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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jalon Johnson attempts to catch the ball in the snow against Central Michigan last Tuesday. The Huskies will look to reclaim the Bronze Stalk Trophy on Tuesday against Ball State. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Football to battle for Bronze Stalk

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | November 5, 2023

DeKALB – NIU football (4-5, 3-2 MAC) seeks to return the Bronze Stalk Trophy back to DeKalb in Week 2 of MACtion against Ball State University (2-7, 1-4 MAC). During Tuesday’s game against CMU, NIU found itself trailing by a 24-3 margin at halftime....

A cartoon illustrates former NIU football kicker Mathew Sims' vibrant smile and pre-kick setup. Sims finished as NIU's second all-time leading scorer in school history and was known as a great teammate and friend. (Eleanor Gentry | Northern Star)

Remembering NIU’s kicking hero

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 1, 2023

His name was Mathew Sims. He was the kicker NIU football placed its collective trust upon to pull the Huskies through on the gridiron. It’s Dec. 2, 2011, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The 9-3 NIU Huskies and the 9-3 Ohio University Bobcats...

Redshirt junior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph receives a handoff during NIU football's game against Eastern Michigan University on Oct. 22. The Huskies' comeback bid fell short in a 37-31 loss to Central Michigan on Tuesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Football’s MACtion comeback falls short

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 31, 2023

DeKALB – After trailing 24-3 at halftime and 37-11 during the third quarter, NIU football (4-5, 3-2 MAC) was unable to complete a miraculous second half comeback, falling 37-31 to the Central Michigan University Chippewas (5-4, 3-2 MAC). With the...

Redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi hands the ball off to redshirt junior running back Gavin Williams in a 35-11 loss against the University of Nebraska. The Huskies travel to Central Michigan looking to stay ahead of the Chippewas in the MAC West standings. (Mark Kuhlmann | NIU Athletics)

Football preparing for Central Michigan battle

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 29, 2023

DeKALB – After earning its third consecutive victory, with a 20-13 win over Eastern Michigan University and clawing back to a .500 record after a 1-4 start, NIU football (4-4, 3-1 MAC) travels to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to take on the Central Michigan...

Andy Garcia speaks at Winter Sports Media for NIU Athletics on Tuesday at the Convocation Center. Garcia was announced as longtime NIU football radio broadcaster Bill Baker's successor as the main play-by-play commentator for NIU football and men's basketball. (Courtesy NIU Athletics)

Garcia to succeed Baker in radio booth

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | October 25, 2023

DeKALB – NIU radio broadcast veteran Bill Baker will be passing the torch to Andy Garcia as his successor for the radio play-by-play voice of NIU football for the 2024 season and men’s basketball’s for the 2023-2024 season. Baker announced in...

Former NIU football kicker Mathew Sims gets ready for a last-second field goal attempt against the Ohio University Bobcats on Dec. 2, 2011. Sims, NIU's all-time leader in extra-point attempts and makes, died in a car crash on Friday. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Former NIU kicker dies in car crash

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 23, 2023

Former NIU football kicker Mathew Sims died at 1:10 p.m. on Friday at Hannibal Regional Hospital. He was 31 years old. Sims was born on Nov. 8, 1991, in Hannibal, Missouri. He passed away in a car crash in Hannibal. Sims is survived by his parents...

Redshirt junior punter Tom Foley prepares to punt the ball during football's game against the University of Nebraska on Sept. 16. Foley was named the MAC West Specialist Player of the Week. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Foley earns football’s third consecutive MAC Player of the Week honor

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 23, 2023

DeKALB – NIU redshirt junior punter Tom Foley was named the MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in NIU football’s (4-4, 3-1 MAC) 20-13 win over Eastern Michigan University Saturday.  Foley punted the ball four times Saturday...

Redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi (12) runs for the first down against Eastern Michigan. The Huskies defeated the Eagles 20-13. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Football downs Eagles, wins third straight

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | October 21, 2023

DeKALB – With a goal-line stretch by redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi in the final two minutes of regulation, NIU football (4-4, 3-1 MAC) pulled away from Eastern Michigan University (4-4, 2-2 MAC) by a score of 20-13.  The Huskie offense...

2009 inductee Bill Baker speaks as a part of the series of speakers on Saturday night at the 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony. Baker has been named a finalist for the 2023 Armed Forces Merit Award. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Baker named finalist for Armed Forces Merit Award

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | October 20, 2023

DeKALB — Radio play-by-play announcer and United States Air Force veteran Bill Baker has been named an “Elite 11” finalist for the 2023 Armed Forces Merit Award, NIU announced on Friday.   The Armed Forces Merit Award honors an individual and/or...

Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Drew Hoth (71) blocks as redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi (12) looks to take an open past during Saturday's Homecoming game against Ohio University. The Huskies are looking for their third straight win this weekend against Eastern Michigan. (Cameron Whittington | Northern Star)

Football eyes third place in MAC West

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | October 19, 2023

DeKALB – With a victory on Saturday, NIU football (3-4, 2-1 MAC) can seize the chance to surpass Eastern Michigan University (4-3, 2-1 MAC) for third place in the MAC West.  The Huskies ride into Saturday’s contest on the heels of a 23-13 Homecoming...

NIU football's defense shut down Ohio University in the final 30 minutes of Saturday's game. The defense's collective performance earned them Northern Star's first group Huskie of the Week honor. (Ria Pathak | Northern Star)

NIU football’s defense takes over Huskie of the Week

By Northern Star Sports Staff | October 16, 2023

DeKALB – After pitching the second-half shutout to clinch a victory against the Ohio University Bobcats in the 116th annual Homecoming game, NIU’s defense collectively received Huskie Of the Week honors. NIU faced a 13-7 deficit after conceding...

Redshirt sophomore kicker Jake Seibert (30) practices for field goal kicks while  redshirt sophomore kicker Kanon Woodill (92) holds the ball in place during the NIU game against SIU Sept 9. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Woodill earns MAC Special Teams Player of the Week

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 16, 2023

DeKALB – NIU redshirt sophomore kicker Kanon Woodill earned his second career MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week award for his performance in NIU football’s (3-4, 2-1 MAC) 23-13 win over the Ohio University Bobcats (5-2, 2-1 MAC) Saturday.  Woodill...