Only four quarterbacks have ever surpassed 3,000-plus passing yards in a season for Bowling Green.

Brian McClure was the first in 1983. The Falcons then waited 20 years till Josh Harris passed for 3,813-yards in 2003. The year after, Bowling Green reproduced the mark as Omar Jacobs moved the ball 4,002-yards.

In 2007, quarterback Tyler Sheehan became the fourth Falcon to achieve the feat, passing for 3,264-yards.

However, Sheehan has seen a drop in his production this season. The junior has passed for 1,661-yards in seven games, an average of 238.7-yards per game. If Sheehan maintains this pace, he’ll finish the year with 2,848-yards – just 152-yards shy of 3,000-yards.

Last year, the Cincinnati, Ohio native was named MAC player of the week three times. Sheehan is on pace to reach this level again as he has earned the honor twice in 2008.

In 262 pass attempts this season, the quarterback has completed 170 passes and thrown 11 touchdowns compared to five interceptions.

Sheehan’s passes are not just small screens or short control passes. With multiple weapons like senior wide receivers Corey Partridge and Marques Parks, the quarterback likes to stretch the field.

“One thing is they run a lot of vertical routes; a lot of deep routes,” NIU cornerback Chase Carter said. “[Sheehan] has a pretty strong arm.”

However, to be successful, NIU will not just rely on its defensive backs stopping the wide receivers.

The Huskies have used a defensive line rotation system this season that has helped them to limit opponents to a 49 percent third down conversion rate.

NIU defensive end Craig Rusch said he plays first and second downs primarily for NIU. Then, the senior is subsisted on third down for a fresh pair of legs in hopes of producing a quick three-and-out.

“The big thing [the coaches] stress for us to get it to third and long,” Rusch said. “We’ll bring in three new linemen on third down.”

With the fresh defensive line, the Huskies hope not only to pressure Sheehan but to force mistakes from the quarterback. This is what NIU calls the sack-fumble defense.

“We really stress when we get to the quarterback that a sack is good,” Rusch said. “But we expect to get the ball every time. You have to hit the ball out of his arm.”