Written by MikeSpinelli

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Week three of the MAC football season was full of surprises and upsets as we inch closer to “full time” conference play. 

First up is Akron, putting up 66 points on Morgan State and keeping them out of the end zone. This was the game Akron needed to get it all together with a new coaching staff and new offensive and defensive systems. Their “tune-up” was even more impressive than the last time they played in the J.D.Brookhart era. The numbers are staggering, 753 total yards. 43 first downs. Dalton Williams 37 for 48 and 446 yards and 3 td’s. He sat in the third quarter and backup Kyle Pohl threw for three more. Jawon Chisholm 18 carries for 129 yards. Yes, Morgan State is “only” an FCS team. But they scored 34 against Buffalo last week, and Eastern Michigan got rolled by Illinois State last week. Both teams I had finishing ahead of Akron I might add. The Zips travel to Tennessee next Saturday.

The next shocker, Toledo hosted Bowling Green and they only scored 42 points combined. Terrance Owens connected with Alonzo Russell for 152 yards and 1 td. Owens had 303 yards total on 71% passing. Bowling Green was down 24-3 in the third quarter and answered with two touchdowns but fell short 27-15. The Falcon’s Anthon Samuel ran for 112 yards and 1 touch, and caught for 14 more. Matt Schilz was 24/36 for 216 and 1 touch. Toledo hosts Coastal Carolina next week, BGSU travels to Va Tech.

Ball State and Toledo sit atop the West Division standings at 1-0, Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green sit at the bottom of the West and East respectively at 0-1.

Surprise #3 was Army hanging tough with Northern Illinois, in a game they had no business being in. Army was up 34-28 after the third quarter, and the two teams traded touchdowns in the fourth. Martel Moore threw an 8 yard pass to Jordan Lynch with 4:29 left to go up 41-40. The two pointer failed, but they were able to hold Army scoreless for the remainder. Lynch was 18/27 for 342 yards and 4 td’s and rushed for 125 more (and 5^th td). Martel Moore led with 7 receptions for 134 yards and 2 td’s. Northern Illinois hosts Kansas next Saturday.

Next up is UMass scoring 13 points on 17^th ranked Michigan. Their first FBS touchdown came in the second quarter with a Christian Birt pick-6. Two Brendan Levengood field goals rounded out the Minutemen’s biggest scoring day of their FBS history. Michigan ran up 63 points for the win. UMass garnered 259 total yards in the game, not bad.

In our Game of the Week, Ball State upset Indiana 41-39. I missed the winner, but nailed the GOTW with another tight game between the two rivals. Indiana was ahead 39-38 as the game drew to a close when Steven Schott kicked a last second field goal to put Ball State over. Keith Wenning threw for 222 yards and 3 td’s on 26/44 passing. Willie Snead was his favorite target, catching 6 passes for 85 yards and 1 score. Jawan Edwards ran the ball 21 times for 78 yards and a score. Ball State hosts South Florida next week.

Ohio travelled to Marshall to play their rivals, and also squeaked out a last minute win. Tied 24-24 with 1:37 left, Matt Weller kicked a 38 yard field goal to put the Bobcats up for good. Tyler Tettleton went 20/35 for 200 yards and 3 td’s. Beau Blankenship ran 30 times for 102 yards, and Ryan Clark led receivers with 50 yards on 4 catches and a score. The Cats host Norfolk State next week.

Western Michigan came within 5 of Minnesota but couldn’t close the deal. A let touchdown brought them within a score of the Gophers, but that was it. Alex Carder threw for 209 yards with 1 td and 1 int on 24/44 passing, Dareyon Chance ran for 144 yards on 29 carries with a score.  The Broncs host UConn next week.

Eastern Michigan gave Purdue a decent scrimmage, allowing only 576 yards and holding the Boilermakers under Akron’s score. Tyler Benz and Alex Gillett combined for 144 yards passing, 0 td’s and 3 ints on 14/29 passing. Dominique Sherrer ran for 73 yards.  It doesn’t get any easier as the Eagles play in East Lansing next week.

And last but not least Miami travelled to Boise State and played a respectable game against the Broncos. They held a 9-8 lead in the second quarter, before Boise State scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second and third quarters. Whether the win puts the Broncos back into the Top 25 remains to be seen. Zach Dysert threw for 176 yards on 20/27 passing, Jamire Westbrook led the Redhawks with 28 yards rushing, and David Frazier caught for 63 yards on three passes. Spencer Treadwell threw a two yard HB pass to Andy Cruse for the team’s touchdown.

Wednesday night Kent State travels to Buffalo for the ESPNU game. The other conference game has  Miami hosting UMass on Saturday.

Shout out to my son Brett for winning his heavyweight MMA fight in Akron last night, he is now 3-0. His MMA days are on hold now as he prepared to wrestle for Baldwin Wallace. Strong work!!!