It was a must-win game for NIU, and the Huskies were able to keep their bowl hopes alive.

Chandler Harnish’s team-high of 117 rushing yards during a snowstorm in Kent, Ohio Tuesday night helped NIU to a 42-14 victory over Kent State.

Harnish was also 12-for-19 passing with 173 yards and two touchdowns, giving him four total touchdowns on the night. As a team, the Huskies ran for 224 yards and averaged 5 yards per carry.

The Huskies also stopped the run, holding 2007 first team All-MAC selection Eugene Jarvis to just 15 yards on 13 carries.

NIU got the scoring started with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Harnish to tight end Reed Cunningham in the first quarter. The Huskies went into the locker room at half-time with a 14-7 lead.

NIU’s first drive in the third quarter resulted in a 31-yard Harnish touchdown run, and it was all uphill for the Huskies, who scored on their next three possessions.

NIU head coach Jerry Kill also attributed his team’s ability to hold onto the ball as a positive.

“Turnovers had been a problem for us in the last two games, so it is remarkable for us to come out of this game, in these conditions, without a turnover,” Kill said in a news release. “That is, by far, the best thing we did on offense tonight was hold onto the football.”

It was a milestone evening for NIU defensive end Larry English. The senior’s two sacks gave him the NIU single-season record. English also had a forced fumble in the third quarter which was picked up by defensive end Craig Rusch, who took it in for a touchdown.