After eight straight losses, NIU not only won on the road but shut out its opponent.

It was a long time in the waiting, two years to be exact, but the Huskies finally did it in their 31-0 victory over the Arkansas State Indians in front of a crowd of 12,700 at Indian Stadium.

LeShon Johnson (13 rushes, 86 yards in the first half) started the scoring with a 16-yard touchdown run to end a picture-perfect 11-play, 88-yard drive that lasted 5:21 and made the score 7-0.

After Brian Steger tacked on a 22-yard field goal, Rob Rugai ran on a 1-yard QB sneak to lengthen the Huskies’ lead at the half, 17-0.

After a scoreless third quarter, the NIU defense decided to get in on the fun. Gerald Nickelberry intercepted ASU quarterback Tom Sears and ran it back 44 yards for the touchdown and increased the Huskies’ lead to 24-0.

NIU chewed up almost six minutes of the clock in the fourth quarter with a 70-yard drive that ended on a one-yard George Anthony touchdown run to end the scoring at 31-0.

The NIU defense was all over the place in its first shutout of the year—grabbing three interceptions, one fumble, and three quarterback sacks. Tony Smith had a big day with 10 tackles and a quarterback sack while breaking up three passes.

Nickelberry, along with the interception return, recovered a fumble, broke up a pass and tallied six tackles. Rich Favor came away with an interception and five tackles. C.J. Rose earned four tackles, a quarterback sack and a forced turnover. Tom Rhomberg intercepted a pass and made four tackles.

Rugai rushed nine times for 20 yards and one touchdown, but the big story was in his passing game, where he went 17-for-20 for 219 yards. Rugai set an Indian Stadium and ASU opponent record with his completion percentage of 85 percent.

Vaurice Patterson had his best game of the season, catching his first eight passes of the year for 101 yards. Brian Cotton also had a good day, rushing nine times for 52 yards and coming through in the clutch. Cotton’s number was called on a couple of third down plays to keep NIU’s first scoring drive alive and managed to scrape up the first down on both.

The limping tribe of ASU has increased its scoreless record to 12 quarters. The Indians threatened to score twice in the game. The first came at the end of the first half, but a Rob Wagner sack managed to push the Indians out of field goal range. Again, the scoring opportunity was there with a 47-yard field goal attempt, but Scott Frisella managed to hook the ball a couple feet wide to the left.

“ASU is in the situation that we were in a year ago,” said NIU head coach Charlie Sadler. “Obviously, it’s a transitional year. Having the success that they did with passing is a compliment to their team and coach (Ray) Perkins.”