GARRETT WOLFE Northern Illinois

Wolfe, a senior tailback who is the nation’s Division I rushing leader, gained a career-high 353 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead visiting Northern Illinois past Ball State, 40-28.

Wolfe, a 5-foot-7, 177-pounder whose previous high was 325 yards at Eastern Michigan two years ago, raised his total to 1,181 yards in five games and his yardage for his career to 4,417, tops among all active players.

Northern Illinois and Ball State were tied, 14-14, at halftime, but the Huskies broke the game open in the third quarter with 16 points, including a 48-yard touchdown run by Wolfe.

Wolfe also scored the Huskies’ first touchdown, a 51-yard run in the first quarter, and the last on a 53-yard run early in the fourth quarter.