This week a MAC team knocked off another nationally ranked team, Cinderella continued to impress (and become bowl eligible), and Buffalo hosted its long-time rival. Army continues playing as many MAC teams as the regular members, and prepares to face another.
Kent State hosted Western Michigan in my Game of the Week, and continued to impress. The Broncos were expected to be among the top MAC teams this season, but have been disappointing. The Flashes did it the way they have all year, by big plays by Dri Archer on offense and by forcing turnovers on defense. Archer gained 62 yards on the ground on 10 carries and two TD’s, and had four receptions for 53 yards. Fellow running back Traiyon Durham actually had more carries (19) and yardage (124). Spencer Keith threw for 193 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Nothing flashy, they just roll up their sleeves and get the job done. And now they are bowl eligible and a force to be reckoned with in the East. The road ahead will test their mettle, including a home game against the feisty Akron Zips, and then they take on the other top teams of the East, Miami, Bowling Green, and 24th ranked Ohio. Even if they can’t win out with those three (they have by far the toughest schedule of the three) they are now bowl eligible, and a good showing on national TV this week against an undefeated 15th ranked Rutgers could get them a nice bowl invite.
Toledo (6-1) hosted 21st ranked Cincinnati (5-0) in what was the best game of the week. Toledo jumped out first with two 42+ yard field goals Jeremiah Detmer and a Jermaine Robinson 75 yard pick-6. Cincy came back with a 2 yard keeper by Munchie Legaux, and the teams traded field goals for the rest of the first half. In the second half Detmer kicked a 20 yarder to put the Rockets up 19-13, before Legaux hit Damon Julian on a 25 yard TD pass to take the lead. Bernard Reedy returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards to put Toledo back on top 26-20. The teams traded fourth quarter field goals to make the final score Toledo 29, Cincinnati 23. The win makes the Rockets 5-1 at home against Top 25 teams as the team inches closer to its first Top 25 ranking since 2001. They travel to Buffalo next week.
Akron faced Northern Illinois as their tour of conference powerhouses continued. Again Jordan Lynch lit it up on the ground and through the air, posting 223 yards passing and 131 yards rushing (with 2 TD’s each). To me Jordan looks like Tim Tebow with a stronger arm. Juwan Brescacin was the leading receiver with 67 yards on 2 catches. The Huskies defense gave Coach Bowden’s offense fits all day, holding Dalton Williams to 157 yards passing and Jawon Chisholm to 13 yards rushing. Conor Hundley spelled Jawon for 63 yards. LT Smith led Zips receivers with 43 yards, leader among the nine Zips pass catchers. Akron gets a respite from its tough schedule with a homer Saturday against Central Michigan. NIU travels to Western Michigan.
Bowling Green traveled to the land of the Patriots to take on the Minutemen of Massachusetts. This one was all Falcons, as Anthon Samuel ran for 60 yards and caught 5 passes for 58 yards. Matt Schilz went 21/35 for 188 yards and 2 TD passes. Dwayne Woods had a 48 yard pick-6. They held Mike Wegzyn to 23 yards passing, going 9 for 25, and held the Minutemen to 85 yards rushing. Bowling Green heads to Eastern Michigan this week, UMass looks for their first FBS win against 3-4 Vanderbilt.
Ball State ran over Central Michigan 41-30, Jahwan Edwards had 128 yards rushing and Barrington Scott almost hit 100 yards and ran in a TD. Jamil Smith led Cardinal receivers with 62 yards on 6 catches. CMU’s Ryan Radcliff threw for 339 yards and 3 TD, and Zurlon Tipton rushed for 126 with a touch, but the defense just wasn’t up to the task. CMU hosts Akron next week and one team will get its first conference win. It was bound to happen sometime. Ball State continues Army’s tour of the MAC in West Point.
This week Army was in Eastern Michigan, and despite Trent Steelman’s 212 yards rushing, the Knights were unable to prevent the Eagle’s first win. Tyler Benz had 369 yards passing with five touchdowns. While Bronson Hill ran up 185 yards and another TD. Garrett Hiskins had 7 catches for 158 yards, one of eight pass catchers for EMU (five of them caught TD passes). EMU travels to BGSU next week, Army hosts Ball State. The loss makes Army 0-3 against the MAC, they’ve played as many conference games as five members. Why not just make it official? It’s a lot easier typing Army every week than it is typing Massachusetts…
Buffalo hosted Pittsburgh and lost a “thriller” (if you dig field goals). Devin Campbell had 104 yards rushing, and Alex Zordich had 165 yards passing. Pitt couldn’t touch those numbers. But they scored two touchdowns on short runs. Pitt 20, Buffalo 6.
It was another 5-2 week for my predictions, making me 55-18 on the season.
Kent State joins Ohio, Toledo, and NIU as bowl eligible teams