Sutton Smith – Noteworthy
NOV 12 MAC WEST DIVISION SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith,…Northern Illinois junior defensive end Sutton Smith (St. Charles, Mo.) made a key special teams play in a 38-15 win over Toledo on Wednesday, Nov. 7. Smith changed the game when he blocked Toledo punter Bailey Flint’s third punt of the game late in the second quarter, picked up the block and ran it in for a touchdown. The block and 27-yard return turned a 10-9 NIU lead into a 17-9 margin going into halftime. More amazing is the fact that the block came when NIU was in “punt safe” mode, not going for a block, and was an instinct play by Smith. He earned 38 total punt return yards on the play, and added a sack, a tackle for loss and forced his fourth fumble of the year on defense. Smith’s punt block was his second of the year; he ranks third in the nation in blocked kicks and in punt return touchdowns. – MAC Football
Tre Harbison – Noteworthy
NOV 12 MAC WEST DIVISION OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Northern Illinois RB Tre Harbison,…Northern Illinois sophomore running back Tre Harbison (Shelby, N.C.) ran for 139 yards on 21 carries for his fourth 100-yard game of the season in a 38-15 win over Toledo on Wednesday, Nov. 7. His effort was part of a 296-yard rushing day by the Huskies. Harbison averaged 6.6 yards per carry and had a long rush of 33 yards on the day. Harbison, who ranks second in the MAC in rushing, gained 43 yards on four carries on NIU’s third-quarter touchdown drive that gave the Huskies a 24-9 lead. He also added a four-yard catch in the game. – MAC Football