 Last week in the Mid-American Conference…It was another week for offense mixed in with surprises and heartbreak. This week the conference moves into its the mid-week night game portion of the schedule with five games scheduled with four of them under the lights and two big divisional battles. The week began Tuesday night in Toledo as the Western Division leading Rockets defeated Northern Illinois , 63-60, in a colossal display of offensive firepower. Even as the weather gets colder, MAC action is heating up with some key games on the schedule.
Tonight in Athens , East Division leading Temple takes its one-half game lead into a showdown with the Bobcats. Miami entertains Akron Thursday, while Kent State plays hosts Central Michigan Friday. The week concludes Saturday with Ball State traveling to Eastern Michigan .
Last weekend, there were just four games on the docket, but all were exciting. Central Michigan built a 20-0 lead on Akron , only to see the Zips score a touchdown on the final play of regulation. They decided to go for two points and the win but failed to convert and the Chips escaped with a 23-22 victory. Kent State threw a monkey wrench into Bowling Green ’s hopes in the East with a 27-15 upset. Miami bounced back from its loss at Toledo with a convincing win over Buffalo , while Western Michigan defeated Ball State
Here is a look at the thirteen MAC teams as we begin Week No. 10
EASTERN DIVISION
AKRON (1-7, 0-4 MAC): The Zips came back from a 20-point deficit against Central Michigan at home, scoring a touchdown on the final play of regulation to make the score 23-22. Head coach Rob Ianello decided to go for two points and the win, but the pass failed and the Zips suffered their fourth consecutive loss in heartbreaking fashion. UA gained 407 yards of offense, second highest of the season. RB Jawon Chisholm had 130 yards rushing on 19 carries the fourth time this season he has rushed for 100 yards. QB Clayton Moore tied a career high with 17 completions in 40 attempts for 228 yards and two touchdowns both going to WR Marqueo Suel who had 11 receptions for 112 yards both career highs. LB Brian Wagner led the defense with 18 tackles and leads the MAC with 118 (42) the third consecutive year he has gone over 100 stops in a season. It’s a short week for the Zips, as they head into Oxford Thursday night to battle Miami . Last year at InfoCision Stadium, they have Miami all they could handle before falling 19-14.
BOWLING GREEN (4-5, 2-3 MAC): The Falcons were stunned Saturday on the road, losing to the Kent State Golden Flashes 27-15 despite QB Matt Schilz completing 29-of-49 passes for 400 yards. It was the third time this season Schilz had passed for 400 or more yards in a game. WR Kamer Jordan had a career-high 12 receptions for 203 yards (fourth best single-game total in school history) and a score. The Falcons played the game without freshman RB Anthon Samuel, who did not make the trip due to post concussion syndrome. LB Dwayne Woods and DE Charlie Walker each had six tackles in the contest. The Falcons are off until Tuesday November 8 when Northern Illinois comes to Perry Stadium.
BUFFALO (2-7, 1-4 MAC): The Bulls incurred their fourth consecutive loss Saturday losing to the Miami Redhawks, 41-13, in Oxford . QB Chazz Anderson was 24-of-41 passing for 281 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions RB Branden Oliver had just 47 yards rushing on 27 carries, while WR Alex Neutz had four receptions for 110 yards. DB Fred Branch led the defense with 10 tackles. Oliver still is second in MAC rushing with 900 yards. LB Khalil Mack leads in tackles for loss with 15 (13 solo) and is tied for first with four forced fumbles. DB Najja Johnson leads in passes defended with 12. UB has the week off and returns to action on Saturday November 12 when Eastern Michigan travels to Amherst .
KENT STATE (2-6, 1-3 MAC): The Golden Flashes ended a three-game losing streak, both overall and in MAC play, Saturday with a surprising 27-15 win over Bowling Green at Dix Stadium. The offense had its best statistical day as it gained 319 total yards. RB Trayion Durham had 62 yards on 19 carries and his first careeer touchdown. QB Spencer Keith completed 16-of-23 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown to tight end Justin Thompson and while playing interception-free. The defense gave up 443 yards to the Falcons, but it also had four turnovers (two interceptions and two fumbles). LB Luke Batton was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week as he had 10 tackles a ½ tackle for loss, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry. PK Freddy Cortez, meanwhile, was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week. He converted two field goals and was a perfect three-for-three on extra points. The Flashes remain home this Friday night as the Central Michigan Chippewas make their second consecutive trek to Northeast Ohio . Last Saturday, they ended a two-game losing streak, holding on for a 23-22 win at Akron . The two schools have not met since 2007 when CMU picked up a 41-32 win at Dix.
MIAMI (3-5, 2-2 MAC): The RedHawks rebounded from their loss at Toledo the previous week by routing Buffalo , 41-13, at Yager Stadium. It was MU’s third win in the last four games and their first win at homecoming since 2007. QB Zac Dysert completed 20-of-25 passes for 313 yards and five touchdowns, which tied a school record held by current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and former Miami QB Sam Ricketts. In Saturday’s game, Dysert passed the 7,000 yard mark for his career. It was the 10th time he passed for over 300 yards in a game. For his accomplishments, he was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week. Dysert is second in MAC passing, averaging 268.6 yards per game. WR Daiwan Scott had just three receptions, but they covered 141 yards and included a 71-yard touchdown. It was the freshman’s third consecutive 100-yard receiving game. WR Nick Harwell had six receptions in the contest and is third in receiving yards with 778. The Hawks are back in action at home on Friday night as they host the Akron Zips, who gave MU all it could handle last year at InfoCision Stadium before the RedHawks pulled out a 19-14 win
OHIO (5-3, 2-2 MAC): The Bobcats had the week off as they prepared for their Wednesday night nationally-televised battle with the Temple Owls at Peden Stadium. In their last game on October 22, the Cats traveled up I-77 to Akron and routed the Zips, 37-20, gaining 556 total yards - their second highest production of the season. QB Tyler Tettleton completed 21-of-29 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns. The two scores moved him into the top-10 on the ‘Cats all-time touchdown passing list with 16. Tettleton is third (MAC) in passing efficiency at 146.5. WR LaVonn Brazil had just three receptions, but gained 102 yards and registered a touchdown. KR Donte Harden entered the week leading in kick returns, averaging 33.9 yards. PK Matt Weller was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time as he had three field goals, and his seven kickoffs averaged over 66 yards When the ‘Cats and Owls met last year in South Philadelphia, the Ohio put a serious dent in the Owls East title hopes with a 31-23 win.
TEMPLE (5-3, 3-2 MAC): The Owls had last Saturday off as they prepared for their East Division battle at Ohio . In their last game on October 22nd, TU saw its two-game winning streak come to an end Saturday in Bowling Green as the Falcons upset Temple , 13-6. TU managed just 284 total yards and was 3-of-14 on third down conversions. RB Bernard Pierce had 17 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown, while RB Matt Brown had 119 yards on 22 carries, the third consecutive game the pair has rushed for over 100 yards. Pierce leads the MAC in rushing with 951 yards and in scoring with 108 points (18 TD). Brown is third in kick returns at 27.5 per return. P Branden McMamus leads the MAC punting pack, averaging 47.9 yards per kick…Tarik Whitehead is tied for the lead in forced fumbles with four and also leads with three fumble recoveries. When TU and Ohio met last year at Lincoln Financial Field, the Bobcats came away with a 31-23 win.
WESTERN DIVISION
BALL STATE (5-4, 3-2 MAC): The Cardinals saw their two-game winning streak come to a screeching halt in Kalamazoo Saturday. Western Michigan stampeded the Cardinals with 610 yards of total offense, coming back from a 35-14 deficit to get the game close before losing 45-35, despite 555 yards of offense of their own. QB Keith Wenning completed 35-of-50 passes for a career high 335 yards and three touchdowns. RB Barrington Smith had 104 yards on 15 carries and a score while WR Briggs Osbron had 10 receptions for 103 yards and two scores. Travis Freeman is second in tackles with 86 (30 solo). BSU looks to regroup on Saturday as they play the middle game of a three-game road trip in Ypsilanti against the Eastern Michigan Eagles. EMU won last year’s tilt in Muncie 41-38.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (3-6, 2-3 MAC): The Chippewas built a 20-0 lead at Akron last Saturday, and then held on for dear life as the Zips scored a touchdown on the final play of regulation to close within a point. UA went for two-points and the win but failed. That allowed the Chips to escape InfoCision Stadium with a 23-22 win, ending their two game losing streak. True freshman RB Anthony Garland rushed for 141 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. QB Ryan Radcliff completed 17-of-31 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown. Radcliff is third in MAC passing at 263.9 yards per game. PK David Harman was named MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week after he connected on a career-best three field goals and was perfect on both extra points. It was CMU’s fifth consecutive win and ninth in the last ten over UA. CMU makes its second trip to Northeast Ohio on Friday as it faces Kent State for the first time in 2007. That contest, also at Dix Stadium, went to CMU, 41-32 .
EASTERN MICHIGAN (5-3, 3-2 MAC): The Eagles are coming off a bye week. In their last game, October 22, the surprising Eagles picked up their fifth win of the season, defeating Western Michigan at Rynearson Stadium, 14-10, to gain possession of the MAC Michigan Trophy. The winning score came midway through the fourth when RB Javonti Green ran 50-yards for a touchdown. Greene was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week as he was involved in both EMU scores. He caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from QB Alex Gillett to give the Eagles the lead. In addition, Greene rushed for 61 yards, part of day that saw EMU rush for 205 yards in the game. The Eagles get back into action this Saturday when the Ball State Cardinals come to town. The Cardinals saw their two-game winning streak end at the hands of Western Michigan 45-35 Saturday. EMU won their meeting last year in Muncie, 41-38.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (6-3, 4-1 MAC): The Huskies are in the MAC West drivers seat after Tuesday’s 63-60 (yes, we’re talking football) win over Toledo. Win out, and NIU gets a shot at MAC Championship game redemption. Standing in the way are Bowling Green, Ball State and Eastern Michigan. The latter two are home games, so taking care of business at BG Nov. 8 is critical. The Huskies, now on a four-game winning streak, nearly blew it in a 31-30 win at Buffalo Oct. 22. They may give up some points along the way, but the NIU offense is hard to slow down, let alone stop.
TOLEDO (5-4, 4-1 MAC): The Rockets have had some tough losses this year, but even the Syracuse debacle can’t match Tuesday’s 63-60 loss to Northern Illinois. If the Huskies win out, they are going to the MAC championship. Coach Tim Beckman’s team will need to regroup in time for it’s Nov. 8 tilt with another very good offensive team in Western Michigan. That is the last home game for UT, which hits the road for matchups at Central Michigan and Ball State to close the regular season.
WESTERN MICHIGAN (4-4, 2-2 MAC): The Broncos ended their two-game losing streak with a 45-35 win over the Ball State Cardinals last Saturday at Waldo Stadium. It was a day when the WMU offense amassed 610 yards of total offense and was 11-for-15 on third down conversions. QB Alex Carder completed 29-of-41 passes for 404 yards and two touchdowns the third 400 yard passing game in his career. Carder leads the MAC in passing at 273 yards per game and is second in total offense at 297.3 per contest. WR Jordan White had nine receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns. White leads the MAC with 95 catches for 1,164 yards. He also leads the conference in punt returns with a 13.2 yard average and was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week. He became the third receiver in WMU history to have consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. LB Johnnie Simon was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week with 10 tackles, a pass breakup, two quarterback hurries and an interception. The Broncos have this Saturday off before getting back to action on Tuesday November 8th at Toledo against the Rockets
There you have it, your MAC Checkup for Week No. 10. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
|
