Northwestern University Athletics
Dan Persa Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
11/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 15, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern junior quarterback Dan Persa (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) has been named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Week after directing a come-from-behind victory over No. 13 Iowa Saturday at Ryan Field.
Persa set career highs with 43 attempts, 32 completions and 318 passing yards and was responsible for three touchdowns, the last of which completed Northwestern's rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to edge the nationally ranked Hawkeyes. Persa completed 74.4 percent of his passes and added 50 rushing yards, including a two-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Hawkeyes responded to take a 17-7 lead into the fourth quarter before Persa led Northwestern on touchdown drives of 85 and 91 yards in the final stanza. He ended the first drive with a six-yard scoring toss with less than seven minutes remaining to pull within 17-14. After getting the ball back with just four minutes left in the game, Persa led an 11-play, 91-yard drive, capped by a 20-yard scoring strike with 1:22 on the clock for the victory. The Pennsylvania native suffered a season-ending injury on the game-winning score and ends his season completing 73.5 percent of his passes, a school and Big Ten record.
The award is the first of Persa's career and Northwestern's first since Mike Kafka won the honor on Nov. 22, 2009, after a win over then-No. 17 Wisconsin.
In addition, on Sunday Persa was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week and the Rivals.com Big Ten Player of the Week.
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