NIU senior quarterback Chris Finlen knows that the team has had a hard time focusing since the terrorist acts in New York and Washington, D.C., last week, but he is confident they can get their act together for Sam Houston State at 6:35 p.m. Saturday at Huskie Stadium.

“I think definitely, last week right after the incident on Tuesday, guys had a hard time focusing,” Finlen said. “Sitting in the meetings watching film, you take a different perspective on the game and you realize that it just is a game.

“Guys are starting to get past it now and not really overlooking it, but moving on and understanding that life goes on, and we’ve just got to keep playing and keep our own focus.”

Needing to come into the game fully prepared for the Bearkats, who are currently undefeated (2-0), NIU (1-1) cannot overlook this 1-AA opponent.

Last year, in a similar position as now, Sam Houston State traveled into Illinois undefeated at 2-0, but were unable to leave with a win, being turned away by Western Illinois.

The Huskies hope to do the same.

“They get a lot of transfer guys from division one schools, and they come up here with some really good athletes,” Finlen added. “I know on defense they will have some good athletes running around getting to the ball, so we’ve just got to go out and play sound football.”

Marking the 15th time in their 15-year existence at the Division I-AA level, the Bearkats will square off with a I-A opponent.

With this being a big game for Sam Houston State, the Huskies cannot take them lightly.

“We need to throw the ball better, and if we can get our running game going like we have the previous two games, I think we’ll be all right,” Finlen said. “Coach [Novak] is instilling in us that we’ve just got to come out and play hard and cut down on the mental mistakes, those kind of killed us in the Illinois game (last week), and just move on from there.”