Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler / NUSports.com
Northwestern Sweeps Big Ten Player of the Week Awards
8/29/2022 8:50:00 AM | Football
ROSEMONT, Ill. – After claiming a 31-28 season-opening conference win against Nebraska in Dublin, Ireland, the Northwestern football team swept the Big Ten Conference weekly awards. QB Ryan Hilinski earned Co-Offensive Player of the Week accolades, while DB Cameron Mitchell was named Defensive Player of the Week and P Luke Akers, Special Teams Player of the Week.
Hilinski completed 27-of-38 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Hilinksi finished the first half completing 20-of-23 passes for 216 yards and two TDs. The 20 completions are more than NU had in all but three games last season. He became the first Northwestern signal caller to throw for 300+ yards and at least two touchdowns without an interception since Brett Basanez in 2005 against Michigan State. The Junior engineered the Wildcats offense to produce 528 total yards.
Mitchell logged six total tackles, one interception and two passes broken up against the Cornhuskers. He picked off Nebraska QB Casey Thompson for his second career interception in the fourth quarter, and recorded a 42-yard return, setting up Northwestern's game-winning touchdown.
Playing in his first game for the Wildcats, Akers impressed by flipping the field punting six times for a 40.8 net average, and not allowing any punt return yardage. He pinned Nebraska inside the 10-yard line three times, including a punt that was downed at the 4-yard line with under three minutes left in the game.
The Wildcats have a bye week before hosting Duke in the home opener at Ryan Field at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 10 on FS1.
Hilinski completed 27-of-38 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Hilinksi finished the first half completing 20-of-23 passes for 216 yards and two TDs. The 20 completions are more than NU had in all but three games last season. He became the first Northwestern signal caller to throw for 300+ yards and at least two touchdowns without an interception since Brett Basanez in 2005 against Michigan State. The Junior engineered the Wildcats offense to produce 528 total yards.
Mitchell logged six total tackles, one interception and two passes broken up against the Cornhuskers. He picked off Nebraska QB Casey Thompson for his second career interception in the fourth quarter, and recorded a 42-yard return, setting up Northwestern's game-winning touchdown.
Playing in his first game for the Wildcats, Akers impressed by flipping the field punting six times for a 40.8 net average, and not allowing any punt return yardage. He pinned Nebraska inside the 10-yard line three times, including a punt that was downed at the 4-yard line with under three minutes left in the game.
The Wildcats have a bye week before hosting Duke in the home opener at Ryan Field at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 10 on FS1.
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