Monday's Stories

Chicago Tribune: Wolfe rushing toward the top

Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe continues to put up numbers that need to be crunched. The senior from Chicago gained 196 yards on 24 carries in Saturday's loss to Ohio, moving up to No. 3 on NIU's all-time rushing chart.

His two touchdowns gave him 41, seven shy of leader Michael Turner. Wolfe has scored 246 points and is fourth all-time at Northern. …

Sophomore Marcus Perez is emerging as a big-play receiver who can take pressure off Wolfe. Perez caught four passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. … Kicker Chris Nendick has been almost automatic. The junior from Naperville Central has scored in all 26 games he has played. … Linebacker Tim McCarthy continues to lead the defense. The sophomore had seven solo tackles and five assists against Ohio.

Northern Star: Not getting it done

No. 1 Ohio State had 488 yards of offense against NIU's defense last week.

This was the same OSU team that beat No. 2 Texas 24-7 Saturday, the same day Ohio amassed 509 yards against the Huskies defense.

Northern Star: Despite loss, Wolfe climbs record book

The fifth-year senior is now third on NIU's career rushing chart after recording 196 yards on 24 carries Saturday. Wolfe now has 3,603 career yards. Only the San Diego Chargers' back-up running back Michael Turner's 4,941 yards and Mark Kellar's 3,745 yards outrank Wolfe in the NIU record books.

Northern Star: State of shock

"We got whipped. We got whipped good," said NIU coach Joe Novak. "I thought we got out-coached. We didn't tackle well enough, we didn't cover well enough, didn't protect well enough, didn't catch well enough. They executed better and we didn't tackle worth a darn."