Sept. 1, 2008
DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois freshman quarterback Chandler Harnish (Bluffton, Ind./Norwell HS) was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week Monday by the league office. Harnish won the award after leading the Huskies to a near-upset of Minnesota in his first intercollegiate game.
Harnish completed 17-of-29 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns Saturday and also gained 30 yards rushing on eight carries. His net total of 336 yards of total offense leads the MAC after the first week of the season and he ranks 13th nationally in total offense and 19th in passing efficiency. His 91-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Palmer ranks as the longest pass play in the NCAA so far this year.
Harnish's 326-yard passing effort ranks as the eighth-highest total in NIU history and the most ever by a freshman. He posted the most passing yards by a Northern Illinois quarterback since Phil Horvath threw for a school record 486 yards versus Akron in 2005, and is the first Huskie signal caller to win the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week honor since that time. He compiled his totals despite not throwing a pass in the first quarter of the game.
The first freshman quarterback to start a season opener for Northern Illinois since 1985, Harnish threw touchdown passes of 91 and 52 yards to fellow freshman and Indiana native Nathan Palmer (Elkhart, Ind./Central HS) in the second half at Minnesota. Those scores erased a 24-13 deficit and gave the Huskies a 27-24 lead with 8:09 left in the game. The 91-yard play also ranks as the fifth-longest pass play in school history.
"I thought Chandler handled himself very well," said head coach Jerry Kill. "He was very, very calm and collected. He didn't turn over the football, he was very accurate throwing it and he showed great composure. He gave us an opportunity to win the game."
After Minnesota took the lead with 22 seconds left in the game, Harnish drove the Huskies from the NIU 40 to the Gophers' 30-yard line before two throws to the end zone fell incomplete.
Harnish and the Huskies travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on the Western Michigan Broncos in the 2008 Mid-American Conference opener Saturday at 6 p.m. (CDT). Northern Illinois opens its six-game home schedule Saturday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. versus Indiana State at Huskie Stadium. Tickets to all Northern Illinois games can be purchased through the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center, on-line at www.niuhuskies.com or by calling 815-752-6800.
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