Head football coach Joe Novak knows all about Western Illinois.

In his first home game as NIU head coach in 1996, the Leathernecks beat the Huskies 17-0.

NIU football has came a long way since that loss, but Western Illinois remains a perfect 2-0 against the Huskies since Novak took over.

The Huskies (1-2) will have a chance to end that streak Saturday night when Western Illinois (2-0) visits Huskie Stadium for a 6:35 p.m. game.

“I’ve got all the respect in the world for Western Illinois,” Novak said. “[Head Coach] Don Patterson is a heck of a football coach and they’ve got some good football players. Our kids better be ready to play, and I know they will be.”

Western comes into DeKalb fresh off a win over then No. 21 ranked (Division I-AA) Western Kentucky.

The Leathernecks, currently ranked No. 20 in Division I-AA, are led on offense by junior quarterback Russ Michna.

Michna threw for only 136 yards all of last year but has passed for 182 and 214 yards in wins over Drake and Western Kentucky.

WIU also fills a void at running back.

Coming into this season, the Leathernecks leading returning rusher, Sadrac Sainvilus, gained 146 yards all of last season.

In only two games this year, true freshman running back Travis Glasford has ran for 217 yards and one touchdown.

The 127 yards against Western Kentucky was only 10 yards shy of a WIU record for rushing yards by a true freshman.

Defensively, the Leathernecks return a pair of linebackers that logged over 100 tackles last season.

Jason McWilliams and Lee Russell anchor a defense that has given up only seven points in two games and hasn’t allowed a score in over 113 minutes.

As for the Huskies, the defense will be without the services of Vince Thompson and could be without starting defensive lineman Anthony Falbo.

Thompson will miss his second straight game with knee problems and Falbo remains questionable with a back injury.

However, defensive captain Larry Williams remains positive about the ability and the focus of the defense.

“All we have to do is stay focused and go out there and make plays,” Williams said. “It’s not going to be hard to get the intensity simply because Western Illinois has beaten us the last couple of times we’ve played them. We have to play them hard. We know they are a good team.”

The Huskies will be without P.J. Fleck and could be without fellow wide receivers Keith Perry, Mike Archie and Turner Pugh.

One of the problems that has plagued the Huskies offense all season is turnovers.

NIU has turned the ball over to its opponents 11 times and has taken the ball away only twice.

“This is a game that’s very important to us,” Novak said. “They’re a good football team.”