If you like old-fashioned, smashmouth football, this game is for you.

Saturday’s 95th Homecoming football game at 1:05 p.m. at Huskie Stadium against Central Michigan (3-3, 1-1) showcases two of the leading ground gainers in the NCAA. The opponent, NIU coach Joe Novak said, reminds him of the Huskies (4-3, 3-0).

“We’ve had a great rivalry with them,” Novak said. “They’re a team that reminds me a lot of the way we want to be and the way I think we are. Tough, physical, big, strong, and they’re like that, too. I know this – they don’t like losing to us. We’re going to have to play real well to be in the game.”

The Chippewas enter the contest fifth in the MAC in rushing and have encountered a situation similar to that of NIU.

Terrence Jackson, who ran for 1,194 yards last year, went down early in the season with a knee injury. Backup Robbie Mixon emerged in the absence of Jackson and rushed for 758 yards.

Mixon currently is fourth in the conference in rushing and will be aided this week by the return of Jackson, who carried eight times in last week’s loss to Bowling Green.

The Huskies’ defense also will see another running back on Saturday. Kenan Lawhorne will see action as a third back against the Huskies. The three-back system is something the Huskies must recognize but isn’t something that will change the defensive alignment, Novak said.

As for the Huskies’ offense, last weeks’ win over Miami (Ohio) provided the continuing emergence of quarterback Josh Haldi, as well as a career day from Michael Turner.

Haldi passed for 292 yards against the RedHawks and has passed for six touchdowns and one interception in the last two contests.

“It was fun on an individual level, but the biggest thing was it was a win for the program,” Haldi said. “Being able to score 34 points in the fourth quarter and getting the job done outshined anything I did on the field.”

Turner, who ran for 222 yards and a career-high five touchdowns last week, now leads the nation in all-purpose yards with 207 per game. The North Chicago native also leads the nation with 1,094 yards rushing, 196 yards more than the next best from the MAC, Kent State quarterback Joshua Cribbs.

The Huskies’ 3-0 MAC start marks the best start in conference play for NIU since 1983. That year, the Huskies finished 10-2 and beat Cal State-Fullerton 20-13 in the California Bowl.

Saturday’s Homecoming game will be the last home game until Bowling Green comes to Huskie Stadium on Nov. 9.