Matt Ference – Noteworthy
OCT 29 MAC WEST DIVISION SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Northern Illinois P Matt Ference…Northern Illinois sophomore punter Matt Ference (St. Louis, Mo.) played a huge role in the Huskie defense’s ability to hold BYU out of the end zone in 7-6 victory at BYU. Ference helped control field position for much of the game as he punted nine times for a 46.8-yard average, the best single game average of his NIU career. Three of his nine punts forced BYU to start from inside its 20-yard line, including one that bounced out of bounds at the one-foot line with 6:24 to play and NIU clinging to a 7-6 lead. Another punt was fumbled, forcing BYU to start from its five-yard line. He had six punts of 47 yards or longer, including three punts of 50 yards or more. The hang time he was able to get limited BYU to nine return yards on the four punts they were able to return. – MAC Football
Mykelti Williams – Noteworthy
OCT 29 MAC WEST DIVISION DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Northern Illinois DB Mykelti Williams…Northern Illinois junior safety Mykelti Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) was part of a spectacular defensive effort in a 7-6 win at BYU on Saturday afternoon. Williams came up with a critical interception with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter and BYU looking to drive for a game-winning field goal. Williams’ interception, his first of the year, returned the ball to NIU with 1:47 on the clock and allowed the Huskies to close out the one-point victory. Williams also made five tackles, four solo, in the game and had a pass break-up. The Huskies held BYU without a touchdown, limited them to 3-of-15 on third downs and held them to 93 rushing yards. – MAC Football