It was an eerie flashback to last season when receiver Sam Simmons left Saturday’s game early in the second quarter after aggravating a stress fracture in his back.

Fortunately for Simmons and Northwestern, the injury seems to be more of a nagging problem than a serious threat, and he appears likely to return to action Saturday versus Purdue. Simmons fractured his collarbone on a reverse last year against Iowa and sat out the remaining four games of the season. Making his return to the team in 2000, Simmons has netted 217 yards receiving and two touchdowns, including a 23-yarder in the first quarter Saturday.

Simmons was taken to the locker room in the first minute of the second quarter and did not return. Following the game coach Randy Walker seemed confident of a speedy recovery for Simmons.

“We think there’s a good chance he’ll be back, if not this week, soon. And he’s definitely not out for the season,” Walker said.

Saturday’s game was not the first time the back injury has flared up this season. In a Sept. 27 practice, Simmons wore the orange “no contact” jersey and spent time riding the exercise bicycle while the other receivers ran drills.

Simmons’ absence will not cripple NU as much as it did last season, when receivers Jon Schweighardt and Teddy Johnson also sustained injuries. With freshmen wideouts Kunle Patrick and Roger Jordan combining for 259 yards receiving this year, the Cats have more options than in 1999.

“I hate to lose anybody, but our receivers have really been playing well and we have a lot of depth at receiver, which is a big benefit to us,” quarterback Zak Kustok said. “If Sam can’t play, which will be very unfortunate, I know we have guys to step in and play.”

UN-DURR THE GUN: When looking down the list of NU’s leading tacklers versus Indiana, among the usual suspects appears a new name: Pat Durr. After starting middle linebacker Billy Silva left the game with minor injuries in the second half, Durr filled in nicely by making seven tackles, including a sack of Hoosiers’ quarterback Antwaan Randle El.

As the primary alternate on one of the best linebacking corps in the country, Durr sees little game action outside of special teams. Prior to Saturday’s outburst, Durr had 18 tackles and one forced fumble on the season.

“It’s kind of hard to find some playing time when you’ve got two (potential) All-Americans at outside linebacker,” said Durr, who enthusiastically introduced himself at the post-game news conference. “But I try to get a great look in practice during the week so I’ll be ready. I’m the first linebacker off the bench so you never know what’s going to happen. Billy went down and I had to step up.”

Durr’s performance against Indiana should earn him more playing time in the coming weeks. Only a sophomore, Durr is the first of the younger linebackers to make an impact in a game situation.

“I think he’s doing a great job,” said linebacker Kevin Bentley. “We always tell him if he’s anywhere else in the Big Ten he’d be starting, it just so happens that the two that are in front of him are playing pretty well also.”

KICKING FOR TOUCH: NU’s lack of confidence on kickoff coverage was on full display Saturday as it employed a variety of kicks to nullify its most glaring weakness. The Cats tried squib kicks, pooch kicks and a pop-up onside kick. The Hoosiers in turn called three fair catches on kickoffs.

The experimentation seemed to work, as Indiana started the majority of drives between its 20- and 30-yard lines.

“We have the pooches, the squibs, the kick deep, so we’re prepared,” Durr said. “We just got to go out there and make plays and I thought our kickoff coverage did a pretty good job today, but there’s always room for improvement.”

INCHES TO GO: Saturday’s win moved NU up five spots in the Associated Press poll to No. 17. The Cats also jumped to No. 18 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll…No. 6 Ohio State is the lone Big Ten team ranked ahead of NU in the AP poll…The Cats have won three consecutive games for the first time since 1996, when they beat Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois to round out a six-game win streak.