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Toledo Rockets To The Top Of The MAC West Division Standings With 31-17 Win Over Northern Illinois

DeKalb, IL - Bruce Gradkowski threw for 297 yards and led the University of Toledo offense to 512 yards of total offense and 30 first downs in a 31-17 win over the Northern Illinois Huskies Tuesday evening in DeKalb.




November 9, 2004

Toledo Rockets To The Top Of The MAC West Division Race With 31-17 Win Over Northern Illinois

Box Score

DeKalb, IL - Bruce Gradkowski threw for 297 yards and led the University of Toledo offense to 512 total yards and 30 first downs in a 31-17 win over the Northern Illinois Huskies Tuesday evening in DeKalb.

The loss dropped NIU out of the driver's seat in the Mid-American Conference West Division race, however, NIU can still qualify for the MAC Championships game in Detroit, MI, on Dec. 2, if the Huskies can win at Eastern Michigan (Nov. 20) and get a win by Bowling Green over Toledo.

Although it was the Rocket offense that ended up stealing the show, NIU showed great offensive prowess in the game's first 19:44, rolling to a 17-7 lead. The Huskies lit up the scoreboard on each of their first three possessions, including a touchdown run from Adrian Davis and a TD pass from Josh Haldi to Shatone Powers.

Facing one of the MAC's most explosive offenses, NIU got off to a great defensive start, holding Gradkowski and the Rockets to a three-and-out. Following an 18-yard punt by UT punter Jason Robins, NIU took over at its own 36 to set up a career long, 47-yard field goal by true freshman place kicker Chris Nendick.

A Lionel Hickenbottom interception set the Huskies up with great field position on their second drive. After the Rockets drove to midfield on their second possession, the senior safety stepped in front of a Gradkowski offering to thwart UT's first serious scoring chance of the game.

From their NIU turned to a balanced mixture of passing and running to push its lead to 10-0 just prior to the end of the first quarter. The Huskies ran for 37 yards and passed for another 41, which included a 30-yard hook-up between Haldi and senior wide receiver Dan Sheldon. Davis then bulled in from one-yard out to make the score 10-0 after 15:00 minutes of play.

Toledo closed the Northern Illinois gap to 10-7 on a two-yard run by Jalen Parmele on the first play of the second quarter. While Parmele got the glory (first career touchdown) it was bruising tailback Scooter McDougle that did the damage, carrying the ball five times for 37 yards, including a 17-yard tote up the middle on the first play of the series.

Unfazed by Toledo's first sniff of success, NIU responded with an impressive seven-play, 80-yard march that was capped by an acrobatic TD grab by Powers. What initially looked to be an overthrown ball by Haldi turned into a gift TD as the Toledo defender mistimed his interception attempt and deflected the ball back into the waiting arms of Powers, who trotted into the endzone for the 18-yard score. In addition to Haldi and Powers, A.J. Harris was outstanding on the drive as well, carrying the ball five times for 53 yards, including a game-long 29-yarder behind Jake VerStraete.

That drive would mark the end of NIU's offensive effectiveness, as the Huskies could muster just three more first downs the rest of the way in falling by the 14-point margin. Toledo cut the Huskies lead to 17-14 just prior to halftime on a McDougle three-yard run and knotted the game at 17-17 on a 25-yard field goal from Robbins midway through the third quarter.

McDougle then gave the visitors their first lead with a 10-yard carry up the middle with just 1:06 remaining in the third period, before the Rockets put the game on ice with a one-yard, Parmele run in the fourth quarter.

Northern Illinois returns to action on Nov. 20 at Ypsilanti, MI, when it takes on the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Noon.

Game Notes:

Although it was a rough outing for the Huskies offensively, NIU senior quarterback Josh Haldi managed his 400th career completion. In fact, Haldi's 399th career connection was the TD pass to Powers in the second period.

A.J. Harris narrowly missed his second 100-yard rushing day of the year with 95 yards on 16 carries.

Lionel Hickenbottom picked off his third pass of the season and moved into the team lead. Hickenbottom now has nine career picks.

Chris Nendick's 47-yard field goal in the first quarter was a career long. His previous best was a 41-yarder at Ball State on Oct. 30. The 47-yard boot is tied for the 12th longest field goal in school history.