MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Joe Novak knows the NIU football team could have folded Saturday after falling behind Central Michigan 24-7 at halftime.

But the Huskies responded by scoring 26 unanswered points in the second half to steal a 33-24 win over the Chippewas.

“We definitely got our money’s worth today,” Novak said. “It was a real character check at halftime. They sure responded. I am so proud of our team. It’s been a hard season for our kids and that’s why I am so happy about this win.”

The Huskies (4-4 overall, 2-1 Mid-American Conference West Division) needed a spark in the second half, and got one from Darrell Hill. The senior opened the second half by breaking a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, cutting the Chippewas’ lead to 10, 24-14.

“The hole was big as the Red Sea,” Hill said. “I just saw the gap and I ran through it. I saw the opportunity.”

And so did the Huskies.

As it has done all season, NIU continued its dominance in the second half, holding the Chippewas (2-5, 0-2) to 180 yards total offense in the final two quarters. The Chippewa offense could not get to the red zone in the third quarter, and was stopped at the goalline the last two plays of the game. The Huskies held the opposition to zero points in the second half for the second straight game.

The Huskie offense also woke up in the second half, getting 222 total yards. Tailback Thomas Hammock ran for more yards in the fourth quarter than the first three quarters combined. The junior ran for 108 yards on 11 carries in the final 15 minutes, compared to 87 yards on 22 carries in the first 45 minutes of the game, and finished with 195 yards and one touchdown on 33 carries.

“I usually try to push harder in the second half because you usually get a feel for the defense and how they are playing,” Hammock said. “The offensive line did a great job. The more I got stronger, so did the line.”

A 13-yard Chris Finlen touchdown pass to P.J. Fleck pulled the Huskies two within one, but kicker Steve Azar missed the potentially tying extra point wide left.

Azar had a chance to redeem himself eight minutes later, as the sophomore hit a 35-yard field goal into the wind to give the Huskies the 26-24 lead. Finlen could not hit paydirt the first three tries from the one-yard line, and finally crossed the goalline on a fourth-and-goal situation to give the Huskies the 33-24 win.

“At half, I challenged the team and it responded well,” Novak said. “We weren’t knocked out but we were reeling, definitely on the ropes, at halftime.”

The Chippewa offense had the Huskies on the ropes the whole first half, gaining 313 yards. CMU ran for 164 yards, led by Terrance Jackson with 90 yards.

After Hammock scored the first touchdown of the game on a 26-yard scamper, the CMU defense put the shackles on the Huskie offense. NIU had three series end on failed fourth-down conversions, and Finlen was intercepted on the first play of the first series of the second quarter for NIU.

Chippewa quarterback Derrick Vickers hooked up with receiver Rob Turner in the first quarter to give CMU the early 14-7 lead. Vickers hit Turner for a six-yard pass and then for a 98-yard touchdown pass, which tied a school record for the longest touchdown from scrimmage and was the second longest touchdown in MAC history.

CMU kicker Paul Savich hit a 40-yard field goal, and Jackson darted 18 yards to give CMU the 24-7 halftime lead.

“It was a game of two halves,” said CMU coach Mike DeBord. “In the first half, we dominated everything on offense and defense and on the scoreboard. In the second half, it was the exact opposite and NIU was able to take control of the game.”

With the win, Novak finally feels that the program has turned the corner. NIU has a chance to host the Mid-American Conference Championship game on Nov. 30. The Huskies have to win out the last two divisional games against Eastern Michgian and Ball State, and need a Toledo loss to host.

“People have been asking to me the last two years about turning the corner,” the sixth-year coach said. “I think we made a big step today in coming back.”