Northern Illinois junior free safety Lionel Higgenbottom couldn’t have picked a better time to win his first Mid-American Conference West Division player of the week award. The former Robeson High School star was honored for his play in the Huskies’ 48-23 victory over Ball State last weekend. He made 14 tackles (seven solo) and returned an intercepted pass 18 yards to set up a touchdown. “Lionel really stepped up for us with [strong safety] Akil Grant out of our lineup with a knee injury,” NIU coach Joe Novak said. . . . Higgenbottom is the 10th Huskie to win a weekly MAC award. Placekicker Steve Azar has won three times, receiver P.J. Fleck and tailback Michael Turner each have won twice and linebacker Brian Atkinson and defensive end Vinson Reynolds each have won once.
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