Northwestern pulled off its second-largest comeback in its 35 seasons of Division I competition last Thursday night, overcoming a 17-0 deficit to prevail 24-23 against Division II’s 2010 finalists and No. 2-ranked team, Delta State. The only larger successful rally came in the 2005 opener, when NSU erased a 23-0 hole through two quarters at Louisiana-Monroe to win 27-23.

Brad Henderson made a sensational debut as NSU’s quarterback last Thursday night, completing 13 of 14 passes for 210 yards including a 32-yard TD.  He set a school record by completing 13 in a row, and the 14th was dropped.

Henderson led the Demons to scores on 4 of their first 5 series after halftime, erasing a 17-0 deficit. The Demons averaged 6.2 yards per play with Henderson in the game, posting 324 on 52 snaps. In their third-quarter surge, the Demons posted 178 total yards. Monday, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association voted Henderson as the state’s college offensive player of the week.

A 2010 junior college honorable mention All-American at East Mississippi CC, Henderson was offered a preferred walk-on opportunity at Alabama but chose NSU’s scholarship offer. Henderson’s 13 straight completions erased the school record of 11 consecutive last season by Paul Harris at Southeastern Louisiana.

That remains the record for most completions at the start of a game.