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College football preview: Cal-Poly at Northern Illinois

By Mike McGraw

mmcgraw@dailyherald.com

Cal-Poly (1-2) vs. Northern Illinois (1-2)

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Huskie Stadium

TV: none

Radio: WSCR 670-AM, WLBK 1360-AM

Series: (First meeting)

Coaches: Dave Doeren (1-2, first year at NIU); Tim Walsh (12-13, third year at Cal-Poly; 129-95 overall).

Cal-Poly players to watch: Junior QB Andre Broadous runs the Mustangs’ triple-option offense. He’s thrown for 375 yards and run for 179 in three games. Senior FB Jake Romanelli is the top rusher with 233 yards. Senior CB Asa Jackson tied a school record with a 100-yard interception return last week against South Dakota State.

NIU players to watch: The Huskies’ best highlight against Wisconsin was a 39-yard pass from QB Chandler Harnish to junior WR Perez Ashford that set up NIU’s lone touchdown. Ashford ranks second on the team with 11 receptions, behind senior Nathan Palmer with 12. While the defense has struggled the past two weeks, sophomore CB Jimmie Ward has made a team-best 28 tackles.

The skinny: After averaging 45.5 points in its first two games against Army and Kansas, Northern Illinois’ vaunted offense was shut down cold in last week’s 49-7 loss to Wisconsin at Soldier Field. Cal-Poly offers the chance to build some momentum. The Mustangs from San Luis Obispo, Calif., gave up a combined 86 points in losses to San Diego State and Montana before beating South Dakota State 48-14 last week. NIU started 1-2 last season, then won 10 of its next 11 contests, losing only to Miami in the MAC title game. NIU has won 10 straight at Huskie Stadium.

Fast fact: Cal-Poly third-year coach Tim Walsh previously served as offensive coordinator at Army. He replaced Rich Ellerson, who left Cal-Poly to become head coach at Army in 2009.