After his record-setting performance against the Bobcats last Saturday, Northern Illinois wide receiver P.J. Fleck was named Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week.
Fleck hauled in 14 catches for 234 yards, both school records, and one touchdown during the Huskies' 30-23 overtime win against Ohio. Fleck also returned five punts for 51 yards.
He made some great plays at the end of that football game
coach Joe Novak said. He just took it on his shoulders Saturday night.
The 234 receiving yards marked the second time this season, and the fourth time in his career, that Fleck has topped 100 yards in a game. His previous high had been 153 yards on eight catches in a 2001 win against Sam Houston State.
The 14-reception game gives Fleck 42 catches and 464 yards in five games. He is on pace to shatter his season-highs of 59 catches and 732 yards, which he set during his sophomore year.
Not everything, though, was pretty for the 5-0 Huskies after Saturday's win.
Wide receiver Dan Sheldon, who was averaging nearly 21 yards per catch through Northern Illinois' first four games, was lost for the season with an elbow injury sustained during the Huskies' first drive.
Sheldon had scored four touchdowns, one in each of the season's first four games, and had 206 yards on 10 receptions.
You lose a guy of Danny's ability it's really going to hurt Novak said. I think we've got a good group
though. We're just going to have to spread the ball around even more than we have been.
During the 2002 season, Sheldon caught 40 passes for 783 yards and five touchdowns and averaged 12.5 yards on his 12 punt returns.
Kent running back out
Kent State running back David Alston will miss his second straight game because of a broken foot when the Golden Flashes' play Marshall Saturday.
He is probably done for the year, coach Dean Pees said.
Alston was coming off his best game of the season -
coach Terry Hoeppner said. I want to keep that momentum and enthusiasm.
Roethlisberger established another school record during the game by throwing for more than 300 yards for the fourth consecutive week. He threw for 369 yards and two touchdowns on 31-of-47 passing.
Dispatches from the MAC
Northern Illinois kicker Steve Azar became only the sixth player in conference history to score 300 career points after he kicked three field goals and three extra points in Saturday's win over Ohio. Azar, who has scored 303 career points, is 17 points shy of the MAC record for kickers. He is 57 points shy of tying former Toledo running back Chester Taylor for second place. Former Miami running back Travis Prentice is first, with 468 points. ... Buffalo women's basketball coach Cheryl Dozier signed a contract extension through the 2005-06 season earlier this week. Dozier posted an 18-11 record last season, including 9-7 in the MAC. She has accumulated a 79-62 record during her five seasons at Buffalo.
Nationally ranked MAC teams
Football
Northern Illinois - No. 16 AP / No. 18 ESPN / USA Today
Bowling Green - No. 26 AP / No. 32 ESPN / USA Today
Miami - No. 33 AP / No. 35 ESPN / USA Today
Field Hockey
Louisville - No. 20
Men's soccer
Akron - No. 21
Volleyball
Ohio - No. 33
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Matt LaWell
