Recovering from a 17-point deficit, the newly ranked No. 12 NIU football team came back against host Central Michigan to take a 40-24 win.

The Huskies are one of five teams in the nation that is undefeated and are 6-0 for the first time since 1965.

At halftime, with the Huskies trailing 17-3 to Central Michigan, NIU coach Joe Novak wasn’t pleased.

“Our defense is playing with no emotion,” said Novak, right before the start of the second half.

It didn’t take long for the defense to respond and the offense to follow.

After a three-and-out by the Huskies defense, the offense and running back Michael Turner did its part. Three plays into the Huskie drive, Turner broke off for his longest run of the year, a 46-yard touchdown to pull NIU within a touchdown, 17-10.

On the ensuing Chippewas possession, NIU cornerback Randee Drew intercepted Derrick Vickers’ pass, allowing the NIU offense a chance to tie the game.

NIU quarterback Josh Haldi was forced to leave the game after being hit at the goal line by a CMU defender inches short of the endzone. The Huskies then turned to Ryan Gilbert who, one play later, scored on a quarterback sneak, tying the game.

“It’s unfortunate that Josh went down,” Gilbert said. “But other guys made big plays.”

Haldi should be all right after suffering a mild concussion, Novak said. In the fourth quarter, NIU lost another starter in senior linebacker Nick Duffy who will be out for the season with a broken right fibula.

The Huskies took a 24-17 lead after NIU’s Marlon Watson blocked a punt inside the 5-yard line. Two plays later, sophomore running back A.J. Harris scored from two yards out.

The Chippewas (2-4) were able to tie the score on their next possession after NIU punt returner and receiver P.J. Fleck fumbled a punt. Vickers was then able to connect with Kenan Lawhorne for a 13-yard touchdown. However, the Huskies drove right down the field again to score their fourth touchdown of the third quarter on a Turner two-yard run.

Turner carried the ball 28 times for 199 yards and two touchdowns. It was his high game of the year, one week after being held to a season-low 43 yards against Ohio.

In the fourth quarter, the Huskies used another CMU turnover to help cushion their lead. Adriel Hansbro hauled in an interception at the 10-yard line to set up a Steve Azar 18-yard field goal.

About six minutes later, tackle Leonard Cooksey tipped a pass in the air at the line of scrimmage into the hands of linebacker Brian Atkinson giving the Huskies another Azar field goal for a 37-24 lead.

The next CMU possession followed the trend set by the Chippewas, as Vickers threw over the head of his receiver to see his pass intercepted by Rob Lee.

Azar was able to cash in again from 32 yards for a 40-24 lead. Azar was a perfect 3-of-3 in the fourth quarter. He now stands five points behind Toledo’s Todd France (1998-2001) as the MAC’s all-time leading scorer.

“I wish we didn’t have to do it like this,” said Novak, of the team’s sixth consecutive come-from-behind win. “The kids believe they can win though and they did. We can’t keep doing this because sooner or later it’ll catch up to us.”