Lynch breaks NIU, NCAA records earns Heisman hype
November 18, 2012
The NIU sports administration has been working on its Heisman campaign for junior quarterback Jordan Lynch. Wednesday night, Lynch did some work of his own.
Lynch combined to tally 569 yards of total offense between passing and running, breaking the single game record of 519 total yards held by former quarterback Chandler Harnish.
Not only did he break Harnish’s record at NIU for total offense, but he also became the first quarterback in the history of college football to ever have more than 400 yards passing and 150 yards in the same game.
Lynch currently has 1,504 rushing yards on top of 2,582 passing yards. That makes him the second quarterback ever, other than Denard Robinson of University of Michigan, to run for more than 1,500 yards and pass for 2,500 yards in the same season.
With 199 more yards rushing this season, Lynch will also break the single season record for rushing yards by a quarterback, which is held by Robinson, with 1,702 rushing yards.
No one knew what to expect of Lynch coming into the season, but he has shown the ability to dominate any game. However, going into the matchup with Toledo, he had not started a game that had such a high amount of magnitude.
He showed that he can not only compete in a big game setting, he can even raise an already very high work output.
Coach Dave Doeren knew Lynch would be the key for NIU to compete for a repeat performance in Detroit.
“Coach [Rod] Carey told him, ‘We’re putting the game on your back, big boy. Bring it home,’” Doeren said.
Despite two miscues in the form of a fumble and an interception, the only two turnovers in MAC play by Lynch, the junior led his team in four unanswered scoring drives to overcome a first half Toledo lead.
While there are still two huge statement games left for Lynch, this was by far a ringing endorsement for more Heisman consideration, especially with the outcomes on Saturday.