Bowling Green, Ohio – On the second play of the second quarter, Bowling Green quarterback Josh Harris completed a 17-yard pass to receiver Charles Sharon, giving him 230 yards total offense.

The Huskies as a team had 226 total yards – for the entire game.

A 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior, Harris was able to pick apart the NIU defense for a career-high 527 yards of total offense. He threw for a career-high 438 yards while rushing for 89 yards as the Falcons (7-1, 3-1 MAC) handed NIU (7-1, 4-0 MAC) its first loss, 34-18.

“If there is a better quarterback in America, who is he?” Bowling Green Coach Gregg Brandon said.

Harris beat NIU’s coverage on the second play of the game, as he eluded the blitz and was able to hit tight end Craig Jarrett over the middle for a 44-yard completion.

The catch was James’ fourth of the year and his longest reception of the year.

NIU coach Joe Novak said Harris, as the team’s quarterback, always will be a factor, while NIU running back Michael Turner, who had 18 carries – eight less than his season average – won’t always be a factor.

“They run 80 plays a game, he’s got the ball in his his hands 80 times to start with,” Novak said. “Turner might get it 30, but Harris gets it every snap.”

Harris was able to get BGSU out to a 14-0 lead by driving the team 81 yards in seven plays in the first drive and 77 yards in two plays. He had 148 yards passing 2:59 into the game.

NIU scored its first touchdown of the game with 5:01 left in the third quarter to cut the score to 27-10. BGSU was forced to start its next possession from the 8-yard line because of a holding penalty on the kickoff.

All Harris did was connect with receiver Charles Sharon seven plays later for a 55-yard touchdown down the right sideline. When Sharon got into the end zone, Harris stood 65 yards away at the 35-yard line with his arms lazily raised up in the air, looking almost nonchalant.

“If you blitz, he has the presence of mind and the ability to get out of the way,” NIU cornerback Randee Drew said. “And any time you play a quarterback that has a strong arm and the ability to move, it’s hard on the defense because if you chase him you’re going to be coming off your routes. Personally, with me as a DB, you don’t want to come off and try and help because he can always step back and throw down field.”