It was a big night for local football fans as hometown hero Jordan Lynch led the Northern Illinois Huskies into the Orange Bowl. 

While the Huskies fell 31-10 to Florida State, the bowl appearance marked an end to a stellar season for both Lynch and NIU. 

The Huskies finished the season 12-2 with all the added attention a BCS bowl birth grants to a football program. 

Lynch is a graduate of St. Christina School and Mount Carmel High School. The quarterback finished seventh in this year's Heisman Trophy vote.

Lynch went 15-for-41 throwing 176 yards and rushed for another 44 yards Tuesday night. He amassed a huge 2,962 yards for the Hukies this year.