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The victory was Toledo's 11th straight against the Huskies, and fifth straight in DeKalb.

The win puts UT in the driver's seat to clinch its fifth trip to the MAC Championship Game in eight years. All Toledo has to do is defeat Bowling Green at home on Nov. 23 and the Rockets will clinch at least a share of the MAC West crown and a date vs. the East champs at Ford Field on Dec. 2

The Rockets outgained NIU in total yards, 512-180. In the second half it was 293-19 in favor of the Rockets. UT had 30 first downs to NIU's 10, and controlled the ball for 41:23. Toledo's five scoring drives were 80, 80, 74, 83 and 83 yards, with at least nine plays in every drive.

Sophomore RB Scooter McDOugle made his second start of the season, in place of injured starter Trinity Dawson. McDougle's other start came against Central Michigan on Oct. 23.

Scooter McDOugle rushed for a career-high 133 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns. His previous best was 68 yards at Miami on Nov. 2. It was also his second multi-touchdown contest of the season. The Cleveland, OH native also scored a pair of touchdowns at Western Michigan on Oct. 9.

The 28 carries for McDougle was a season high by a UT running back this season. Junior Quinton Broussard tallied 27 carries at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 18.

Freshman RB Jalen Parmele scored his first career touchdown of the season on a two-yard run on the opening play of the second quarter. He added a second TD-run with 9:26 remaining in the fourth quarter. It is his first multi-TD game in his career.

Senior TE Chris Holmes caught a career-high nine passes for 73 yards. Homes' previous high was five on two occasions with the recent coming against Ball State on Oct. 20, 2001. Holmes entered tonight's game with 18 catches on the season and he had only 11 receptions all of last year.

Junior PK Jason Robbins converted a 25-yard field goal with 6:17 left in the third quarter. Robbins is now 8-of-9 on field goals this season.

Junior QB Bruce Gradkowski finished tonight's game 28-of-37 for 297 yards. The 28 completions ties a season high also set vs. Central Michigan on Oct. 23. Gradkowski did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season and the first time in the last 15 games.

Senior WR Lance Moore caught nine passes for 103 yards in tonight's contest. It is Moore's fifth-consecutive game with at-least 100-yards receiving and the 12th in his career.

Freshman Nigel Morris picked off a Josh Haldi pass in the fourth quarter for his second pick of the season. Morris had an 88-yard interception return for a TD vs. Temple on Sept. 25.

Toledo held Northern Illinois to 10 first downs. It was the fewest first downs surrendered by the Rockets this season. Their previous best effort on defense was 14 first downs vs. Ohio on Oct. 16.

Toledo finished with a season-best 41:23 time of possession. Their previous best was 38:59 at Western Michigan on Oct. 9.