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Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 | www.NorthernStar.info/Sports
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The football team will continue their season on the road next week when they face the University of South Florida at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 in Tampa, Florida.
Football set to open season on road since 1893 while NIU has been an established college football team since 1899. DeKALB | The college football This game will feature promiseason finally gets underway at nent players from both teams. 9:30 p.m. Saturday as NIU will Players to really keep an eye on are, be on the road to start the season against the University of Wyoming Kenny Golladay NIU’s redshirt senior wide receiver, and redshirt Cowboys in Laramie,Wyoming. senior quarterback Drew Hare. The Huskies went 8-6 last Hare is coming off an torn season and made their NCAA achilles injury, which occurred record-breaking sixth straight against University of Toledo, but conference title game, while his teammates have been giving the Cowboys went just 2-10 last him nothing but high praises and year overall and only 2-6 in the have the utmost confidence in their Mountain West Conference. quarterback. “Drew looks better than he Drew looks better than ever has right now,” NIU senior he ever has right now. We tailback Joel Bouagnon said. “We have no doubt that he’s have no doubt that he’s going to going to go out there at go out there at 100 percent and 100 percent and play to play to the best of his ability like the best of his ability like he was last year.” he was last year.” Hare threw for 14 touchJoel Bouagnon downs last season on 64 percent senior tailback completion percentage. For Wyoming, junior running Saturday’s game will be the Hus- back Brian Hill will be a player to watch. Hill had a stellar 2015 seakies first encounter ever against son with 1,631 rushing yards last the Wyoming Cowboys which is a bit of a surprise as both of these season, averaging 135.9 yards per game and was listed as one of 11 teams have been a part of college semifinalists for the Doak Walker football for more than 100 years. Award, honoring the nation’s top The Wyoming Cowboys have running back. been apart of college football Patrick Smith Staff writer
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Right: Levon Myers, redshirt senior offensive lineman, speaks at a press conference Tuesday while senior linebacker Jamaal Payton listens.
Photos by: Scott Nicol | Northern Star
Head Coach Rod Carey talks about the season opener against Wyoming at a press conference on Tuesday.
Hill was also the only running back outside of the Power Five conferences to be listed as a semi-finalist. Hill, a former NIU recruit as a linebacker, broke the single season rushing record in their program history. The record had been held by Ryan Cristopherson since 1994 when he had 1,455 rushing yards and 121.3 yards per game. NIU head coach Rod Carey surely
thinks highly of him. “I got to know[Hill] a little bit in recruiting,” Carey said at a press conference Tuesday. “[Hill’s a] fine young man from what I know... He’s got everything you want, he’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got vision, toughness, there’s no question about that. And they have another back too that really complements him well and really good as well.” The Huskies will play their first
(From left) Levon Myers, redshirt senior offensive lineman, junior linebacker Jamaal Payton and senior tailback Joel Bouagnon speak at a press conference Tuesday.
of two consecutive road games this week before their home opener Sept. 17th against San Diego State University. The first three games will be vital for the Huskies to wipe the bad taste out of their mouth after the way last season ended. Kickoff for the season is set for 9:30 p.m. Saturday and the game will be broadcasted on CBS Sports Network.
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