Tommylee Lewis
Northern Illinois University defensive tackle Ken Bishop and wide receiver Tommylee Lewis earned Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honors following NIU’s 45-35 win at Idaho, the league office announced Monday.
Lewis, a native of Riviera Beach, Fla., led the Huskies with a career-best nine catches for 56 yards with a long of 22.
What was even more impressive were his 104 running yards on four carries in a 45-35 win at Idaho. Lewis averaged 26 yards per carry with a career-long 50 yard run highlighting his day.
The W.T. Dwyer product also had a crucial 29-yard pick-up on the ground in the fourth quarter to start the drive that resulted in the Huskies’ last touchdown and 10-point lead. It was the first 100-yard rushing day of Lewis’ career.
Fellow Floridian Bishop tallied a career-high eight tackles, six solo stops, and added one tackle for loss in the victory over the Vandals. A native of Lauderhill, Fla., Bishop recovered a fumble in the first quarter to help set up the Huskies’ first touchdown.
Ken Bishop
Bishop’s work on the defensive line helped free up his defensive linemates for nine quarterback sacks, the most by the Huskies since setting the school record of 10 in 2002. The Northern Illinois defense held Idaho to just seven points and 159 yards in the second half as the Huskies recorded the comeback victory at the Kibbie Dome.
Lewis and Bishop join Jordan Lynch (Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel) and Mathew Sims as Huskies who have earned MAC Player of the Week honors this season. Lynch and Sims garnered their accolades for their performances in NIU’s 30-27 victory over Iowa in the season opener.
NIU returns to action Saturday, Sept. 21, when the Huskies take on Eastern Illinois at Huskie Stadium for the home opener.
For more information on NIU football and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
