Senior LB Harnish voted MSFA MEL Defense POTW
FINDLAY, Ohio – University of Saint Francis senior Piercen Harnish has earned Mid-States Football Association Mideast League DEFENSIVE Player of the Week for his efforts in the top-ranked Cougars’ 27-19 win at No. 20 St. Xavier University on Sept. 22.
The senior linebacker from Ossian, Ind., finished with 14 total tackles to set a new career record at USF with 398. Harnish had eight of his 10 solo tackles in the fourth quarter to lead the USF defense helping the Cougars to their 27th consecutive win. His double-figure tackles against SXU was his 19th career double-figure tackles game, his first this season. It was his second career double-figure solo tackles game. He also had a forced fumble and quarterback hurry against SXU.
Harnish, USF’s only defensive 3-time All-MSFA MEL first-team selection, broke the standard set by 2006 NAIA Player of the Year and USF graduate Brian Kurtz, who racked up 393 tackles from 2003-06.
Harnish ranked No. 37 in NAIA tackles with 8.8 per game, No. 6 in MSFA tackles.
This is the second time Harnish has earned the weekly league honor. It the 115th time in 21 years a USF player has received the weekly honor, the 41st time a USF defensive player has been honored. He joins DB Wilmer Cole and RB PJ Dean on the USF 2018 list of MSFA MEL award winners.
Harnish Career Defensive stats
Year      G           U Tkl    A Tkl    Tot        Sacks   Yds       TFL       Yds       BrUP             Int         Yds       Avg       TD
2015Â Â Â Â Â 12Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 50Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 58 —Â Â Â Â Â Â 108Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1.5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12.0Â Â Â Â Â Â 6.5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 24.0Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 31Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 15.5Â Â Â Â Â Â 1
2016Â Â Â Â Â 14Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 46Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 84 —Â Â Â Â Â Â 130Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 21.0Â Â Â Â Â Â 7.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 34.0Â Â Â Â Â Â 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 16.0Â Â Â Â Â Â 0
2017Â Â Â Â Â 14Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 63Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 62 —Â Â Â Â Â Â 125Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3.5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 20.0Â Â Â Â Â Â 17.5Â Â Â Â Â Â 59.0Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0
2018Â Â Â Â Â 4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 17 —Â Â Â Â Â Â 35Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.0Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0
Total     44         177       221       398       8.0        53.0      32.0      118.0    8             3           47         15.7      1
