Chandler Harnish News

DeKALB – Senior wide receiver Preston Williams waited almost five years to make his first catch for Northern Illinois.

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson While Central Michigan has dominated many of the headlines in the Mid-American Conference this season with their 8-2 campaign, Northern Illinois has quietly crept up the standings to give the Chippewas a challenge.

Northern Illinois' offensive philosophy isn't hard to figure out. The Huskies play with an old-school mentality where the run game is king.

DeKALB – Quarterback Chandler Harnish practiced Sunday and Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill said at his weekly news conference that the injured quarterback would be limited to certain drills at Monday's practice.

DeKALB – When the Eastern Michigan defense stacked the line with defenders Thursday night, they were testing Northern Illinois quarterback DeMarcus Grady to beat them.

DeKALB – Tommy Davis thought he was going to get tackled. So did almost everyone else in Huskie Stadium.

If red isn't one of Jerry Kill's favorite colors, it probably should be. Not because of the red jerseys his Northern Illinois University players wear, but how the 5-3 Huskies are performing in the red zones -- those areas between the goal and 20-yard lines on each end of the field.

Between his recent dental surgery and whatever virus courses through his veins - and pays special attention to his vocal cords - Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill needs to spend a day or two healing instead of hollering.

DeKALB – Playing essentially on one leg didn't do too much to hurt Jason Onyebuagu's overall performance, at least in the eyes of Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill.

Getting offensive: Chad Spann ran for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns, giving him 14 for the season.

Northern Illinois running back Chad Spann runs for a 28-yard touchdown during Saturday's 27-10 victory against Akron at Huskie Stadium.

Jerry Kill is confident his Huskies will continue to get their signals straight at quarterback.

DeKALB – While Northern Illinois' quarterback situation appears it will remained unresolved to the public before today, NIU coach Jerry Kill wants to see something that was lacking in last week's loss to Toledo.

It was coach Jerry Kill of Northern Illinois speaking, but it could also have been coach J.D. Brookhart of the University of Akron.

Getting offensive: Chad Spann rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.

College football coaches know it's wise to let sleeping dogs lie. That's why it's not surprising to hear Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill give this assessment of first-year coach Michael Haywood's Miami team: ''Their defense is good.

NIU's Tommy Davis returns a punt 42 yards to the Miami 11-yard line during the Huskies' 27-22 win over Miami .

OXFORD, Ohio -- Playing without injured starting quarterback Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois held on to beat winless Miami 27-22 Saturday at Yager Stadium.

College football coaches know it's wise to let sleeping dogs lie. That's why it's not surprising to hear Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill give this assessment of first-year coach Michael Haywood's Miami team.

TV/radio: Noon Sat.; WSCR-AM 670, WLBK-AM 1360. Records: Northern Illinois 3-3, 1-1 MAC; Miami 0-7, 0-3. Last meeting: NIU won 17-13 on Oct.