DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Chandler Harnish threw a career-high five touchdown passes and rushed for another to give Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren a 49-26 victory over Army in his head coaching debut on Saturday.
Harnish threw for three TDs in the opening 18 minutes as the Huskies (1-0) took a 28-6 lead on the Black Knights (0-1).
The win was Northern Illinois’ first over a service academy in four tries. The Huskies dropped a 21-14 decision at Army in 1992 and lost both games of a home-and-home series with Navy in 2007 and 2008.
Huskies’ tailback Jasmin Hopkins rushed 14 times for 138 yards. Army’s Malcolm Brown rushed 9 times for 92 yards.
