NIU quarterback Ryan Morris was nervous as he ran into Huskie Stadium.

“There’s a little bit of some pregame jitters,” said the redshirt sophomore. “But once you get through the first snap, you start to get into the rhythm of the game.”

Saturday was not just another game for the quarterback. NIU’s 101st Homecoming Game marked the quarterback’s first collegiate start. However, at the end of the first half, Morris had as many passing yards as wide receiver Marcus Perez.

Perez hit wide receiver Matt Simon on a reverse pass in the first quarter. The result: A wide-open Simon who ran in a 59-yard touchdown.

The occasion was Perez’s second touchdown pass as a Huskie, with his first against Southern Illinois in 2004.

“Again we felt this week, not having Danny [Nicholson] and not having our two receivers, that we had to generate a little bit more,” said NIU head coach Joe Novak. “That’s why the reverse pass was a great play.”

However, down 13-17 late in the fourth quarter, NIU (1-6 overall, 0-4 MAC) wasn’t going to put its fate in trick plays. Instead, the Huskies placed their confidence in Morris.

With a little less than five minutes, chants of “Let’s go, Morris” came from NIU’s bench as the redshirt sophomore returned to the field.

The quarterback looked deep down the field on his first play. The ball was tipped by Western Michigan (3-4, 2-1) and kept away from Perez.

Morris wasn’t discouraged, though. He fired another pass on second-and-10. This time, the quarterback completed a 10-yard pass to Perez.

“I was just trying to get first downs, and get us into position on the field to take some shots at the end zone,” Morris said.

After a rush for no gain by NIU tailback Justin Anderson, Morris again looked down field. The result: A 21-yard pass to Simon.

With time dwindling, the quarterback dropped back on the third first down of the drive. This time, the redshirt sophomore found Anderson on the left side of the field. The tailback brought in the pass and rushed up the sideline for another 12 yards.

Morris had the crowd standing and cheering. The quarterback completed three of four passes for 43 yards. The Huskies were down Western Michigan’s 37-yard line and threatening.

“[I was] just trying to continue to move the ball,” Morris said. “And give our team a chance to score a touchdown.”

But the quarterback never got the chance, as the Huskies would fail to pick up another first down on the drive.

After a one-yard rush, NIU committed a holding penalty. Morris grabbed eight yards on second-and-19. However, the former walk-on would fail to complete another pass on the drive.

Despite the outcome, Novak was still proud of Morris’ performance – who didn’t learn until Thursday that he would be the starter.

“He played well enough. We just have to get more done around him,” the coach said. “And maybe a week off will get [Nicholson] back. If not, Ryan’s going to play again next week.”

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