DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University quarterback Rocky Lombardi and kicker Kanon Woodill are the latest Huskies to earn Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honors as the duo picked up the offensive and special teams accolades, respectively, on Monday from the league office following NIU's 39-38 win over Central Michigan.
 
Lombardi, a junior from Clive, Iowa (Valley HS), threw for a career high 348 yards on 17-of-27 passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions. His 75-yard touchdown pass to Trayvon Rudolph in the third quarter tied as the longest of his collegiate career, and he added touchdown throws of 21 and 15 yards. Lombardi averaged 20.5 yards per completion with 46 and 50 yard throws in addition to the 75-yard TD. Lombardi's 348-yard passing day ranks 12th on the Huskies' all-time list for single game yards and are the most by a Huskie quarterback since Drew Hare in 2015.
 
The Michigan State transfer directed the Huskie offense to an 18-point comeback victory – NIU trailed by 17 points in the third quarter – and led a game-winning field goal drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to give the Huskies their fifth one-score win of the season, and sixth win. Lombardi collected his second MAC Offensive Player of the Week honor as he also earned the award following NIU's win over Maine.
 
In addition to his MAC West Player of the Week selection, Lombardi was named one of the Manning Award Stars of the Week on Monday. Fans can go to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Facebook page to vote for his performance as the best of the weekend. Voting closes on Thursday at 11 a.m. (CT) and the top vote-getter will be announced as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.   
 
Lombardi's efforts would have gone for naught if not for true freshman kicker Kanon Woodill, who made his collegiate debut one to remember as he connected on three field goals, including the 26-yard game-winner with 54 seconds to play that provided the winning margin.  Woodill, made threes of 26, 24 and 26 yards in the game, each one critical to the Huskies' comeback win.  After finding out on Thursday that he would be handling kicking duties, the Plainfield, Illinois (Plainfield North HS) product scored 11 points as he was perfect on a pair of point after tries in addition to his three field goals.
 
Eight different NIU players have now earned MAC West weekly honors 10 times this season with Lombardi (CMU, Maine) and Harrison Waylee (Georgia Tech, Wyoming) the only repeat winners. NIU has won the offensive player of the week honor five times, three players have earned the special teams player of the week and two Huskies have collected the defensive award.
 
After the win over Central Michigan – its fifth straight – NIU is 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the MAC.  The Huskies are next in action on Wednesday, November 3 when they travel to Kent, Ohio to take on Kent State.  Kickoff is at 6 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN2.
 
The Huskies return home on Wednesday, November 10 for the annual Battle of the Bronze Stalk versus Ball State. Tickets to NIU's two remaining home games are on sale at NIUHuskies.com/tickets and by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
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