Huskies in control of their own destiny in MAC West

DEKALB - Saturday's 38-7 victory over Toledo wasn't the only result that went Northern Illinois' way Saturday.

Central Michigan knocked off Western Michigan 38-28. The Chippewas lead the MAC West Division at 4-0, but at 3-1 the Huskies control their own destiny for at least a share of the title.

Northern still has midweek November games at Ball State (3-0) and home against Central Michigan.

"I don't worry about records, I don't worry about anything," said coach Jerry Kill, whose team's 3 losses are by a combined 11 points.

"I worry about working hard and getting our team prepared. The thing I look at is are we getting better. I think we are getting better and losing people. Sooner or later we have to get those people back."

Northern was down three linebackers and a cornerback Saturday, then lost fullback Kyle Skarb (foot). Without starting linebackers John Tranchitella (Driscoll), Cory Hanson and Tim McCarthy, backups like Wheaton North product T.J. Griffin (3 tackles) and Geneva's Pat Schiller (interception) helped the defense not miss a beat.

"You've got to give credit to the kids," Kill said. "We throw the next one in and get it done. It is unbelievable to me how the kids respond. I think it all goes back to spring ball. A lot of those kids filling in got a lot of reps."

Lesson learned: After not playing in the season opener, wide receiver Marcus Perez went to talk to new coach Jerry Kill.

Perez wasn't happy about not playing. Kill wasn't happy with the senior's attitude.

All is better now, with Perez hauling in 2 touchdown receptions Saturday.

"I think Marcus and I are about as good of friends as you can be right now," Kill said. "He figured out I wasn't going to change and he changed and he's being successful. I've been around a long time. He responded. He's played well all season long. That's a credit to him. That is what coaching relationships behind closed doors is all about."

Hot hand: Chad Spann capped the opening drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, his first of two scores.

Spann, a sophomore from Indiana, didn't have more than 6 carries in a game before Saturday, and his 15 carries against Toledo matched the 15 he had all year. Spann ran for a team-high 82 yards, while Me'co Brown, who rushed for 123 yards a week ago, was held to 38.

"Whoever is hot we go with them," Spann said.

Answering back: When Toledo showed signs of life by opening the third quarter with a touchdown drive, freshman quarterback Chandler Harnish helped the Huskies quickly answer with a field goal. His 32-yard run on a third-and-2 followed by a late hit set up Mike Salerno's 32-yard field goal.

Harnish directed two more touchdown drives on the next two possessions, first connection on his second touchdown pass to senior Marcus Perez, then finding Reed Cunningham for a 38-7 lead with 7:44 minutes left.

From there, the season-high crowd of 22,092 started filing out.

Smooth transition: Alex Kube, a sophomore linebacker from Cary-Grove, made the defensive play of the first half. On third-and-6 from the Huskies 16-yard-line, Kube dropped quarterback Aaron Opelt for a 13-yard loss. Alex Steigerwald followed by missing a 47-yard field goal.

Kube, who started the year in the defensive backfield before moving to linebacker, finished with 6 tackles to break his previous career high of 5.

Tough start: Toledo cornerback Desmond Marrow was carted off the field on the game's opening kick. Chandler Harnish took advantage of the short-handed Rockets several times, including a perfectly placed 45-yard touchdown strike to Britt Davis in the first quarter.

"We were certainly aware of it," Kill said. "The first thing I said was where can we find that corner. That's part of coaching."