Kalamazoo, Mich. | It wasn't what NIU head coach Jerry Kill had planned for, but it's what he had to do.

All week long Kill had said that both freshman and senior quarterback Chandler Harnish and Dan Nicholson, respectively, would practice. Whoever gave the Huskies the best chance to win would start the game.

Harnish got the start, but it was Nicholson who did a majority of the work, as NIU lost to Western Michigan 29 to 26.

The freshman quarterback got NIU (0-2) off on the right foot. In his first play, he hit Huskie wide receiver Matt Simon for 45 yards on a flee-flicker. The Huskies would take the early 7-0 lead on a 26 yard run by NIU running back Me'co Brown. The freshman would finish the night with 54 yards on 13 attempts with one touchdown.

"He got off to a good start," Kill said. "We stayed with him. We felt he could give us something."

However, NIU would soon find itself down 14-7 by the beginning of the second quarter, and without Harnish at the helm. The quarterback would not return for the rest of the game because of an injury.

"I don't know,"said Kill of the condition of Harnish after the game. "I've been coaching a game at rapid power."

It was during NIU's third offensive series that Nicholson would have to take over the Huskie offense. Things didn't start off well for the senior, as he went 0-for-2 in his first series, which was a three-and-out. However, Nicholson got the rust off and would go 6-for-8 for 92 yards to finish the first half. On the day Nicholson was 16-for-29 with 239 yards. He threw one touchdown and an interception in the loss.

"It felt great. I love playing,"said Nicholson of playing in a game for the first time this season. "I just wish this could have ended differently."

Things didn't end differently as ball movement didn't translate to points. On a drive in which NIU thought it would tie the game, the Huskies would have nothing but a sour taste left in their mouth.

NIU had the ball at WMU's (1-1) nine yard line with first and goal after a roughing the passer call. However, it was unable turn the Bronco mistake into points, as it failed to enter the end zone and botched the snap for a field goal attempt.

The Huskies did score a field goal during the second quarter to make the score 14-10. They then added another three points, making it 14-13, after NIU linebacker Tim McCarthy forced a fumble, which fellow linebacker Josh Allen recovered.

However, the defense struggled after the second field goal, as it allowed long runs of 17 and 27 yards respectively to WMU running back Brandon West. The running back would have 175 yards on 25 runs under the Saturday night lights. The performance was the best of West's college career. A 171 yards rushing was the running back's previous career high.

"In the first half I was missing holes," West said. "Coach Cubit told me to move on from last week. Just move on and play."

With West on the ground, the Broncos relied on quarterback Tim Hiller for the air attack. The red-shirt junior completed 21-of-30 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns.

"You've got to give a lot of credit to Time Hiller," WMU head coach Bill Cubit said. "He took control out there."

Hiller connected with Bronco wide receiver Jamarko Simmons for a large number of his passes. The wide out would catch eight passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

"I think we weren't making the plays we should have," Huskie defensive end Larry English said.

Yet when all was said and done for NIU, it would come down to another red-shirt freshman for the win. After a pick thrown by Nicholson, the defense forced WMU's second fumble of the game and recovered the ball.

NIU quarterback DeMarcus Grady came into the game for the Huskies and lead the Huskies down the field by running the ball himself. After a Nicholson quarterback keeper, Grady came back in and would score a rushing touchdown, giving NIU a 19-14 lead.

However, it wouldn't be enough for NIU, as WMU would score two unanswered touchdowns. The second of which came after Grady fumbled the ball at gave it to WMU at NIU's own 33 yard line.

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