The Northern Illinois University Huskies turned a season-best three interceptions into touchdowns, scored on a 91-yard kickoff return and used a 21-point third quarter outburst to earn a 42-28 Mid-American Conference win over Western Michigan Wednesday night at Waldo Stadium.

Running backs Gavin Williams and Telly Johnson Jr. each scored twice as the Huskies improved to 5-4 overall, 2-3 in the MAC, while handing the Broncos (5-4, 4-1 MAC) their first league loss.

"We had a great 10 days of preparation, and we talked about 'let's be us' and that was us tonight," said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. "We played well enough [to win] in all three phases. We scored 42 points on offense, we had a kickoff return for a touchdown, we had three turnovers on defense, that's complementary football. [WMU} is the number one offense in the MAC and we outproduced them today. I thought we ran the ball well, I thought our offensive line did a great job changing the line of scrimmage."

Johnson carried the ball 23 times for 141 yards in relief of starter Antario Brown, who was hurt on a tackle at the end of a 49-yard run in the first quarter. The true freshman scored NIU's first and last touchdowns of the day on runs of six and 26 yards, respectively. Senior running back Gavin Williams added a pair of scores of his own, his second and third of the season, on a five-yard reception to close out the Huskies' two-minute drill at the end of the first half, and a two-yard run during NIU's 21-point third quarter.

NIU totaled 255 rushing yards and 411 yards of total offense, its most yards and most points since the season-opening win over Western Illinois. Junior Ethan Hampton directed the Huskie attack, completing 13-of-16 passes for 156 yards with two touchdowns.

"Ethan played exceptional," Hammock said. "He played great situational football and that's what we need out of the quarterback position."

NIU won the turnover battle 3-1 with the Huskies' only turnover a fumble by Brown at the end of his 49-yard run, while the defenses' three interceptions in the game matched NIU's season total entering the contest.

NIU took a 21-14 lead into halftime thanks to a perfectly executed two-minute drive after Western Michigan had tied the score at 14 with 1:54 left in the first half on a 14-yard run by Jaden Nixon to finish a nine-play, 75-yard drive. On the kickoff, up-man Brock Lampe returned the ball to the 40 and after an opening two-yard rush, Hampton took over, completing seven of nine passes for 52 yards, including four to Trayvon Rudolph, who finished the game with a team-best six catches for 74 yards. On second and goal from the five, a wide open Williams caught Hampton's pass in the right flat, deked the WMU defender and tiptoed down the sideline for his first score of the season.

Western Michigan tied the score at 21 on the opening possession of the second half. Nixon, who finished with 95 yards on 12 carries rushing, returned the opening kickoff 61 yards. A 17-yard completion and pass interference call in the end zone gave WMU the ball on the two-yard line and quarterback Broc Lowry scored from there.

Cam Thompson took just 13 seconds to give NIU a lead it would not relinquish as he returned the WMU kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown, the first by a Huskie since Trayvon Rudolph's 100-yard kickoff return TD against Bowling Green in 2021.

The Huskie defense returned the ball to NIU at the Western Michigan 35-yard line just two plays later on senior linebacker Jaden Dolphin's interception. NIU scored six plays later with Williams going in from two yards out. Rudolph caught a 12-yard pass and Johnson rushed four times for 26 yards to set up the score, which gave NIU a 35-21 lead.

Western Michigan drove to the NIU 18 before Nate Valcarcel collected the Huskies' third INT of the night, stepping in front of a WMU receiver at the five-yard line and bringing it back to the 24.

From there, the combination of Johnson and Williams continued to punish the Broncos as they accounted for all 71 yards on the drive. Williams, who gained 42 yards on eight carries, started the drive with a 25-yard pickup and Johnson ended it with a 26-yard touchdown run. The score gave NIU a 42-21 insurmountable lead.

Western Michigan made it 42-28 at 11:49 of the fourth quarter after a nine-play, 60-yard drive. On NIU's next possession, the Huskies ate up 7:24, driving from its 32 to the WMU 26 where Kanon Woodill's 43-yard field goal attempt was wide right. But the drive had served its purpose and after the Broncos converted one fourth down on its final possession, NIU's defense came up with a fourth down stop, allowing the Huskies to run out the clock and claim the win.

In the first half, Western Michigan took a 7-0 lead on a 66-yard touchdown run by Nixon at 9:18 of the first quarter before the Huskies tied the game early in the second quarter thanks to a heads up play by the NIU defense on a fake punt attempt.

With the Broncos facing fourth and six from the NIU 42, punter Ryan Millmore floated a pass down the middle where NIU safety Santana Banner out-leaped the receiver for his first career interception, which he returned to the WMU 46-yard line. A late hit out of bounds penalty added 15 yards and the Huskie offense took over at the WMU 31 with one minute left in the quarter.

From there, Johnson picked up 14 yards and Rudolph rushed for seven to the 10-yard line as the first quarter ended. A Hampton sneak gave NIU a first down at the six and one play later, Johnson scored for his first career touchdown and a 7-7 tie.

The Huskie defense forced a punt and NIU took over at its 14. A pass interference call on third and two from the 26 put NIU on its 41. One play later, Hampton found Brock Lampe over the middle for 13 yards on a rollout and Johnson ran for seven before a Hampton to Grayson Barnes connection for 31 gave NIU a first down on the Western Michigan 7. NIU wasted no time with Hampton finding senior Tristen Tewes for his first touchdown of the year and a 14-7 Huskie lead after an eight-play, 86-yard drive.

Western Michigan opened the ensuing possession with a 28-yard pass playa nd Jalen Buckley rushed for 12 yards to the NIU 26 on fourth and one. Four plays later, Nixon scored on a 14-yard run and the PAT tied the score at 14 with 1:54 left before halftime.

NIU returns to Huskie Stadium for the first time since October 19 next Wednesday, November 13 when the Huskies play host to Akron. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will air on CBS Sports Network.