As NIU moves to week 10 of its season, coach Joe Novak’s team is battling bruises.

Senior linebacker Brian Atkinson sat out Saturday’s game against Ball State, even though he was cleared to play.

“The doctor said he could play,” Novak said, “but we wanted to hold him another week if we could.”

Atkinson injured his jaw against Western Michigan, but will play against Toledo next Tuesday, Novak said. The senior captain had his jaw wired shut for Saturday’s game but still brought his equipment in case he would be needed to play.

Starting wide receiver Sam Hurd also didn’t play, but will see time against Toledo.

“He’ll have a small cast on his arm, but he’ll play,” Novak said.

Wolfe wins again

For the third time this season, NIU running back Garrett Wolfe won the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week award.

Wolfe received the award with Central Michigan quarterback Kent Smith after rushing for 280 yards, the 12th highest single-game rushing total in MAC history.

Wolfe is third in the nation with 1,247 total rushing yards and leads the nation in touchdowns with 18. He is beginning to be compared with former Huskie and current San Diego Chargers running back Michael Turner.

“Garrett’s a little different from [Turner], but he’s got big-play potential,” Novak said. “He’s a kid that makes a 2-yard run into an 8-yard run.”

The Chippewas’ Smith led Central Michigan to a 24-21 overtime win Saturday against Western Michigan, completing 21-of-29 passes for 205 yards.

Linebacker Javan Lee had 17 tackles and was nominated, but did not win the defensive award.

A duel in Ohio

Presidential candidates won’t be the only ones battling tonight in Ohio. Two top MAC teams, Miami-Ohio and Toledo, will play at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Novak and the Huskies will use the game to scout Toledo, their next opponent – Nov. 9 at Huskie Stadium.

“I’m sure I’m going to watch the game, but I watch any game I can,” Novak said. “We’ll watch with extra interest because it’s our next game, but I just love college football.”

Even though their game is on Election Day, Miami players will vote and wear “I voted” stickers on their helmets.

“The nation’s going to be watching and all of our players are going to vote,” Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said.

The one that got away

Ball State receiver Dante Ridgeway caught 13 passes for 114 yards Saturday and left Novak with regrets about missing the Decatur native during the recruiting process.

“We didn’t know who he was,” Novak said. “He came right out of left field.”

Ridgeway leads the nation with 1,103 yards receiving, but only played football his senior year in high school.

“I’d like to think we’re pretty thorough on recruiting,” Novak said, “but we blew that one.”

Luck of the overtime

Since 2002, the Huskies have won all four of their overtime games.

NIU topped Wake Forest in 2002 and ousted Maryland and Ohio last season before beating Ball State on Saturday.

“I don’t know why we’ve been 4-0, except that we’ve been lucky,” Novak said. “In all of those games, we’ve started with the football, which isn’t the way you might want it.”

Big Ben knows winning

Former Miami-Ohio quarterback Ben Roethlisberger helped the Pittsburgh Steelers break the New England Patriots’ 21-game winning streak this weekend.

Combining his starts with Miami-Ohio and the Steelers, Roethlisberger has won 18-straight starts. He also ranks third in the NFL for quarterback rating.

“If you go across the league, there are some good MAC players at that level,” Novak said.

Rank and file

For the second-straight week, NIU was ranked No. 26 in The Associated Press poll.

NIU’s overtime victory propelled the Huskies to No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

“It’s nice to get that recognition, but that’s not important right now,” Novak said. “Our ranking at the end of the year is the only thing that really matters.”Ball State receiver Dante Ridgeway caught 13 passes for 114 yards Saturday and left Novak with regrets about missing the Decatur native during the recruiting process.

“We didn’t know who he was,” Novak said. “He came right out of left field.”

Ridgeway leads the nation with 1,103 yards receiving, but only played football his senior year in high school.

“I’d like to think we’re pretty thorough on recruiting,” Novak said, “but we blew that one.”