Written by MikeSpinelli

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What a week in MAC football as the “Chosen Ones” were knocked off, the “Cinderella” team blew up a Top 15 team, and a West Division power narrowly escaped a bottom feeder. We have the MAC wrap-up right here.

The Ohio Bobcats have been everybody’s darling, with TV shows and articles and national hype. All made bigger when they defeated Penn State to start the season. But there have been warning signs all year that they weren’t all that and an order of fries. They narrowly escaped losing to UMass, Buffalo, and Akron. “Injuries” were sighted as the cause, yet everyone has those. Last week they faced their first real challenge, the Miami RedHawks. Though many had written off Miami as an Eastern power after losing to Bowling Green (and their brutal non-con), Miami still came in at 2-1 with one of the country’s best aerial attacks.  And they showed they are not going away, striking quickly with two field goals and a 54 yard touchdown Zac Dysert pass to Nick Harwell to go up 13-0. Ohio would not catch up until late in the fourth quarter.  Down 20-17, Tettleton led the Cats on a 9 play 41 yard drive that ended with a 38 yard Matt Weller field goal to tie the game. Dysert responded by leading the Hawks on a 59 yard drive capped with a 31 yard Kaleb Patterson field goal to take the lead back. Ohio got the ball back with 1:24 left and went 68 yards to the Miami 7. With time running out the Cats went for the win, deciding not to kick for the tie.  Tettleton forgot how many timeouts he had left, lost track of time, and was sacked with no time left on the clock. Final score Miami 23 Ohio 20.

Ohio did control Miami’s ground game, holding them to 113 yards. But Dysert threw for 311 yards, including 8 passes for 138 yards to Harwell. On the other side it was much the same, Tyler Tettleton threw for 302 yards and no scores, Landon Smith providing the most passing yardage with 62. Ohio’s running game was held to 162 yards, 74 by Beau Blankenship and 74 to Ryan Boykin.

This week Ohio hosts Eastern Michigan on Thursday night’s ESPNU game. Miami travels to Buffalo.

Kent State continues to impress, forcing seven turnovers to serve #15 Rutgers its first loss. The Scarlet Knights were never in this game, losing 35-23. Again they did it without sexy stats or showtime play. Tyler Durham busted out 131 yards on the ground, Dri Archer gutted out 79 more. Mark Fackler had two interceptions for the flashes, Leon Green, Luke Batton, Sidney Saulter, and Luke Wollet had their own pics. QB Spencer Keith had another clean game, 14 for 21 for 121 yards and 2 TD’s, and no interceptions. Bottom line, when you give the ball back 7 times, you are going to have a long day. Kent State 35 Rutgers 23. Kent State hosts Akron Saturday.

Akron had their hands full Saturday with Central Michigan’s Zurlon Tipton. Tipton ran for three touchdowns, one a 72 yard sprint up the sideline to send Akron away 0-5. He was the difference maker in the Chippewas 35-14 win. Dalton Williams threw for 329 yards and 2 TD’s, but had 2 INT’s. Connor Hundley ran for 92 yards in Chisholm’s absence. Jerrod Dillard led the Zips receivers with 91 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Radcliff had a nice game for the Chippewas going 15/25 for 180 yards. Tipton wound up with 243 yards on the day. Titus Davis had 112 yards receiving on 4 catches. CMU goes into their home game against Western Michigan at 1-3 while Akron gets ready for the Golden Flashes.

Bowling Green hosted Eastern Michigan and held them to a field goal. RB Jordan Hopgood threw a 53 yard touchdown pass to Shaun Joplin, and Andre Givens had a 27 yard touchdown run in the first quarter. In the third Chris Jones recovered at Tyler Benz fumble and ran it in 23 yards. A 60 yard (!!!) field goal by Anthony Farinella in the fourth capped the scoring. Falcons 24 Eagles 3. CMU heads to play Ohio on the road. BGSU (4-1) takes a week off before their matchup in Athens.

Northern Illinois outgunned Western Michigan 48-34 in a MAC shootout. Jordan Lynch threw for 274 yards and 2 touchdowns, and ran for 136 with two more. Marlon Moore was again his favorite target, with 7 receptions for 120 yards. Tyler Van Tubbergen threw for 333 yards and 3 TD’s, including two to Eric Monette (142 yds).

Toledo escaped a scrape with 0-3 Buffalo. David Fluellen led the charge with a career high 228 yards rushing on 35 carries, scoring two of the Rockets three 3^rd quarter touchdowns. Buffalo scored early in the fourth quarter to make it 25-20, but went flat on their last three drives. The Bulls Brandon Oliver had 101 yards rushing and Alex Neutz had 135 yards receiving. Toledo takes Saturday off to prepare for a Tuesday night game on the 6^th against Ball State. Buffalo hosts Ohio. WMU travels to EMU next week, while NIU hosts UMess. That will NOT be the Game of the Week…

Ball State ended Army’s MAC season 0-4 with a 30-22 win over the Black Knights. Keith Wenning passed for 189 yards and 2 TD’s, Jahwan Edwards rushed for 148 yards and another. Ball State takes Saturday off for its Nov. 5th game at Toledo.

Vandy ran over and threw UMass, winning 49-7. The Minutemen’s one score was a fourth quarter A.J. Doyle to Deion Walker 10 yard TD pass. Now UMess gets to play Northern Illinois on the road.

Kent State remains at the top of the East, with a tough schedule ahead. Northern Illinois and Toledo continue to lead the West, apparently flying full speed into their Nov 14 matchup.

Ohio falls from the rankings, Toledo (88), Kent (33), Northern Illinois (12), and Ohio (4) received votes.

Bowling Green and Ball State are now bowl eligible, joining Kent, BG, NIU, and Toledo.