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

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...

The Huskies' defense returns to its sideline celebrating after redshirt junior defensive end Jalonnie Williams (11) recovered a fumble during the second quarter of NIU's 17-7 win against Bowling Green State University at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Huskies trailed 7-3 in the first quarter before scoring 14 unanswered to earn the road victory. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU gears up for Homecoming clash with Toledo

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 17, 2024

DeKALB – The Mid-American Conference’s top scoring offense and top scoring defense face off on the gridiron Saturday as NIU hosts the University of Toledo Rockets for NIU’s 117th Homecoming Game. With both teams sitting at 4-2 halfway into the...

NIU redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Holst (15) rushes past Bowling Green State University senior cornerback Jacorey Benjamin (7) en route to the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of NIU’s 17-7 upset of Bowling Green at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio. Holst’s rushing touchdown was the first of his collegiate career. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Shorthanded Huskies earn first MAC win at Bowling Green

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 12, 2024

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – A dominant defensive performance and a young quarterback’s first college touchdown helped NIU football come away with a 17-7 upset win over Bowling Green State University on Saturday at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green. NIU...

The NIU offense and the University of Massachusetts defense line up at the line of scrimmage during the first quarter of the Huskies’ 34-20 win against the Minutemen on Saturday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. NIU’s victory boosted it to a 3-1 non-conference record, its best finish against non-league opponents since 2014. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Football heads to Bowling Green for MAC road opener

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 10, 2024

DeKALB – Looking to keep rolling after a much-needed home win, NIU football (3-2, 0-1 MAC) resumes Mid-American Conference play with its first road trip to Bowling Green State University (2-3, 1-0 MAC) since 2017. NIU finished its non-conference...

Multiple NIU players surround University of Massachusetts freshman running back Da'Marion Alberic after he was tackled by senior linebacker Jaden Dolphin short of the line of scrimmage. NIU defeated UMass 34-20 at Huskie Stadium on Saturday. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

No Brown, no problem: NIU runs over UMass in home triumph

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

DeKALB – A tone-setting touchdown 50 seconds into regulation and a 367-yard rushing performance by NIU – despite being without its top running back for most of the game – played vital Saturday as the Huskies breezed past the University of Massachusetts...

NIU senior linebacker Jaden Dolphin (26) and redshirt junior defensive end Pierce Oppong (99) force a fumble by North Carolina State University freshman quarterback CJ Bailey (16) on NC State’s opening possession in Saturday’s game at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Huskies lost the turnover battle by four after losing two fumbles and tossing two interceptions. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU looks to end losing skid in home clash with UMass

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 3, 2024

DeKALB – After dropping a tight-fought contest with North Carolina State University, NIU football remains hungry for a win as the Huskies prepare to host a future Mid-American Conference cohort Saturday to close out the non-conference schedule. NIU...

NIU redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton (2) is tackled by North Carolina State University graduate student defensive end Davin Vann (1) after rushing for a 9-yard gain on the final drive of NIU’s 24-17 loss Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hampton finished the game with nine carries for a loss of 19 yards. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Turnovers plague NIU in shortfall at NC State

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 28, 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. – Despite outperforming Power Four foe North Carolina State University in nearly every offensive metric, NIU football dropped to .500 Saturday after coughing up four turnovers. NIU (2-2, 0-1 MAC) lost the turnover battle by four as...

NIU redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton (2) attempts a pass during Saturday’s overtime loss to the University at Buffalo at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Hampton finished 23-of-43 passing for 194 yards and an interception. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

After Buffalo loss, NIU eyes rebound at NC State

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

DeKALB – When NIU football walked off Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium after being knocked off its No. 23 pedestal by the University at Buffalo, it left a bitter taste within the program. After all, the 23-20 overtime loss was only the third time NIU...

NIU redshirt junior running back Justin Lynch is tackled behind the line of scrimmage by University at Buffalo redshirt fifth-year nickel Solomon Brown (7) and junior defensive tackle Tristan Souza (55) in the third quarter of Saturday's 23-20 overtime loss to Buffalo at Huskie Stadium. Lynch was one of nine NIU players to record a catch in the game, finishing with two receptions for 3 yards. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

No. 23 NIU falls to Buffalo in overtime

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 21, 2024

DeKALB – In the aftermath of a 23-20 loss to the University at Buffalo, NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock, redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton and junior defensive end Nevaeh Sanders sat down behind a table inside a classroom in the Yordon...