Tag it:

?

Last week the Mid-American Conference opened its 65th season of intercollegiate football with some outstanding individual, as well as team, performances. Toledo and Temple scored emphatic victories against FCS opposition. Bowling Green and Ohio went way out west to post victories against the Western Athletic Conference. Ball State defeated Indiana in Indianapolis, Northern Illinois was impressive in dismantling Army, and Eastern Michigan won at home for the first time since 2009.

Overall, the Conference went 8-5 in Week One, with four of the five Western Division teams registering victories. The MAC saw five new head coaches participate in their first regular season tilts (three in their first overall games) going 3-2 (2-1).

One Mid-American Conference game is on the slate as Temple visits Akron. In non-conference action, Toledo travels to Ohio State, Central Michigan heads to Kentucky, and Ball State travels to South Florida. Buffalo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio, and Western Michigan play their home openers

Here is a look at the thirteen MAC teams as we begin Week Two.

EASTERN DIVISION

AKRON (0-1): The Zips had a very tough time losing to Ohio State Saturday in Columbus, 42-0. It was the second time in their last three season openers UA has been shutout. They managed just 90 yards of total offense and their deepest penetration into OSU territory was the 24-yard line late in the first half, resulting in a missed field goal. Quarterback Clayton Moore in his first start for the Zips was just 6-of-16 passing for 54 yards…Linebacker Brian Wagner led the defense with 15 total tackles (10 solo)…Akron opens its MAC and home schedule on Saturday when Temple comes to InfoCision Stadium.

BOWLING GREEN (1-0): The Falcons traveled to the state of Idaho Saturday and defeated the Idaho Vandals (WAC) 32-15 at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, scoring 30 unanswered points in en route to victory, Quarterback Matt Schilz completed 19-of-31 passes for 291 yards while Running back Anthony Samuel rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown. Defensive tackle Chris Jones had three tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble as he earned MAC East Defensive Player of the Week honors. BGSU looks to match its win total for all of last season this Saturday as Morgan State (MEAC-FCS) is the opponent in the home opener at Doyt Perry Stadium

BUFFALO (0-1): The Bulls traveled to Pittsburgh on Saturday and gave the Big East Panthers all they could handle until the home team pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 35-16 victory. Senior quarterback Chazz Anderson, in his first start, completed 32-of-49 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown. Tailback Branden Oliver carried the ball 35 times for 114 yards, and sophomore wide receiver Alex Nietz had 10 catches for 108 yards. UB opens its home schedule on Saturday as the Seawolves of Stony Brook (FCS) visit Amherst.

KENT STATE (0-1): The Golden Flashes knew what they were getting themselves into when they scheduled second ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Saturday it became a reality as the Crimson Tide rolled 48-7 in Darrell Hazell’s first game as KSU head coach. Junior quarterback Spencer Keith completed 20-of-47 passes for just 99 yards including a three-yard touchdown pass to tight end Justin Thompson for the Flashes lone score of the afternoon. Free safety Calvin Tiggle had 10 total tackles and a fumble recovery to lead the defense. KSU opens its home schedule Saturday as the Rajun Cajuns of Louisiana (Sun Belt) come to Dix Stadium.

MIAMI (0-1): The Redhawks gave the Missouri Tigers all they could handle in the sweltering heat of Faurot Field in Columbia before losing 17-6 in Don Treadwell’s first regular season game as MU head coach. Junior quarterback Zac Dysert completed 26-of-39 passes for 194 yards, while wide receiver Chris Givens collected seven aerials for 71 yards. MU has the week off the before heading to the Twin Cities on September 17th to face former Northern Illinois head coach Jerry Kill and the Minnesota Golden Gophers

OHIO (1-0): Like Bowling Green, the Bobcats traveled way out west and found victory as they defeated the New Mexico State Aggies (WAC) 44-24 Saturday night in Las Cruces. Redshirt freshman Taylor Tettleton was involved in four of the Cats touchdowns as he passed and ran for a pair. On the evening, he was 16-of-28 passing for 152 yards and added 42 on the ground. Linebacker Jelani Woseley had nine tackles while Travis Carrie had a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown and was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week. The Cats open their home schedule Saturday as Gardner-Webb (Big South-FCS) comes to Peden Stadium  

TEMPLE (1-0): The Owls battled rival Villanova Thursday night in the annual Mayor’s Cup Game and came away with a 42-7 victory before 32,638 fans at Lincoln Financial Field. It was Steve Addazio’s first game and victory as a head coach after taking over for Al Golden, who went to Miami (FL). Junior RB BERNARD PIERCE carried the ball 20 times for 149 yards, scoring three touchdowns, and was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week. Junior quarterback Mike Gerardi was 14-of-20 passing for 235 yards and two scores. TU begins MAC play on Saturday as they travel to Akron to battle the Zips.

WESTERN DIVISION

BALL STATE (1-0): The Cardinals made Pete Lembo’s first game as an FBS head coach memorable as they defeated Indiana 27-20 Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Quarterback Keith Wenning was the offensive catalyst as he completed 23 of 29 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 81 more yards and a score.  Defensive tackle Nathan Ollie had four tackles, including two sacks, and was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week. BSU hits the road this week as they head to South Florida to face a Bulls team that last week defeated Notre Dame in South Bend.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN (1-0): The Chippewas opened their 2011 season Thursday night with a 21-6 win over South Carolina State (MEAC-FCS). The win was the fifth consecutive home opening victory for CMU at Kelly-Shorts Stadium. Running back Zurion Tipton accounted for 199 all-purpose yards (73 rushing, 99 in returns) and a touchdown. The Chips defense held the Bulldogs to just 137 total yards (and a scant seven in the second half). CMU  travels to Lexington, Kentucky this week to face the SEC’s Kentucky Wildcats.

EASTERN MICHIGAN (1-0): It took a weather delay, but the Eagles finally picked up a home win in the Ron English era as they defeated the Howard Bison (MEAC-FCS) 41-9 Sunday at Rynearson Stadium. The game was postponed Saturday due to lightning and severe thunderstorms in the area. Quarterback Alex Gillett completed 17-of-21 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.  Running backs Javonti Green and Devonte Sherrer each rushed for 120 yards and a score. EMU faces its second FCS opponent this Saturday as the Hornets of Alabama State (SWAC) come to Ypsilanti.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS (1-0): The Huskies used 509 yards of total offense in defeating  the Army Black Knights 49-26 Saturday night to give head coach Dave Doeren his first regular-season victory. Senior quarterback Chandler Harnish completed 12-of-19 passes for 195 yards and five touchdown passes and was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week. In addition, he rushed for 80 yards and a score as part of a NIU rushing attack that amassed 289 yards on the evening. This week, the Huskies head to Kansas to face former Buffalo head man Turner Gill and the Jayhawks.

TOLEDO (1-0): The Rockets opened 2011 with possibly the most emphatic victory over the weekend as they routed the New Hampshire Wildcats (Atlantic-10 FCS) 58-22 Thursday night at the Glass Bowl. UT used both quarterbacks in the contest and both were effective. Austin Danton completed 15-of-21 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Terrance Owens completed 10-of-13 passes for 122 yards and two scores. Running back Adonis Thomas rushed for 115 yards with a score, and wide receiver Bernard Reedy registered five catches for 113 yards. Placekicker Ryan Casano scored 16 points in the game (seven PAT and three FG) and was named MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week. UT heads to Columbus for a Saturday battle against Ohio State, looking for revenge for the last time they met in 2009 when the Rockets were shutout in Cleveland

WESTERN MICHIGAN (0-1): The Broncos traveled to Ann Arbor and fell to Michigan 34-10 in a game that was called late in the third quarter, by mutual consent, as lightning and severe thunderstorms enveloped the area for much of the evening. Quarterback Alex Carder completed 22-of-31 passes for 183 yards. Wide receiver Jordan White collected 12 passes for 119 yards. WMU opens its home schedule on Saturday as the Cowboys of Nicholls State (Southland-FCS) come to Waldo Stadium.