Kent State won by 9 11. That was the closest game we saw among the eight. It really was a lackluster day — no real great finishes anywhere. Once it was the fourth quarter, it was time to find another game, perhaps of the MLB variety. This is perfectly acceptable; the conference let us all down. I hope this was the weekend you were roped into a family gathering.
This baby's already been full-posted.
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Ball State had 16 points in 60 minutes. WMU had 14 points in 59 seconds. I'm not sure what I enjoyed more: Alex Carder tuck-and-running it in for three touchdowns, or kicker John Potter's fake-field-goal 8-yard touchdown run. More good news: it looks like Deauntay Legrier, who stayed prostrate on the field for substantial time, will be more than okay — he even returned to the game after a hospital visit.
Well, it was cool to see the Chips take a 7-0 lead and make this one look good. And then Tech responded with 38 straight points. But with all of the Hokies' quick strikes and special teams touchdowns, CMU came out on top in terms of total yardage (401-394), and had its offense on the field way more than VT did. Hopefully that comforts them.
The only thing that stopped OHIO was the end zone, because once they were in there, they didn't have to run no more. There was also this wholly unnecessary 72-yard punt. Right now Big Boo and Phil Bates are playing Zoolander and Hansel with the Bobcats' minds. Jackson threw for three touchdowns, and Bates had 142 yards on the ground with two scores. A-11 offense!
BG had 25 points and nary went for a point-after-touchdown. They buried themselves in such a chasmic deficit, they kept going or it, mostly just 'cuz.
As your obligatory "close game," it should be mentioned that Akron did, in fact, have a chance to win this game on the final drive. After a sensational directional punt, Patrick Nicely and crew just had to march 96 yards down the field for a score. Instead they saw a closer end zone and let the drive end there: a fumble in the end zone was pounced on by the Golden Flashes, and they predictably halted the Zips from winning four straight Wagon Wheel games, which would've completed their dunebuggy.
I did enjoy one of EMU's fourth down play calls in the first quarter; with about a yard to go, Ron English called for a flea-flicker which was fingertips away from a long score. After that, however, Vanderbilt laid down some old fashioned SEC jackhammering. The losing streak continues.
And then there was this horse abortion. Cincy's drives: Touchdown, punt (?), touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, touchdown, smoke break, and then clock destroy mode. Miami's drives? Well, there were only two that mattered: the one that got 'em a long field goal, and a second one to finish the game where they were oh-so-close to the red zone. The neat news? Miami's still 2-0 in the MAC!
Oh dear heavens just stop it with the nonconference games. This isn't going well for anyone. The raw numerals: Toledo had five turnovers (to Boise zero) and, really, that's all you need to know. That, and Toledo's short, stout font on their jerseys are not doing them any favors.