This week, a pair of Huskies took home the MAC West Player of the Week honors. Senior defensive end Sean Progar was named the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week and junior kicker Mathew Sims was named the MAC West Specialist of the Week.

In the Huskies’ 48-34 victory over Western Michigan Saturday, Progar recorded a career-high three sacks. Two of his sacks came at key moments in the third quarter.

Progar also added seven total tackles, five of them being solo tackles. This is Progar’s second time winning the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week this season and the third time in his career.

This is Sims’ second MAC West Specialist of the Week honor. Against the Broncos, Sims kicked the two longest field goals of his career and converted on both of them.

He hit a 49-yard field goal and a 54-yard field goal, which is the longest field goal in Sims’ career as well as in NIU history.

On the day, Sims recorded 12 points for the Huskies, with the two field goals and six converted extra points.

A Huskie has now won a MAC West Player of the Week award eight out of the nine weeks this season.