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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

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 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...

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...

Ball State University sophomore kicker Jackson Courville (96) lines up to kick a game-winning 52-yard field goal to defeat the Huskies 25-23. The Huskies drop to 4-4 on the season and 1-3 in the MAC and have lost their last three meetings with Ball State. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU suffers third-straight loss to Ball State in heartbreaker

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 26, 2024

MUNCIE, Ind. – As NIU football head coach Thomas Hammock emerged from the visiting locker room at Scheumann Stadium, he hung his head low with his hands at his hips. Minutes earlier, he watched as his Huskies suffered yet another heartbreaking defeat...

NIU redshirt sophomore wide receiver Cam Thompson (0) runs downfield after catching a 8-yard reception in the first quarter of the 117th Homecoming Game against the University of Toledo on Saturday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Thompson led the Huskies with 80 receiving yards in the game. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU to face Ball State in Bronze Stalk battle

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 24, 2024

DeKALB – Logan Zschernitz still remembers the last time NIU beat Ball State University in 2021. The redshirt senior center remembers John Richardson’s celebration after kicking the game-winning field goal that lifted the Huskies over the Cardinals. “When...

Redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Holst (15) throws a pass on Saturday at Huskie Stadium. Holst passed for 210 yards in his first career start as NIU football lost 13-6 to the University of Toledo Rockets on Saturday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU succumbs to Toledo in low-scoring 117th Homecoming Game

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

DeKALB – Playing in front of a home crowd of more than 18,000 for the second time this season, NIU football had the University of Toledo beat on paper in Saturday’s 117th Homecoming Game. The Huskies ran 92 plays, put up 391 yards of offense and...