DeKALB — Senior Aregeros Turner made sure Northern Illinois University’s 110th Homecoming game started off on the right note with a 97-yard touchdown on the opening kickoff, and the NIU defense picked off 4 passes in the first half as NIU recorded a 44-7 Homecoming victory over Buffalo Saturday at Huskie Stadium.

Turner took the kickoff at the three, saw a hole opened by his blockers at the 20 and was gone, giving NIU, a team that had failed to score in the first quarter in five of its seven games, a quick 7-0 lead.

“Similar to our team, that group has been close and today it popped,” said NIU Head Coach Rod Carey of Turner’s return. “His return sparked our whole team.”

NIU’s 4 interceptions on defense all came in the first half as the Huskies built a 30-7 halftime lead. Junior Mayomi Olootu recorded a pair of interceptions, redshirt freshman Trequan Smith picked off a pass for the second straight game, and senior linebacker Jamaal Payton intercepted the first pass of his career in his 47th career game.

“Defense is the story of the game,” Carey said. “That was a fine effort by our defense today. When you get four picks, that is a big thing.”

Buffalo responded on the first play of the second quarter when Jordan Johnson rushed 29 yards for a score to complete a seven-play, 90-yard drive. Adam Mitcheson’s PAT pulled the Bulls within three at the 14:53 mark.

It was the closest Buffalo would get as NIU — or specifically quarterback Anthony Maddie — scored three more times before halftime to build a 30-7 lead.

Maddie scored 4 rushing touchdowns in the game as part of a 125-yard rushing day. He also completed 16-of-29 passes for 199 yards and a score.