the Co-MAC West Offensive Player of the Week.

Davis shared the award with Western Michigan quarterback Tim Hiller. The Broncos won 45-14 at Bowling Green.

Not to be outdone, NIU wide receiver Shatone Powers took home the MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week.

Powers had 108 yards on nine punt returns. Powers’ nine returns were a tie for third most all-time in the MAC.

Davis and Powers are the third and fourth Huskies to win weekly awards this season. Wolfe and junior quarterback Phil Horvath are the other two award winners.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

After allowing an average of nearly 30 points per game in its first five games, the NIU defense has locked down on opponents.

For the second straight contest the Huskies have prevented the opposition from getting in the end zone.

The Huskies have done so with a young linebacking corps, which Novak said is getting better every week.

“We are playing with more confidence,” Novak said. “And to me confidence is a half a step and that is very meaningful.”

A DAY OF DAVISES

For the second time this season, brothers Britt and Brandon Davis got in the end zone in the same game.

But they weren’t the only Davises in on the action. Adrian – no relation to Britt and Brandon – accounted for the other three NIU touchdowns.

This marked the first time in NIU history that at least three Davises scored a touchdown.

Both Britt and Brandon caught touchdowns in the Huskies’ overtime loss to Akron Sept. 24.

MODEL OF EFFICIENCY

After completing 10 of 16 passes against Kent State, Horvath retained the national lead in completion percentage.

Horvath has completed 135 of 191 pass attempts this season for a completion percentage of 70.7.

Cody Hodges of Texas Tech is second with a 70.5 completion percentage.