DEKALB, Ill. (Interstat) — Air Force relied on a powerful running game and four rushing touchdowns to defeat Northern Illinois 28-7 in a Football Bowl Subdivision game Saturday at Huskie Stadium. The announced attendance was 15,292. Air Force, the visiting team, improved to 4-1. Northern Illinois, the home team, remained winless at 0-5.

Air Force finished with four rushing touchdowns, two from Evan Medders and two from Owen Allen. Medders carried 16 times for 114 yards and two scores. Allen, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back, ran 13 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Kemper Hodges, a 6-foot, 245-pound fullback, added 11 carries for 52 yards. Matt Long, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound wide receiver, had seven carries for 76 yards, including a 71-yard run in the third quarter. Gage LaDue, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound fullback, ran nine times for 30 yards. Rocco Conti, a 5-foot-8, 190-pound running back, added four carries for 28 yards. Mason Hayes, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound wide receiver, had two carries for 16 yards. Owen Chambers, a 6-foot, 195-pound wide receiver, ran once for 11 yards. Omari Elias, a 5-foot-9, 205-pound fullback, had two carries for 7 yards, and Howard Fisher IV, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound quarterback, ran once for 6 yards.

The scoring began in the first quarter when Allen ran right for a 3-yard touchdown with 4:48 remaining. Carter Cremascoli’s extra point made it 7-0. Northern Illinois answered in the second quarter when Telly Johnson Jr. ran up the middle for a 9-yard touchdown with 7:58 remaining. JJ Schlenhardt’s kick tied the game. Air Force went back ahead before halftime when Medders scored on a 4-yard run with 0:41 remaining. Cremascoli added the extra point. In the third quarter, Long broke free for a 71-yard run with 14:11 remaining. Allen then scored on a 33-yard run with 10:28 remaining, and Medders followed with a 41-yard touchdown run with 7:23 remaining. Cremascoli converted both extra points. That gave Air Force its final 28-7 margin.

Taron Dickens, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound quarterback from Miami, Fla., led Northern Illinois. He completed 13 of 20 passes for 140 yards and ran seven times for 33 yards. DeAree Rogers, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound wide receiver, caught seven passes for 81 yards. La’Don Bryant, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound wide receiver, had three receptions for 35 yards. Elijah Porter, a 5-foot-11, 202-pound running back, ran eight times for 33 yards. Telly Johnson Jr., a 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back, had eight carries for 47 yards, one catch for 6 yards and one touchdown. George Dimopoulos caught one pass for 11 yards. Cam Thompson, a 6-foot, 185-pound wide receiver, had one reception for 7 yards.

Northern Illinois’ defense was led by Brady Kerperin, who had 10 tackles and one sack. Jashawn Nelson, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, made 10 tackles. Jack Murray also recorded 10 tackles. Kyon Conyers, a 6-foot, 167-pound defensive back, had nine tackles. Avery Jones, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver, and Aaron Warren each made six tackles. Malik Armstrong, a 6-foot, 179-pound cornerback, had four tackles. Fawzy Omotoso, a 6-foot-3, 251-pound tackle, JT King and Kole Sneed each had three tackles. Matthew Scarlett, Amari Washington, a 6-foot-3, 283-pound tackle, and Andruw Ellis each recorded two tackles. Chevy Trask, a 6-foot-4, 282-pound offensive lineman, Dev’ion Reynolds, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback, Romelo Walker, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound defensive back, Liam Lindo, Jordan Bellamy, Montrel Canion, a 6-foot-2, 295-pound tackle, and Yassine Falke each had one tackle. Jake Ference, a 6-foot, 188-pound punter, punted twice for 85 yards.

Air Force’s defense was paced by Blake Fletcher, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker, who had 11 tackles and one interception. Isaac Hubert, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker, had three tackles. Alexander Perez, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound defensive back, added three tackles. Korey Johnson, an athlete, and Jaylin Reese each made four tackles. Mikey Inweh, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound defensive back, Luke Fisher, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker, Roger Jones Jr., a 5-foot-11, 184-pound defensive back, and Noah Daniels each had two tackles. Dallas Daley had one tackle and one sack. The Falcons limited the Huskies to seven points and forced an interception.

Air Force entered the game after earlier wins over Navy, Nevada and Duquesne and a loss to North Dakota State. Northern Illinois had dropped earlier games to Iowa, Illinois State, Arizona and Georgia State. The Huskies remained in search of their first win of the season. Air Force’s victory kept it unbeaten on the road this season. The Falcons have now won four of their first five games, while the Huskies are still looking for their first victory after five games.

The first quarter’s scoring play came on Allen’s 3-yard run. In the second quarter, Johnson’s 9-yard run tied the game before Medders’ 4-yard run gave Air Force a 14-7 halftime lead. The third quarter opened with Long’s 71-yard run. Allen’s 33-yard touchdown run and Medders’ 41-yard touchdown run then put the game out of reach. Air Force’s defense kept Northern Illinois off the scoreboard in the second half. Carter Cremascoli made all four extra-point attempts for Air Force.

Air Force’s upcoming schedule includes home games against UNLV, Connecticut, San Jose State and UTEP and road games at Wyoming, Army and New Mexico. Northern Illinois is set to visit Wyoming, UNLV, San Jose State and North Dakota State and host Hawaii, Nevada and UTEP. Both teams will continue conference and nonconference play later in the season.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Air Force 37, Northern Illinois 32. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Air Force with a 71.8 percent probability to win. Northern Illinois had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -7. The total score of 35 went over the over/under line of 48.5.