Chandler Harnish
Northern Illinois University quarterback Chandler Harnish (Bluffton, Ind./Norwell) earned his third Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week honor Monday after leading the Huskies to a 65-30 win over Toledo.
The first NIU quarterback to earn the MAC player of the week award three times in a single season, Harnish was also named offensive player of the week for his performances against Temple and Akron earlier this year.
In addition to earning conference player of the week accolades, he was named MAC Player of the Week by Rivals.com.
Harnish accounted for 311 yards of total offense in the victory over the Rockets. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 149 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. He hit Nathan Palmer with a 33-yard strike in the first quarter for one touchdown and scampered 28 yards for his fifth rushing score of the season.
Harnish also had a career-long 69-yard run to set up a NIU score in the third quarter and averaged 11.5 yards per rush on the day. He has accounted for 18 touchdowns (five rushing, 13 passing) and 2,309 yards of total offense (1,601 passing, 708 rushing) on the year.
Harnish’s selection marks the eighth-straight week a Huskie has been named MAC West POTW dating back to the Illinois game. Defenders Jake Coffman and Tyrone Clark, specialists Jimmie Ward and Josh Wilber and tailback Chad Spann are the other Huskies to earn weekly honors this year.
Northern Illinois returns to the field at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, when the Huskies travel to Muncie, Ind. to face Ball State.
For more information on NIU football and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
