When Chicago Mt. Carmel and Bloomington met in the Class 6A football state finals on Nov. 30, 2002, the game featured two of the top high schools players in the state.

When the final horn had sounded, running back Greg Owens and Mt. Carmel cruised past Bloomington 31-0, ending the championship dreams for quarterback Andre Brown and his Purple Raiders.

Little did Owens and Brown know at that time, but less than four months later, the two would be teammates, at Northern Illinois University.

Owens and Brown are just two of the 20 players Huskie coach Joe Novak and his staff signed to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.

“I’m real pleased,” Novak said. “Basically we recruited a whole football team. Skill-wise they are really good. This group could step up and compete with any we’ve had.”

Owens led Mt. Carmel to the state championship while collecting 1,721 yards on 174 carries for 9.99 yards per carry. Owens also added 17 touchdowns including three in the state title game.

“Coming into fall, he was one of the best, if not the best running back in the state,” Novak said.

As for Brown, his teams fall in the state championship game could not overshadow one of the best seasons by a quarterback in Bloomington High School history.

“He’s got the strongest throwing arm I’ve seen in 20 years at Bloomington High School,” high school coach Rigo Schmelzer said. “His field presence and competitiveness is very strong and he wants to be in with the game one the line.”

Entering the title game, Brown completed 99 of 209 passes for 1,875 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

He passed on offers to Iowa, Ball State, Arkansas and Tennessee to come play for the Huskies, said the 6-foot-1, 215 pound quarterback.

“It feels great,” Brown said. “I’ve been waiting on this day to come. I’ve wanted to come there since I first visited campus.

“Northern is a great atmosphere. I felt like I fit in. There is a lot of camaraderie not only between the coaches but also the players.”

Brown, known for his arm strength, drew comparisons from Schmelzer to former Purdue standout quarterback Billy Dicken who also played at Bloomington.

NIU also signed standout running back Cas Prime from Janesville Parker High School in Wisconsin.

Prime rushed for 2,198 yards and 30 touchdowns on 289 carries last fall, and for his efforts was voted the Wisconsin Player of the Year by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

For his career, Prime gained 5,331 yards on 794 carries accounting for 68 touchdowns.

In total, of the 20 players signed, 14 are from Illinois, two from Wisconsin, two from Florida and two from Missouri.

“NIU has recruited well in the Chicago area, but the victory over Bowling Green gives them credence as an up-and-coming power in the Mid-American Conference,” recruiting analyst Tom Lemming told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It will open doors from more good recruits, especially kids who might be capable of playing in the Big 10 but are looking for a place to play, a place closer to home.”