This past week in the Mid-American Conference
The Northern Illinois Huskies move to the precipice of the Western Division title with a resounding win over Toledo. Eastern Michigan became bowl eligible with a dominating performance against Akron.
Ohio’s chances of the Eastern Division title took a serious hit with a loss at archrival Miami and Bowling Green picked up their first MAC win of the season at Western Michigan
Here is a look at the teams after the 12th week of MACTION
EASTERN DIVISION:
AKRON (4-5, 2-4):
The Zips dropped their second straight game on Saturday losing at Eastern Michigan 27-7 their fifth loss in the last seven games after starting the season with wins over Morgan State and Northwestern.
Freshman Alex Rampart got the start at quarterback for the injured Cato Nelson who suffered a lower-body injury in the loss to Northern Illinois and looked the part as the offense managed just 90 yards total yards. In fact, the Zips only points of the contest came on a 71-yard punt return by Jeremiah Knight in the second quarter. Overall, the offense punted 11 times went three and out six times and did not register an explosive play.
Rampart in his first collegiate start was only 4-of-15 for 29 yards and was intercepted three times. RB Van Edwards led the ground game with 53 yards on 17 carries. WR Kwadarrius Smith had to receptions for 22 yards. The defense did have a sack, a forced fumble, and two pass breakups. LB Ulysses Gilbert led the tacklers with 11 total (eight solos)
The Zips play their final home game of the season on Saturday when Boling Green comes to InfoCision Stadium. The Falcons ended their losing streak last Saturday with a 24-13 win at Central Michigan.
BOWLING GREEN (2-8, 1-5):
The Falcons ended an eight-game MAC losing streak dating back to last season and a six-game skid this season as they defeated Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant 24-13 giving interim head coach Carl Pelini his first win since taking over for Mike Jinks.
BGSU came back from a 13-0 halftime deficit scoring the final 24 points of the game with 17 of them coming in the decisive third quarter. RB Andrew Clair led the ground attack with 82 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown. QB Jarret Doege completed 13-of-23 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown with WR Scott Miller having seven receptions for 73 yards.
The defense held CMU to just 166 yards of total offense while collecting a sack, forced fumble, interceptions, fumble recovery, and a pass breakup. LN Brandon Harris led with eight total tackles (seven solos) and a sack
BGSU travels to Northeast Ohio for their final road game of 2018 as they battle the Akron Zips who have lost two straight after falling at Eastern Michigan last Saturday 27-7
BUFFALO (9-1, 6-0):
The Bulls travel to Ohio on Wednesday night to face the Bobcats with a chance to win the Eastern Division title. In their last game, UB was dominant taking apart Kent State 48-13 in the final home game this season.
The win was UB’s fourth straight and 12th in the last 13 games dating back to last season. Their 9-1 start is the best in school history and the nine victories were only matched by the 1986 team that was when they were in Division III.
The offense scored touchdowns on their first seven possession of the game. RB Jace Patterson scored on a 64-yard touchdown run on the game’s second play and they never looked back as the offense gained 478 total yards ion which 368 came on the ground with Patterson leading the way with 187 yards on 18 carries on two scores and was named MAC East Offensive Player of the week.
QB Tyree Jackson only threw 16 times on a blustery evening completing seven fort 111 yards and a touchdown. The defense was spectacular holding the Golden Flashes to 183 total yards along with a pair of sacks and pass breakups. LB Matt Otinlowski making the start for Khalil Hodge led the defense with eight total tackles (four solos)
KENT STATE (2-8, 1-5):
The Golden Flashes will finish their season with a pair of home games beginning on Thursday night when the Toledo Rockets come to Dix Stadium.
In their last encounter, the Flashes faced the stampeding Buffalo Bulls and were ran over 48-13. KSU was held to only 183 yards in total offense in their entire game with 119 of them coming on the two touchdown drives engineered by backup QB Dustin Crum who scored on a two-yard run and then connected for an 11-yard score to WR Mike Carrigan. Crum was 8-of-25 for 56 yards and rushed for an additional 66 yards on 10 carries. Starting QB Woody Barrett was only 1-of-13 passing for 27 yards. WR Kavious price had three receptions for 25 yards. The defense was led by Dalton Hicks ho had 10 total tackles.
MIAMI (4-6, 4-2):
The Redhawks came up with their biggest win of the season defeating Ohio 30-28 in the annual Battle of the Bricks at Yager Stadium severely denting the Bobcats chances of the Eastern Division title and ending a five-game losing streak to their arch-rival.
After falling behind 7-0, MU scored the next 28 points to take control. However a safety with 5:52 remaining proved to be the game-winning points as the Hawks withstood a furious Bobcats comeback as the closed the margin to two in the final moments.
RB Alonzo Smith had 94 yards on 20 carries and a pair of touchdowns. QB Gus Ragland completed 20-of-32 passes for 199 yards and a score while Kenny Young had seven receptions for 67 yards. The defense had three sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and three pass breakups with LB Brad Koenig leading the way with eight total tackles (five solos). P Kyle Kramer was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the week as he averaged 45.8 yards per punt
Miami heads to Northern Illinois on Thursday night to face the West Division-leading Huskies who are 7-3 overall and 6-0 in MAC play after defeating Toledo 38-15.
OHIO:
The Bobcats chances of the Eastern Division title took a severe hit last week as they fell to arch-rival Miami in the annual Battle of the Bricks in Oxford 30-28 ending their three-game winning streak.
The Cats opened a 7-0 first quarter lead only to see the Redhawks score 28 unanswered points. The Green and White staged a furious comeback closing to within two points in the game’s final moments but could not get any further. A.J. Ouellette had a career-high 165 yards rushing. QB Nathan Rourke completed 16-of-27 passes for 163 yards a pair of scores. WR Papi White had five receptions for 44 yards. The defense had three sacks an interception and four pass breakups with Evan Croutch and Kylan Nelson having nine total stops each
The Cats return home for their final two games of the season. The first comes against East Division-leading Buffalo who are 6-0 in MAC play and 9-1 overall after beating Kent State in their last game 48-13.
WESTERN DIVISION:
BALL STATE (3-7, 2-4):
The Cardinals return to action on Wednesday night as they host Western Michigan in their final home game of the season.
Last time out at Toledo, BSU played without starting QB Riley Neal and both starting RB James Gilbert and Caleb Huntley. They fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter and could not catch up falling to the Rockets 45-13. It was BSU’s third straight loss and fourth in the last five games.
QR Drew Plitt played admirable connecting on 29-of-47 passes for 340 yards and a touchdown. RB Will Jones led the ground game with 49 yards and 123 carries. WR Jordan Hall had 10 receptions for 82 yards. The BSU defense had five interceptions, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup. LB Brendan Martin had 14 total tackles along with an interception.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (1-10, 0-6):
Last Saturday the Chippewas fell to Bowling Green 24-13 in their final home game of the season. It was their seventh straight loss and the first 10-loss season in school history.
CMU squandered a 13-0 halftime lead as the Falcons scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to seize control of the contest. The offense again had its struggles gaining only 166 yards. Austin Hergott got the start a quarterback and was 11-of-21 for 94 yards and a touchdown. RB Rumello Ross led the rushers with 33 yards on 13 carries. WR Austin Spaulding led the receivers with four catches for 34 yards. The defense had two sacks, a forced fumble, three pass breakups, and an interception. LB Malk Fountain again had another solid game with 14 total tackles (10 solos).
The Chips play their final game of the season on Friday, November 23rd when they travel to Toledo to face the Rockets.
EASTERN MICHIGAN (6-5, 4-3):
The Eagles became bowl eligible for the second time in the last three season as they defeated Akron in their final home game of the season 27-7 for their fourth win in their last five games.
EMU scored on their first possession going 83 yards in 17 plays for a 7-0 lead and went on from there. The keys offensively were the ground attack as they gained 252 yards on this chilly, windy afternoon. RB Ian Eriksen had 96 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. QB Tyler Weigers completed 15-of-23 passes for 129 yards while Matthew Sexton and Arthur Jackson led the receivers with five catches each.
The defense was spectacular holding the Zips to just 90 total yards with six three and outs and 11 punts. Maxx Crosby had eight total tackles (four solos) and an interception and was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week. Collectively they had two sacks, a fumble recovery, and three interceptions.
The Eagles will finish the 2018 regular season on Friday, November 23rd as they travel to Kent State to battle the Golden Flashes.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (7-3, 6-0):
The Huskies defeated Toledo on Wednesday night at Huskie Stadium 38-15 as they remained perfect in MAC play with a 6-0 record and moved their mark to 7-3.
The story on a chilly evening was the NIU offense has they gained 427 yards overall with 296 of them coming on the ground. Leading the way was RB Tre Harbison with 139 yards and was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week while Marcus Jones also ran for 103 yards. QB Marcus Childers completed 13-of-19 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, WR Spencer Tears had four receptions for 18 yards, The defense had four sacks, two pass breakups and a blocked kick what by Sutton Smith ho recovered the kick for a touchdown to shift the game completely in NIU’s favor and was named MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week
The Huskies can clinch the Western Division title this Wednesday night as they face Miami in their final home game of the season. MU coming off their 30-28 home win over Ohio
TOLEDO (5-5, 3-3):
The Rockets saw their two-game winning streak and them remote chance at the Western Division title end at Northern Illinois on Wednesday night falling to the Huskies 38-15.
UT had a 10-9 lead in the second quarter however the Huskies broke the game open later in the frame with a pair of touchdowns. RB Art Thompkins led the ground game with 62 yards on 12 carries. QB Eli Peters in his second straight start for the injured Mitch Guardagni completed 26-of-47 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. WR Cody Thompson led the receivers with eight catches for 110 yards.
The defense had a sack, a forced fumble, an interception and a fumble recovery with DB Josh Teachey leading the way with 10 total tackles (six solos).
UT needs one in their final two games to become bowl eligible. Their next game is on Thursday night at Kent State to face the Golden Flashes.
WESTERN MICHIGAN (6-4, 4-2):
The Broncos return to action on Wednesday night as they travel to Ball State to battle the Cardinals in their final road game of the season looking to end a two-game losing streak.
In their last game, the Broncos were steamrolled by the Ohio University Bobcats falling at Waldo Stadium 59-14. On a rainy evening, WMU was held to only 270 total yards. RB Chase Brown led the ground game with 52 yards on 15 carries while Jamari Bogan, one of the top runners in the MAC was held to just 10 yards and a score. QB Kaleb Eleby starting for the injured Jon Wassink completed only 10-of-19 passes for 132 yards and a score. WR D’Wayne Eskridge led the receivers with three catches for 50 yards. DB Justin Tranquill led the defense with nine total tackles ( seven solos).
There you have it…INSIDE MAC FOOTBALL for week 12
For the Bulls and Huskies, the magic number is one to clinch their respective divisions while for the Rockets their number is one for bowl eligibility while Bowling Green looks to build on their “one” MAC victory accomplished last week.
SEE YOU AT THE STADIUM
E.