DeKALB — The NIU football team are within striking distance of the University of Buffalo Bulls, trailing 21-16 at halftime Wednesday after allowing touchdowns on the Bulls’ first two drives.

The Huskies were able to bring the game within one score before the half with a 16-yard touchdown pass from redshirt senior quarterback Ross Bowers to redshirt junior wide receiver Cole Tucker with 35 seconds remaining.

The biggest play of the first half came late in the second when junior running back Jaret Patterson of Buffalo dodged defenders on his way to a 56-yard touchdown run. Patterson has 129 rushing yards at the break.

The Bulls only took three plays to find the endzone on their opening drive with Patterson picking up a five-yard touchdown rush for a 7-0 lead.

The Huskies responded with a drive into Buffalo territory that ended with a 43-yard field goal by redshirt sophomore kicker Josh Richardson to make it 7-3.

Buffalo junior quarterback Kyle Vantrease found senior wide receiver Antonio Nunn on a 17-yard pass in the endzone for another Bulls score, making their lead 14-3 after the first quarter.

The second quarter was filled with several firsts for new Huskies players. 

After first-year wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph got his first catch on a 28-yard pass from redshirt senior quarterback Ross Bowers, junior running back Erin Collins scored his first touchdown as a Huskie on a six-yard rush. The following drive saw first-year safety Jordan Hansen get his first career interception.