In a game that featured two of the best running backs in the MAC, it was the NIU defense that stole the show in the Huskies’ 49-0 Homecoming victory over Central Michigan.

The win marked the Huskies’ first shutout of a MAC opponent since Nov. 9, 1985, over Eastern Michigan.

“I give Northern Illinois a lot of credit,” CMU coach Mike DeBord said. “Northern Illinois came out really fired up and had great defensive schemes.”

While the Huskie defense stymied the Chippewas, the beginning of the game looked like it would be a different story.

On a short screen pass, CMU quarterback Derrick Vickers found Robbie Mixon, who ran 45 yards to get to the NIU 35-yard line.

After that it was a quick four and out for the Chippewas.

“We had a bad start, but we responded to get a stop,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. “We shook off the play and kept playing. It’s an enthusiastic defensive group. They like to play and it rubs off on all of them.”

After CMU’s initial possession of the game, it had two straight punts on its next two possessions, then NIU cornerback Randee Drew intercepted one of Vickers’ passes.

“It’s all about trust and believing that everyone else out there is going to take care of their coverage,” Drew said.

In what Novak called his team’s best defensive game of the year, the Huskies more than tripled the Chippewas’ first downs for the game, 22-6.

CMU running back Robbie Mixon, who came into the game averaging 126 yards per game, was held to 31 rushing yards.

The Huskie defense finished the scoring when senior cornerback Vince Thompson returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“Everybody on our defense is so confident,” Thompson said. “Everybody believes in one another. That’s why we play, just to go out there and have fun and let it loose. That’s how we try to be.”