Written by MikeSpinelli

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Just five games on the slate this week, but there was still plenty of football, including one upset on a last second score, two other powers rolling on, and Cinderella continuing it’s dance toward key East Division matchups.

 

In our Game of the Week Kent State woke up in the second half to put Akron away 35-24 to keep their undefeated conference season intact. Akron jumped out to an early 14 point lead with 13 and 21 yard TD passes from Dalton Williams to Jacob Dillard. Kent responded with a 1 yard scoring run by Traiyon Archer, before Jawon Chisholm countered with a run up the gut that turned into a 50 yard TD. Akron 21-7. Spencer Keith drove the Flashes down to the 4 yard line and then took it in himself to bring the Flashes within 7 again. Akron then drove the field looking to score again but the drive stalled deep in Kent territory when Akron again ate its own clock. And their time outs. The result was settling for a field goal as time ran out. Akron 24-14.

The second half was all Kent, the defense tightened up and shut out the Zips in the second half. The offense put together a couple solid drives, including their first touch in the third quarter which led to a Durham 6 yard run for six. On the ensuing drive, Roosevelt Nix forced Chisholm to fumble, recovered by Luke Button near midfield. Three plays later Dri Archer made his usual big play, running 30 yards for another touchdown. Kent takes the lead for the first time 28-24. Durham added a late game TD on a 15 yard run to end the game (and Akron’s upset hopes) 35-24.Keith threw for 103 yards, Archer gathered 126 yards and 1 TD, Durham 107 yards and 3 TD’s. No Kent receivers gained more than 20 yards. For Akron Durham threw for 312 yards and 2 TD’s, Chisholm ran for 115 yards and a TD, and Marquelo Suel gained 85 aerial yards. Kent improves their record to 8-1 (5-0) and travels to Miami next Saturday. Akron falls to 1-9 (0-6) and hosts UMass Saturday.

In another key East Division matchup, Miami, high on their win over Ohio, travelled to 0-4 Buffalo and stepped into a hell of a game. The team traded field goals in the second quarter, before Branden Oliver scored the game’s first touchdown on a 5 yard run in the third quarter. Zac Dysert connected with Nick Harwell on a 10 yard TD pass to retie the game. Joe Licata and Alex Neutz put the Bulls back on top with a 43 yard TD pass, and as the fourth quarter began it was 17-10 Buffalo. Dysert and Harwell connected again on a one yarder to again tie the score. Licata and Fred Lee responded with a 21 yarder. A sleeper in the first half, this game had become a shootout, in which the last team with the ball would win. Dysert and Harwell again connected, this time from the five. But, they left 23 seconds on the clock. On the ensuing kickoff, Miami’s Krysinski kick off travelled 47 yards, and was retuned by Devin Campbell, 47 yards. Brenden Oliver ran for 5 yards, and then Patrick Clarke kicked a 47 yard FG as the clock ran out to untie the game for good, 27-24. Licata wound up with 127 yards passing with 2 TD’s and 1 INT. Oliver finished with 199 yards rushing and a TD. And Alex Neutz led the Bulls with 60 yards catching. For the RedHawks, Dysert threw for 242 yards and 3 TD’s, rushed for 42 more, and Andy Cruse again led the team with 87 aerial yards. The RedHawks fall to 4-5 (3-2) and host Kent State Saturday. Buffalo improves to 2-7 (1-4) and hosts Western Michigan.

Thursday night the Ohio Bobcats easily dispatched Eastern Michigan 45-14. Tyler Tettleton threw 255 yards and 3 TD, including 164 to Donte Foster (2TD’s).  Ryan Boykin gained 128 yards and a touchdown overland. The D shut the Eagles out in the second half. Ohio improves to 8-1 (4-1) and hosts Bowling Green Thursday night. EMU falls to 1-8 (0-5) and hosts Central Michigan Saturday. Lots of tickets are still available for this Clash of the Titans…

Western Michigan ended their losing streak at Central Michigan 42-31. Ryan Radcliff outduelled Tyler van Tubbergen 383 yards to 362, but Ty had 4 TD’s to Ryan’s 1. Dareyon Chance ran 111 yards to lead the Broncos, while Eric Monette led the team in receiving with 196 yards. Zurlon Tipton had 112 yards rushing for the Chippewas, and Titus Davis had 208 yards receiving. WMU heads to Buffalo this week. CMU (3-6 1-4) has a date with EMU.

Northern Illinois put 63 on UMess who went scoreless in the massacre. Jordan Lynch had 191 yards passing and 157 yards rushing during the time he was in the game. Tommylee Lewis led the Huskies with 86 receiving. The leading stat among Minutemen players is they all survived. NIU takes a week off before its showdown with Toledo Wed. Nov. 14. UMess takes what’s left of their dignity to Akron Saturday.

The Toledo Rockets are ranked #25 in the BCS standings, while NIU, Kent State, and Ohio also received votes. If a MAC team were ranked 16^th or higher, and finishes ahead of one of the “Big Six” conference champs, it would get a bid into a BCS bowl game. Six MAC teams are bowl eligible, Toledo, NIU, Kent State, Ohio, Bowling Green, and Ball State.