DeKALB | The no-huddle scheme was implemented to create a quick and aggressive plan of attack for NIU’s offense.

In their season opener against Army on Saturday night, the Huskies executed their fast offensive philosophy crisply and precisely as they battered the Black Knights, 49-26.

If you blinked, while the Huskies were on offense, you’d likely open your eyes to quarterback Chandler Harnish and company celebrating after a rapid scoring drive.

Four of NIU’s seven scoring drives took less than two minutes, two of which only took a little over one minute.

Under center, Harnish channeled seven touchdown scoring drives, five of which came via his arm and one on the ground.

While NIU’s offense might be the praise for putting up 49 points, head coach Dave Doeren credited the defense with multiple three-and-out efforts to help provide an opportunity to put a high number on the scoreboard.

“When you get off the field on third down and you take care of it offensively, you’re going to be hard to beat,” Doeren said. “And that’s what we did.” Harnish mentioned he’d never thrown as many touchdowns as he did against Army.

But for Harnish, who garnered multiple pre-season accolades, he stated that he has plenty room of improvement, but cited that the skill position players made his night a lot easier.

“There are a lot of things I did during the course of the game that I need to work on,” Harnish said. “I was a little soft with the ball tonight, but all the credit goes to those wideouts and running backs.”

The Huskies backfield supplied some flashes and dashes for their scoring extravaganza, as scoring quickly was the theme of the night for the offense.

NIU starting running back Jasmin Hopkins totaled career high 138 rushing yards, with a chunk of that yardage coming on a 58 yard run.

Hopkins’ compliment in the backfield, Jamal Womble, turned a screen play into a 57 yard touchdown.

“That’s basically the point of the no huddle,” Hopkins said of the up-style tempo of the Huskies’ offense. “We run as many plays as we can and get everybody in to share the wealth.”

Army head coach Rich Ellerson said once he saw NIU on his team’s schedule for 2011, he knew his team was going to be in trouble.

With early indications giving the impression that the Huskies offense can take advantage of open legroom, Ellerson offered a brief warning to the remaining opponents of 2011.

“If you give those guys space, look out,” Ellerson said.