NIU offense out of whack
Joe Novak wasn't about to dispute the box score, but something just didn't look right.
After building the Northern Illinois football program on piston-like running backs, Novak watched his cornerstone crumble in Saturday's loss to Iowa. The Huskies attempted twice as many passes (42) as runs (21) in the game.
Though a moderate deficit coerced more throws than normal, NIU finished with only 21 net rushing yards.
"It's just not us," Novak said. "I know some people want to see us throw the ball more. I just know when we throw it 40 times, it's usually not good.
"We need to be balanced. We couldn't run it well enough today."
Junior Montell Clanton, the projected successor to Garrett Wolfe, led NIU with 49 rushing yards on 13 carries. Iowa's veteran defensive linemen didn't give Clanton or sophomore Justin Anderson (3 rushes, 3 yards) much room to maneuver.
NIU had only 2 runs longer than 10 yards and none longer than 15 yards.
"We really couldn't get in a rhythm like we wanted to," Clanton said. "Coming into the game, you would think there would be more openings, but our linemen did the best that they could. They're young guys, and throughout the season they're going to come together."
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz expected a strong effort from his line, which was led by tackle Mitch King (2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss) and end Kenny Iwebema (1 sack).
"We need those guys to play well," Ferentz said.
Dazed and confused: You didn't need a medical degree to diagnose what happened to NIU punter Andy Dittbenner early in the second quarter. After getting earholed by an Iowa player on a 56-yard Andy Brodell return, a dazed Dittbenner stumbled toward the wrong sideline.
Iowa coaches steadied him before NIU trainers could escort the junior to the locker room. Not surprisingly, Dittbenner suffered a head injury and did not return.
Joe Novak didn't know the extent of Dittbenner's injury after the game.
"He got his bell rung pretty good," Novak said. "He didn't know where he was."
Senior place-kicker Chris Nendick replaced Dittbenner and fared well in his first collegiate stint as a punter. Nendick, who last punted as a senior at Naperville Central, averaged 43.4 yards on 7 punts with a long of 55.
"When you're called upon, you've got to step up and make it happen," Nendick said.
Inches to go: After battling a staph infection in his foot during training camp, NIU senior linebacker Tim McCarthy started the game, collected 7 tackles and broke up a pass. Recently reinstated linebacker Phil Brown did not play. … Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki, a Wheaton Warrenville South product, caught 3 passes for 32 yards. … NIU quarterback Dan Nicholson set career highs for completions (26) and pass attempts (42). … The attendance of 61,500 marked the largest home crowd for a Mid-American Conference team in league history. … Kirk Ferentz is 3-0 against NIU. Joe Novak is 0-10 against Big Ten opponents.