Grand Forks, N.D. - The Hanson-to-Hardin connection was a big part of North Dakota's 40-34 victory and the two players responsible for a majority of the offensive fireworks inside the Alerus Center were recognized both on the national and conference levels on Monday.
The duo connected for 12 receptions, but it was Greg Hardin's 32-yard touchdown catch with 12 seconds remaining that led UND to a 40-34 victory over Montana.
Hardin was named the College Football Performance Awards National Performer of the Week, plus he picked up his second National Wide Receiver of the Week honor from the organziation for his monster effort against the Griz. He turned those career-high 12 catches into a Big Sky and UND single-game record 333 receiving yards. It's the fourth higest total ever by a receiver in a Football Championshpi Subdivision game.
Hardin was also named the National Co-Offensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network and the ROOT Sports Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week.
Hardin did not hog all of the spotlight as the left-hander throwing him the ball also earned some national recognition. Senior quarterback Braden Hanson (Charlotte, N.C.) was named the National Offensive Player of the Week by NCAA.com and earned honorable mention National Quarterback of the Week honors from the CFPA.
All Hanson did was throw for a Big Sky and UND record 660 passing yards and five touchdowns in what was the first game of his career that the fifth-year senior started and finished. Remarkably, Hardin was not even Hanson's favorite target in the game as junior wide receiver Blair Townsend caught a career-high 13 passes for 152 yards.
Townsend, who had 14 catches for 140 yards in his career coming into the game, also earned CFPA honorable mention honors for National Wide Receiver of the Week.
Hanson's records did not stop with the passing yardage, his 42 completions were also a school record and those 660 yards were the third most ever by a quarterback in the FCS.
UND returns to action on Saturday against No. 4 Montana State. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. CT.
The duo connected for 12 receptions, but it was Greg Hardin's 32-yard touchdown catch with 12 seconds remaining that led UND to a 40-34 victory over Montana.
Hardin was named the College Football Performance Awards National Performer of the Week, plus he picked up his second National Wide Receiver of the Week honor from the organziation for his monster effort against the Griz. He turned those career-high 12 catches into a Big Sky and UND single-game record 333 receiving yards. It's the fourth higest total ever by a receiver in a Football Championshpi Subdivision game.
Hardin was also named the National Co-Offensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network and the ROOT Sports Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week.
Hardin did not hog all of the spotlight as the left-hander throwing him the ball also earned some national recognition. Senior quarterback Braden Hanson (Charlotte, N.C.) was named the National Offensive Player of the Week by NCAA.com and earned honorable mention National Quarterback of the Week honors from the CFPA.
All Hanson did was throw for a Big Sky and UND record 660 passing yards and five touchdowns in what was the first game of his career that the fifth-year senior started and finished. Remarkably, Hardin was not even Hanson's favorite target in the game as junior wide receiver Blair Townsend caught a career-high 13 passes for 152 yards.
Townsend, who had 14 catches for 140 yards in his career coming into the game, also earned CFPA honorable mention honors for National Wide Receiver of the Week.
Hanson's records did not stop with the passing yardage, his 42 completions were also a school record and those 660 yards were the third most ever by a quarterback in the FCS.
UND returns to action on Saturday against No. 4 Montana State. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. CT.
