Larry Williams and Steve Azar were named Mid-American Conference Players of the Week for the West Division Monday.

Williams collected a team-high 13 tackles, 10 of which were solo — including three for losses — in the Huskies 20-17 victory over South Florida Thursday. The junior linebacker had two quarterback pressures and one pass deflection in 61 plays and helped limit the Bulls to three points and 89 yards of total offense in the second half. The 13 tackles made the tenth double-digit tackle game of Williams’ career.

Azar hit the last two field goals of the game for NIU, giving them the 20-17 comeback win. The sophomore kicker missed his first two, ending his mark of 14 straight field goals. The winning 42-yard kick, which is his second-longest in his NIU career (Azar hit a 44-yarder against Central Florida last year), was his first in his college or prep career.

“That’s fantastic news,” said NIU coach Joe Novak. “Both Larry and Steve made some clutch plays for us in the South Florida game. It was a great start for Larry and we hope a start of a super year for him. He made a lot of big plays. Steve hit two clutch kicks & the tying field goal and then the game-winner. They (USF) tried to freeze him with the time outs and he came through, no doubt about it. Those were two big kicks, particularly after missing the first two long ones.”

Williams and Azar become the seventh and eighth Northern Illinois performers to win a MAC Player of the Week honor over the last two seasons.

Toledo tailback Chester Taylor was named MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week, while Akron quarterback Charlie Frye was named MAC East Division Player of the

Week. Bowling Green’s cornerback Janssen Patton was awarded the MAC East Defensive Player of the Week, while Akron’s kicker Zac Derr was named MAC East Division Special

Teams Player of the Week.