Nick Reveiz was getting himself pumped up early Saturday night when he looked over and saw his dad.

The former Farragut High School star had a feeling this would be a big night. So did former Vols' kicker Fuad Reveiz.

"I saw him on the field before the game when I wasn't sure if I was going to start," Reveiz said of his dad. "I told him to pray for me because I feel like I'm going to have a big opportunity tonight.

"He just said, 'You're going to be good son, you're going to be all right, just play the way I know how to play.' That's what happened."

Reveiz played better than all right in making his first start at middle linebacker in place of injured Ellix Wilson.

He was credited with four tackles - a number defensive coordinator John Chavis might want to challenge - but helped UT's defense hold on to a 13-9 victory against Northern Illinois.

It was the defense to the rescue again.

"Nick did a great job for us," Chavis said. "It didn't take him long to adjust to the sprint package and I think the plays he made were outstanding."

Ben Martin knew Reveiz was ready to play the first time he saw him in the huddle.

"I think Nick played pretty well from what I saw," he said. "He's pretty amped up anyway. He's a headcase, he's an animal and he's a really emotional player."

The Vols (2-3) needed all the emotion they could muster against the Huskies.

The Vols had to make some adjustments on the fly when Northern Illinois starting quarterback Dan Nicholson went out with an injury. DeMarcus Grady entered the game and provided more of a running threat.

"I think our guys did a great job," Chavis said. "They (NIU) came in there and did some things we've never seen them do with their sprint package. Evidently they were a little concerned about the pressure and I think that's why they did that.

The Huskies rushed 34 times for 72 yards and completed 14-of-26 passes for 118 yards.

Senior linebacker Nevin McKenzie, also making his first career start, led the Vols with a career-high nine tackles, including 1 <0x0192> sacks and 2 <0x0192> tackles for loss. Rico McCoy added eight total hits and safety Eric Berry six.

Defensive end Wes Brown, playing on a bad knee, added a career-high five hits and chipped in one of UT's season-high four sacks.

"We played good, but we can always do better," McKenzie said. "We're here to help the offense out and we expect to play that way."

As usual, Berry made one of the biggest plays of the game when he picked off Nicholson and made a 48-yard return to set up UT's first score, a 36-yard field goal from Daniel Lincoln.

"We got a turnover that led to some points, but we'd like to get those in the end zone," he said. "I think Eric had a chance and we need to make another block down there so he can get it in the end zone."

The only other minor complaint Chavis had was one big play given up by the Vols.

Grady fired a 35-yard pass to Willie Clark to convert on third-and-8 and set up Northern Illinois' second field goal of the night.

"I'm really excited we didn't give up any touchdowns," Chavis said. "We gave up a big play that led to points and that's what we've got to eliminate, but I think we made a lot of progress."

It's going to take that kind of progress with the Vols heading to Georgia next Saturday.

"It's going to be hostile down there in Georgia," Walker said. "We went down there and beat them two years ago and beat them last year, so they're going to be really intense and ready for us.

"We just have to set our jaw and play good SEC football."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.