Huskies ready to work on short rest

NIU can become bowl eligible with win over hapless Eastern Michigan

DEKALB - If red isn't one of Jerry Kill's favorite colors, it probably should be.

Not because of the red jerseys his Northern Illinois University players wear, but how the 5-3 Huskies are performing in the red zones -- those areas between the goal and 20-yard lines on each end of the field.

The Huskies rank second in the nation, both offensively and defensively, in red zone efficiency.

Tonight, they look to improve on those marks as winless Eastern Michigan comes to town for a 6:30 game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU. It's been a whirlwind for both clubs with just four days to prepare.

Closeups of coaches on both sidelines will, no doubt, reveal some serious cases of red eyes.

"We've had no sleep," Kill said of his staff. "We've prepared very hard to make sure we have no letdown."

First-year coach Ron English and his Eagles have had even less time than the Huskies, who won at home last Saturday in an 11 a.m. game. Eastern Michigan was on the road, losing at Arkansas that night.

The game is very important to the Huskies. They need it to stay in the Mid-American Conference West race, where they trail frontrunner Central Michigan by a game. The Huskies -- 3-1 in the division -- play the Chippewas on the road in the season finale.

"And it's a chance to get six victories," said Kill, whose players know what that magic number means. It makes them bowl eligible, just like last year when they squeaked in to the Independence Bowl with a 6-6 record.

"I think it's important because it generates enthusiasm for the kids," Kill said. "You set the carrot out there, although (six wins) doesn't guarantee you anything."

Northern has scored 30 times (19 touchdowns, 11 field goals) on 31 trips inside foes' 20 and is tied with Arkansas with a .97 efficiency mark. San Jose State is a perfect 14 of 14.

On defense, Northern opponents have scored on 12 of 19 trips inside the NIU 20, an efficiency mark of .63. Penn State leads the country with a .57 mark.

It appears likely sophomore DeMarcus Grady will start his third game at quarterback in place of Chandler Harnish (knee injury), who didn't practice on Tuesday. Grady and tailback Chad Spann both topped the 100-yard rushing mark last week and the running game should be big again this week.

While the Eagles are ranked No. 4 in the country in pass defense, allowing 146 yards per game, they are a woeful 120th (allowing 277 ypg) in the country and last in the MAC.

First in rushing offense, of course, is held by Northern at 206 yards per game.

"I expect to see a lot of guys in the box," said Kill, who also plans to give Grady more responsibility. "He made a lot of calls at the line of scrimmage last week. And except for five or six, he did a pretty good job."

He noted that the coaches haven't asked Grady to be a dropback passer, giving him mostly rollout throws or quick screens, but that they will continue to expand his playbook. College Football