Skip to Main Content

Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Miami University redshirt sophomore wide receiver Javon Tracy (11) runs after the catch as NIU redshirt freshman safety Santana Banner (15) approaches to make a tackle during Tuesday night’s Mallory Cup rivalry game at Fred C. Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio. Banner was ejected from the game for targeting near the end of the second quarter as the Huskies suffered their fourth consecutive loss to the RedHawks. (Courtesy of Miami Athletics)

Huskies stifled by RedHawks in rivalry loss at Miami (Ohio)

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 20, 2024

NIU football struggled in every phase of the game Tuesday night as the Huskies fell short against the Miami University RedHawks in a 20-9 loss at Fred C. Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio. With the loss, NIU failed to earn their first claim of the Mallory...

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman James Ester (65) stands at the line of scrimmage during the Packers’ preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 24 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Ester is midway through his rookie season in the NFL after being signed by the Packers as a undrafted free agent in April. (Evan Siegle | Green Bay Packers)

James Ester learning lessons in first pro season

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 19, 2024

It was only a year ago when James Ester was regularly tearing through opposing offensive lines as the leading man on NIU’s defense. His veteran experience made him a respected voice in the Huskies’ locker room.  Now, Ester is back to being the...

Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton (2) turns and prepares to hand the ball to redshirt senior running back Gavin Williams (21) on Wednesday at Huskie Stadium. NIU football will play the Miami University RedHawks on Tuesday, seeking to bring the Mallory Cup to NIU for the first time since it was created in 2018. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU to play Miami (Ohio) for Mallory Cup in road finale

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 18, 2024

DeKALB – Coming off a win that made NIU bowl eligible for the third time in four seasons, the Huskies will be on the road for the final time of the regular season when they visit the reigning Mid-American Conference champion Miami University. The...

NIU redshirt senior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph (3) throws a 39-yard touchdown pass near the end of the first quarter in Wednesday’s 29-16 win against the University of Akron Zips. Rudolph’s touchdown was his first passing score since his days as a high school quarterback. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

‘It felt amazing:’ the special meaning behind Trayvon Rudolph’s tricky TD pass

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 15, 2024

DeKALB – Since arriving at NIU as a walk-on freshman four falls ago, redshirt senior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph has shown just how versatile he can be. He can catch passes. He can return kicks. He can take handoffs. He can even throw behind his...

NIU football redshirt junior Justin Lynch (5) celebrates in the endzone with redshirt senior running back Gavin Williams (21) after Williams rushed for a 71-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter Wednesday against the University of Akron Zips. The Huskies defeated the Zips 29-16, advancing to six wins on the season and clinching a bowl game. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Seniors shine against Akron, lead NIU to bowl bid

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 14, 2024

DeKALB – NIU football overcame the cold, wind and rain at Huskie Stadium and racked up 439 yards of total offense to prevail over the University of Akron (2-8, 1-5 MAC) on Wednesday night. With the 29-16 victory, the Huskies (6-4, 3-3 MAC) are bowl...

NIU redshirt senior offensive lineman J.J Lippe (79) lifts redshirt sophomore wide receiver Cam Thompson (0) after celebrating a touchdown late in the second quarter against Ball State University on Oct. 26. The Huskies host the University of Akron  Wednesday for their second midweek MACtion game. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU to host Akron, needing one win for bowl eligibility

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 11, 2024

DeKALB – Redshirt junior defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard was in his first season at NIU the last time the University of Akron Zips paid a visit to Huskie Stadium. He didn’t play a snap that season, but he was there to get the experience of an...

NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock, coaching staff and players watch from the sidelines during the third quarter. NIU’s next home game is on Wednesday against the University of Akron. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

KISELLUS: NIU’s wild, wacky path to the MAC title game

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 8, 2024

The final month of the regular season is upon us, which means the race for the Mid-American Conference Championship is heating up. The return of midweek MACtion saw conference frontrunner Western Michigan University (5-4, 4-1 MAC) fall by the hand of...

NIU freshman running back Telly Johnson Jr. (22) carries the ball during the third quarter of the Huskies’ 42-28 victory against Western Michigan University on Wednesday night at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Johnson finished with a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Huskies run wild over Broncos in MACtion drubbing

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 7, 2024

In the 10 days leading up to NIU football’s midweek MACtion matchup, a common message was ‘let’s be us.” On Wednesday night in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Huskies made it known who they were: a team that puts up 42 points on offense, registers...

Western Michigan University redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Buckley (6) lunges into the end zone to finish off a 17-yard touchdown run in the Broncos’ 52-21 win over Kent State University on Oct. 26 at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Buckley will be one of three running backs at Western Michigan’s disposal against NIU on Wednesday. (Nicholas Kahl | Western Herald)

Behind Enemy Bylines: Western Michigan

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 5, 2024

NIU football (4-4,1-3 MAC) is still two wins shy of bowl eligibility after suffering a narrow defeat to archrival Ball State University in Week 9. Wednesday night’s matchup with Western Michigan University (5-3, 4-0 MAC) will be its next opportunity...

The NIU football team rushes onto the field before kickoff of the Huskies’ 25-23 loss to Ball State University on Oct. 26 at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana. NIU is 4-4, 1-3 MAC, with four games left in the 2024 regular season. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Huskies head to Kalamazoo for midweek MACtion

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 4, 2024

DeKALB – As NIU football begins the final month of the regular season, the Huskies gear up for their first game of the midweek MACtion schedule: a Wednesday night matchup with Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Huskies (4-4,...

NIU senior running back Antario Brown (1) sprints toward the end zone after spinning around a Ball State University defender Saturday at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana. Brown scored a 34-yard touchdown on the play and got another in the fourth quarter to record his second two-touchdown performance of the season. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

KISELLUS: Ball State heartbreaker exposed major issues for NIU

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 31, 2024

With 15 seconds left on the clock Saturday against Ball State University, NIU was on the cusp of victory. Senior kicker Kanon Woodill had just made a 47-yard field goal to give the Huskies their first lead of the game. But once again, the Cardinals...