 Northern Illinois and Ohio University are both looking for their first MAC championship game title. Both MAC West champ Northern Illinois and MAC East winner Ohio University have been to the title game twice since 2005. In each case, another team went home with the trophy. One of these teams will break through with a win today; the other will leave empty-handed. Both, however, will be headed to bowl games.
Northern Illinois has come tantalizing close to a title on both its trips to the championship game. The Huskies fell to Akron, 31-30, in 2005 and dropped a 26-21 decision last year when underdog Miami scored the winning touchdown in the closing minutes. Getting another shot at the title has been an NIU mantra all year.
Ohio was defeated by Central Michigan twice: 31-10 in 2006 and 20-10 in 2009. It was part of a Chippewas run in which CMU appeared in the title game three times in four years. Led by quarterback Dan Lefevour, they won all three.
Just as Lefevour was a catalyst for those outstanding Central teams, quarterback Chandler Harnish provides leadership for NIU. He is fresh off the MAC’s top award (Vern Smith Leadership Award), as well as MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, Harnish’s play has often been spectacular this year. The best individual statistical outing was Nov. 15 when he
tallied a career-high and Northern Illinois school-record 519 yards of total offense against Ball State (11-15) with 338 yards passing on 26-of-36 completions and 181 yards rushing on 28 carries. He as five 100-yard rushing and three 300-yard passing games in 2011.
Harnish is one of 19 seniors on the team, with 13 being fifth-year seniors. Fourteen of the 19 seniors are on offense, and 10 are scheduled to be in the starting offensive lineup against Ohio..
The Huskies finished second (behind Toledo) in the MAC in both scoring (39.6 ppg) and total offense.(448.2 ypg). Among the offensive threats, besides Harnish, are receivers Nathan Palmer and Martel Moore.. The two combined for 79 catches, 1,037 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season.
Defensive leaders include linebacker Pat Schiller (103 tackles, 10.0 tfl, 2.0 sacks), defensive end Sean Prograr (45 tackles, 10.5 tfl, 5.5 sacks) and defensive back Rashaan Melvin (67 tackles, 1.0 tfl, 2 INT).
As it did in 2010, NIU finished this season with an impressive win streak. The Huskies posted nine consecutive wins, including a 71-3 thrashing of Eastern Michigan in the regular season finale. Over its final three games of the season, Northern scored no less than 59 points.
The Huskies closed with seven wins this time around and had to dig deep to pull out an 18-12 win over EMU to wrap up the campaign. Beyond that, two of their previous three wins were by three point margins (41-38 at Ball State, 41-14 at Bowling Green and 63-60 in the memorable showdown at Toledo).
As impressive as blowouts can be, finding ways to win close ones is also impressive and can help prepare a team for the grand prize battle at the MAC championship game.
Three of the five victories were by seven points or less, but the most dramatic win was the MAC East clincher at Bowling Green Nov. 16.
Down by two points with 7:34 left in the game, OU engineered its longest drive of the year in terms of time and plays. The Bobcats used all of the remaining time on the way to a 23-yard Matt Weller field goal attempt. The junior converted - a school-record fifth on the night – to give Ohio the win and a ticket to the championship.
Sophomore quarterback Tyler Tettleton completed 228-of-356 passes (64 percent) for 2,868 yards, 26 touchdowns and just seven interceptions during the campaign. He also rushed for 576 yards and went over 100 yards rushing in each of the Bobcats final two games.
Senior Donte Harden does most of the ground work for Ohio. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry in 2011, getting the call 153 times for 866 yards and a pair of TDs. He also caught 21 passes for 216 yards (10.3 ypc).
Another senior, wide receiver LaVon Brazill is the dangerous receiver who registered 57 receptions for 912 yards and 10 TDs in his final campaign.
Senior linebacker Noah Keller has been a force on defense for years. Coming into the title game, Keller had 91 tackles, 6.5 tfl, 0.5 sacks and 2ff).
Defensive lineman Temayne Scott (54 tackles, 8.0 tfl, 3.0 sacks and 2 ff) and defensive back Travis Carrie (45 tackles, 1.5 tfl, 4 INT) are also leaders on the defensive side of the ball.
The Bobcats rank third in the MAC in total offense 461.0 ypg) and fourth in total defense (351.1 ypg)
Last, but not least, are the coaches.
Ohio’s Frank Solich is now in his seventh year at the Bobcats helm. It has been a time of relative success, with OU winning three out of the last six MAC East titles. The Bobcats are eager to reach the final summit, and will be primed for their meeting with NIU.
Dave Doeren took over the Huskies reigns this year and guided the Huskies to the a 9-3 overall record, MAC West title and the opportunity for redemption that the Huskies have talked about for an entire year.
Two worthy teams. Two hungry programs. One trophy,
Who will take it home?
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