Wolfe (203 yards) back in fine form
Garrett Wolfe flashed the running form he displayed early in the season and set Northern Illinois’ career rushing record, gaining 203 yards to lead the Huskies to a 31-10 victory over Central Michigan at DeKalb, Ill., on Friday night.
Wolfe now has 4,972 yards in his career, eclipsing Michael Turner’s mark of 4,941.
The nation’s leader in rushing (153.3 yards a game) and all-purpose yards (176.3) entering the game, Wolfe carried 33 times and scored three touchdowns.
He ran for 66 yards in the first half, with a 10-yard touchdown run on Northern’s first possession and a two-yarder on its second. He had a 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as the Huskies (6-5 overall, 4-3 Mid-American Conference) ended a two-game losing streak.
It was the 10th 200-yard game of Wolfe’s career and his third this season. He set a career high with 1,736 yards -- the third-best in school history.
Wolfe had cooled off after setting an NCAA record with 1,181 rushing yards through the first five games. Although he began the night with 1,533 yards, he had only 190 in his previous four games in part because of hamstring and shoulder problems.
He opened the season with 171 yards against Ohio State on Sept. 2, gained 263 against Buffalo on Sept. 16 and topped that two weeks later at Ball State with 353 -- the nation’s season high.
Central Michigan (7-4, 6-1) had its five-game winning streak end. The West Division champions visit Buffalo before playing Ohio in the conference championship game in Detroit on Nov. 30.
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Eugene Jarvis rushed for 155 yards and Najah Pruden caught a 68-yard touchdown pass to help Kent State beat Eastern Michigan, 14-6, at Kent, Ohio.
Pruden’s reception from Julian Edelman seven minutes into the game was the only touchdown in the first half. Daniel Muir returned an interception five yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, and the Golden Flashes (6-5, 5-2 MAC) took a 14-0 lead.
The Eagles (1-10, 1-6) scored in the fourth quarter on two field goals by Andrew Wellock.