National rankings by quarterback Phil Horvath, tailback Garrett Wolfe and receiver Sam Hurd suggest Northern Illinois has achieved the balanced offense coach Joe Novak seeks.
This lifts the Huskies as they try Saturday to improve their record of 2-3 (1-1 in the Mid-American Conference) versus Eastern Michigan.
Horvath completed 19 of 22 passes in Northern’s 38-27 victory over Miami (Ohio) last week to rise to No. 6 in the nation in NCAA passing efficiency. He has completed 72.4 percent of his passes for an average of 296 yards per game.
Hurd had a career-high 223 yards on his seven catches, including two for TDs, against Miami. He ranks 11th nationally with a 106.6-yard average.
Wolfe, after two sub-100-yard games, rushed for 197 yards on 31 carries against Miami to climb to No. 6 nationally with an average of 140.6 yards per game.