SouthtownStar Athletes on Campus: Jordan Lynch added to Maxwell list
By Mike Walsh For Sun-Times Media September 28, 2012 7:52PM
Northern Illinois' Jordan Lynch. | Supplied photo
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Updated: November 1, 2012 6:26AM
Northern Illinois University quarterback Jordan Lynch has gotten off to a great start this season, earning back-to-back Player of the Week nods from the Mid-American Conference.
On Thursday, the Mount Carmel graduate was added to the watch list for the 2012 Maxwell Award, presented annually to the outstanding collegiate football player in America.
Lynch was one of 13 players added to the watch list. The original list was based on the 2011 performances of returning players.
In his first year as the Huskies’ starting quarterback, Lynch has passed for 845 yards and seven touchdowns on 66-of-103 passing (64.1 percent) and has run for 438 yards and five touchdowns on 64 carries to average 6.8 yards per carry. He ranks 18th in the country in rushing with an average of 109.5 yards per game, and is third among FBS quarterbacks in rushing yards.
Lynch was named the MAC West Player of the Week for his performances against Army and Kansas in the last two weeks. The Chicago native passed for a career-high 342 yards and ran for 125 in NIU’s 41-40 victory over Army. He threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Martel Moore with 4:29 to play.
Against Kansas, Lynch led the Huskies to 17 fourth-quarter points, beginning with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Moore, giving Northern Illinois a 30-23 come-from-behind victory. The junior passed for 235 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing and ran for 134 yards on 22 carries.
Nick at night
St. Xavier running back Nick Pesek was named the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sept. 17 after his contributions in the Cougars’ 37-7 victory over visiting Langston (Okla.) University on Sept. 15.
Pesek, a graduate of Oak Lawn, scored on an 85-yard run on the second play from scrimmage, setting an SXU record for the longest running play in the history of the program. Pesek also had a 45-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.
Through the first four games of the season, Pesek leads SXU in rushing with 264 yards on 41 attempts.
