On Oct. 17, 1998, the streak ended.

The Huskies beat Central Michigan 16-6, ending a 23-game losing streak. The win sent the Homecoming crowd into a frenzy as they tore down a goal post and dragged it into the East Lagoon.

Last season’s Homecoming saw NIU win 49-0 at the hands of the Chippewas. It was a game so out-of-hand that even NIU punter Jimmy Erwin scored a touchdown on a fake field goal.

On Saturday, CMU (2-3) will look for revenge as the No. 16 Huskies (5-0) travel to Mount Pleasant for the Chippewas Homecoming.

“We have to come in knowing that as badly as we wanted to beat them and break the streak, they want to beat us just as bad now,” NIU cornerback Rob Lee said.

Lee said the Huskies and Chippewas have developed a rivalry over the years that leads to trash-talking on the field.

Defensive end Vinson Reynolds, punter Anthony Gallagher and special teamer Kevin Woods all are from Michigan, which Lee said makes the rivalry more intense.

“We have a couple guys that know some of the guys on their team,” Lee said. “There’s a little more trash-talking that way. Anytime we play Central Michigan, we know it’s going to be a hard-nosed game.”

Last week, NIU struggled against the run, allowing a season-high 244 yards on the ground, due in large part to Ohio’s use of the option offense.

The Chippewas rank 19th in the nation in rushing with 197.7 yards per game, which worries NIU coach Joe Novak after last week’s performance.

“They want to rush it,” Novak said. “That’s what they want to do first. After watching Ohio U. run all over our ass, I’m sure they’ll come out thinking they can run it.”

As for the other side of the ball, The Chippewas rank 116th in total defense, allowing 503.8 yards per game. They rank 104th against the pass and 112th against the run.

The Huskies will be without starting defensive end Travis Moore (left ankle sprain) for the second straight game.

On the offensive, wide receiver Dan Sheldon will miss the remainder of the season. Sheldon underwent surgery Sunday to repair a dislocated elbow and chipped bone.

Last week, NIU senior running back Michael Turner had a season-low 43 yards rushing, which forced the Huskies to throw the ball 46 times. If CMU stacks the box against NIU, Novak said passing the football will become a necessity.

“We’ll do whatever we have to do,” Novak said. “If people are going to do what Ohio did to us, we’ve got to throw it.”