'Necks hope to repeat offensive success
Bill Welt
Issue date: 9/11/09 Section: Sports
The Leathernecks football team (1-0) will travel to Dekalb, Ill., to compete against the Northern Illinois Huskies (0-1) Saturday, Sept. 12.
Western is coming off their season opening victory over Sam Houston State 35-28, as they visit the Huskies for their second-straight road game.
In last Thursday's contest against SHSU, the 'Necks' junior quarterback Matt Barr completed 18 passes for 437 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior Lito Senatus helped destroy the Bearkats' secondary. Senatus caught 11 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
"He's just a really intelligent football player," said Head Coach Don Patterson. "He really understands the game. Lito plays with really good concentration, really good focus that gives him a chance to finish the game with very few mental mistakes."
Western nearly lost the game due to two costly turnovers that turned into two touchdowns for SHSU.
If the 'Necks want to defeat the Huskies on the road, they will need to hang onto the ball.
"Two turnovers for us is a lot," Patterson said. "We don't turn the ball over much. Two is one too many."
The Huskies got off to a slow start against the Wisconsin Badgers last Saturday night, falling behind 28-6 in the third quarter.
But Northern made a late rally after recovering an onside kick late in the fourth quarter, trailing 28-20.
The Huskies failed to capitalize on the onside recovery and lost 28-20 in Madison, Wis.
Northern's offense heavily relies on the dual-threat of sophomore quarterback Chandler Harnish.
Harnish led the team in rushing and passing last season and completed 15-of-24 pass attempts for 174 yards against the Badgers. His rushing abilities were shut down, though, gaining only 10 yards.
The 'Necks had a difficult time stopping the Bearkats' rushing attack, which was complimented with a scrambling quarterback in Blake Joseph.
"He's a good athlete, got some size and strength, and he's above average as a runner," Patterson said of Harnish. "I see some similarities between him and the guy that played for Sam Houston (Joseph). Harnish is maybe a little better athlete, but the other guy, Blake Joseph, was a fifth year senior and has more game experience than Harnish."
Western is coming off their season opening victory over Sam Houston State 35-28, as they visit the Huskies for their second-straight road game.
In last Thursday's contest against SHSU, the 'Necks' junior quarterback Matt Barr completed 18 passes for 437 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior Lito Senatus helped destroy the Bearkats' secondary. Senatus caught 11 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
"He's just a really intelligent football player," said Head Coach Don Patterson. "He really understands the game. Lito plays with really good concentration, really good focus that gives him a chance to finish the game with very few mental mistakes."
Western nearly lost the game due to two costly turnovers that turned into two touchdowns for SHSU.
If the 'Necks want to defeat the Huskies on the road, they will need to hang onto the ball.
"Two turnovers for us is a lot," Patterson said. "We don't turn the ball over much. Two is one too many."
The Huskies got off to a slow start against the Wisconsin Badgers last Saturday night, falling behind 28-6 in the third quarter.
But Northern made a late rally after recovering an onside kick late in the fourth quarter, trailing 28-20.
The Huskies failed to capitalize on the onside recovery and lost 28-20 in Madison, Wis.
Northern's offense heavily relies on the dual-threat of sophomore quarterback Chandler Harnish.
Harnish led the team in rushing and passing last season and completed 15-of-24 pass attempts for 174 yards against the Badgers. His rushing abilities were shut down, though, gaining only 10 yards.
The 'Necks had a difficult time stopping the Bearkats' rushing attack, which was complimented with a scrambling quarterback in Blake Joseph.
"He's a good athlete, got some size and strength, and he's above average as a runner," Patterson said of Harnish. "I see some similarities between him and the guy that played for Sam Houston (Joseph). Harnish is maybe a little better athlete, but the other guy, Blake Joseph, was a fifth year senior and has more game experience than Harnish."
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