NIU FOOTBALL 2016 – POSTGAME NOTES
NIU at Western Michigan – Oct. 8, 2016
Kalamazoo, Michigan – Waldo Stadium

Western Michigan 45, NIU 30

***Western Michigan snapped a seven-game losing streak to NIU with tonight's victory.  Prior to today's game, WMU's last win in the series came in 2008 (29-26 in Kalamazoo).  Western Michigan now leads the all-time series 24-16.

***NIU was shut out in the first quarter for the fourth time in six games this year.  The Huskies are 0-4 in those games.  NIU scored one touchdown in the first quarter at Wyoming, was shutout in the first period at USF and versus San Diego State and Western Illinois in addition to today.  

***NIU redshirt freshman Sutton Smith recorded his first career sack in the first quarter.

***Junior receiver Christian Blake scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard run early in the second quarter.  

***Blake's score was set up by a 37-yard reception by Kenny Golladay. The Chicago senior added a 38-yard catch in the third quarter. Golladay has nine reception of 25 yards or longer this year.  The rest of the NIU team has five receptions of longer than 25 yards.

***Junior tight end Shane Wimann caught his fifth touchdown pass of the season on a 26-yard reception from Anthony Maddie.  Wimann surpassed his touchdown total of a year ago and now has a career high 13 catches on the season.

***Christian Blake hit Anthony Maddie on a nine-yard pass play marking the first pass thrown by a player other than a Huskie quarterback this year.  It was Maddie's first career reception and Blake's first career attempt or completion.  

***Anthony Maddie rushed for 111 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown. It was Maddie's second consecutive 100-yard rushing performance after rushing for 160 yards last week at Ball State. He has rushed for 100 yards or more in each of his two career starts.  He is the first NIU quarterback to have back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Drew Hare had 180 and 166 yards versus Miami and Eastern Michigan, respectively, in 2014.  

***Aregeros Turner had a season high six kickoff returns for 156 yards for an average of 26.0 yards. Turner's previous season high was five returns for 92 yards at USF.

***Kicker Christian Hagan made a season high three field goals – on kicks of 30, 19 and 37 yards, and scored a season-high 12 points in the game.  It was Hagan's first three field goal game since the 2015 Toledo game when he made four field goals.

***Linebacker Sean Folliard recorded 11 tackles for his second consecutive double-figure tackle game. Folliard had 17 tackles last week at Ball State.
 
***Senior defensive end Austin Smaha made his first career start in the 38th game of his NIU career.