Photo courtesy of ESPN
It wasn’t just the win. It was how the NIU Huskies beat the ASU Red Wolves. The 38-20 final score doesn’t tell the story. The game didn’t tell the story unless you’re a Huskies fan.
The Huskies answered the call. They were favorites to win the MAC this year but then stumbled out of the gate. Favored to beat Kansas the Huskies fell short in a shoot out. Then MAC conference play began. The Huskies lost the opener to Central Michigan. Oooppps!
But then the Huskies took care of business and clinched a share of the MAC West title at home in DeKalb with a hard fought 18-12 victory against Eastern Michigan. Because they beat Toledo 63-60 they won the tiebreaker to compete in the MAC Championship game against Ohio. That’s the one title that eluded the Black and Red since 1983. They got there but the Huskies just fell short having lost in the 2010 and 2005 MAC title games on last-minute touchdowns by Miami of Ohio and Akron.
At halftime of the 2011 MAC Championship game the Ohio Bobcats were enjoying a 20-0 lead. At least it wasn’t going to be another last minute heart breaker. No, it was one of the biggest come-from-behind victories in Huskies history. Chandler Harnish threw two of his three touchdown passes in the 4th quarter, and Mathew Sims kicked a 33-yard field goal on the last play for a 23-20 victory.
So when the Huskies fell behind 13-0 there was a feeling the game wasn’t over. Harnish hit Perez Ashford for a 9-yard touchdown pass to close the 1st quarter. But then the Huskies star QB hobbled off of the field with an ankle injury and his return and the outcome of the game was in doubt.
Enter Jordan Lynch. The Huskies future looks bright as Lynch completed 4 of 4 passes and finished the go ahead drive with a gutsy TD run.
Harnish returned and the Huskies never looked back. Back-to-back bowl game wins are forever part of the Harnish legacy.
But Huskies fans have a lot to look forward to. Lynch stepped in and up at a critical moment in the high stakes game. Junior Perez Ashford schooled the ASU secondary throughout the game and his competitive spirit was illuminated with his twisting, diving TD reception. Junior Martel Moore was a man among boys finishing with 224 yards on 8 receptions including a 43 yard TD pass from Harnish. Junior Jamal Womble converted a critical 4th down and scored on a bruising 1 yard run. Freshman Dechane Durante returned a 4th quarter interception 36 yards for the final TD. Sophomore Jhony Faustin and Junior Rashaan Melvin also had key interceptions.
Congratulations to Coach Dave Doeren and the NIU Huskies!
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