Another weekend in Huskie Stadium meant another historic moment for NIU, as it beat Bowling Green 16-13.

During Homecoming, the Huskies beat Toledo. The victory was the first against the Rockets in DeKalb since 1989.

In its final contest of a three game home stand, NIU (5-3 overall, 4-1 MAC) would witness an individual do something no one has done in over 17 years.

On Nov. 11, 1990, former Huskie quarterback Stacey Robinson ran East Carolina’s defense crazy, as he rushed for 109 yards. The feat was the quarterback’s final, and eleventh overall, in which he rushed for over 100 yards.

Since then, no NIU quarterback has moved the ball 100 yards on the ground – until Saturday, as Huskie quarterback Chandler Harnish led NIU with 113 rushing yards.

“We struggled to stop the quarterback from running the football in the second half,” said Bowling Green head coach Gregg Brandon. “He did a nice job.”

Harnish labored to find his rhythm in the first half. The redshirt freshman attempted just nine passes in the first two quarters, including two interceptions – the first time Harnish has turned the ball over.

“I don’t know what was going on with me,” the Huskie quarterback said. “I think I was just a little confused or maybe just playing a little too fast. I just wasn’t really composed in the first half.”

With Harnish struggling through the air, the Huskies turned to the quarterback’s legs. The Bluffton, Ind., native started moving out of the pocket in second quarter, as he gained 36 yards on the turf.

However, NIU struggled to establish the run through most of the first half. The Huskies were without starting fullback Kyle Skarb. In addition, Bowling Green (3-5, 1-3) decided to bring a safety down into the box. The move effectively turned break out runs, into three- or four-yard gains.

“It would look like we were having a big play and then we’re ending with a couple yards,” said NIU head coach Jerry Kill. “We decided [in the second half], let’s spread the field, let’s get a body on the safety, and let’s let our quarterback run the football.”

With a lead blocker in the running back, Harnish exploded for 78 rushing yards in the second half. In the first offensive series of the second half, Harnish kept the ball six times to move it 39 yards. The drive resulted in NIU’s only touchdown drive.

“He’s like a linebacker playing quarterback,” Kill said. “The great thing is if something is not working then you have to be able to go to something else.”

The Huskies’ run attack, however, took time to develop. After a first half in which Bowling Green thought it stopped the run, NIU had to be patient.

“I think once they got us stopped, they thought it would force us to do other things,” said NIU offensive lineman Jason Onyebuagu. “We stuck with it and it opened up in the second half for us.”

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