NIU looks to stay hungry on defense against Akron

DEKALB - Neither NIU nor Akron is a stranger to the anxiety produced in tight, late-game situations.

"Each game comes down to probably four or five plays and I think ... I don't think, I know you're sitting there early in the season 1-3, we'd only done that once in four games," NIU coach Rod Carey said. "And now that's four we've been on the right side of those ... four times in a row. "

Nobody on the NIU roster has played against Akron, as the Huskies' 6 p.m. Thursday appearance at InfoCision Stadium will be the first game against Akron since 2013, a game played at Huskie Stadium.

The Zips (4-3, 2-2 Mid-American Conference) are coming off consecutive MAC wins over Kent State and Central Michigan. The Zips beat CMU despite losing four of five fumbles. NIU enters with 15 takeaways and 10 fumble recoveries. In the latter category, the Huskies' 1.3 fumble recoveries per game is tied for second in the FBS.

"You can't just line up and stand in the pocket. They'll come after you and get you," Akron coach Terry Bowden said. "And you can't run it every down because they're going to load it up … they blitz through the run lanes."

Akron has surrendered 183.8 rushing yards per game in four MAC games. Ulysses Gilbert is a reigning first-team all-MAC outside linebacker and has started in 33 straight games for the Zips. Middle linebacker John Lako leads the Zips with 78 tackles, including 23 last week.

The Huskies (5-3. 4-0) weren't especially strong on offense in the win at BYU. They had 204 yards, were 3-of-14 on third down and had only two drives of more than five plays out of 13 possessions.

NIU could build off the minor offensive successes of last week in which Tre Harbison put together timely runs in helping the Huskies to score on the first drive of the second half. Quarterback Marcus Childers found Jauan Wesley four times for 70 yards through the air.

Akron's Kato Nelson presents dual-threat capabilities at quarterback with 1,349 yards and nine scoring strikes through the air to go with 315 rushing yards.

"Their quarterback can flat out beat you with his legs," Carey said.

One thing Akron's offense does particularly well is finish in the red zone. The Zips have converted 11-of-12 red zone scoring opportunities.

"They're opportunistic. I know that," Carey said. "They get some turnovers and they usually punch it in from there."