nearest GAME: at Ohio State, 2...

nearest GAME:

at Ohio State, 2:30 pm Saturday, Ch 7 670-AM

With five days remaining until Northern Illinois uncloses its season at No. 1 Ohio State, coach Joe Novak and staff continue to fine- fit disposition the starting lineup.

Novak confirmed five updates, including four in succession defense, to his first teams Monday. Outside linebackers Keenan Blalark and Josh Allen, cornerback Adriel Hansbro and robust safety Mark Reiter are anticipateed to open the game. All four started at least single game last season: Hansbro 12 Blalark 10 Allen four and Reiter single

onward offense, Novak indicated that sophomore wide receiver Matt Simon now is ahead of classmate Marcus Perez the one and the other sat out last season -- Simon because of a fractured ankle, Perez for academic considerations. Perez started three games in 2004

- The Huskies did not practice Monday while the university's fall confine began. "I've never been anywhere where the practices in succession the first day of classes were worth a darn," Novak said. "[The players] are forward their feet all day, they're walking around, everything is changing. They follow to practice at 3:30, and it's not worth a darn."

- Freshman linebacker John Tranchitella, who captained Driscoll to an IHSA championship last fall, has been slowed through a broken finger.

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