Hustle Belt - 2019 MAC Football Week 8 UpdatesMAC Football, MAC Basketball, MAC Recruiting, MAC Baseball and all of the other #MACtion hijinks in between - hustlebeltblog@gmail.comhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50387/hustle-fav.png2019-10-24T17:00:00-04:00http://www.hustlebelt.com/rss/stream/206833462019-10-24T17:00:00-04:002019-10-24T17:00:00-04:002019 MAC Football Power Rankings: Week 8
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 21 Ball State at NC State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NPbI6LX9uzG-Ont2sLRBgS2dbuY=/0x0:3652x2435/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65548958/1170119203.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Talk to your children about a Ball State-Kent State MAC Championship game. It’s within the realm of possibility.</p> <p id="iJEXVH">Week 8 was significant for several teams in the MAC, and it was proven by our power rankings, as there has been a massive amount of movement between Weeks 7 and 8 in terms of where teams find themselves at hte halfway point of the season. </p>
<p id="YRZMzV">As #MACtion is quickly coming upon us, teams get to enjoy the last of the weekend slate before the conference gets swallowed in weeknight games. </p>
<p id="llCHLE">We rank the teams as they head into Week 9 below:</p>
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<h2 id="L5cd8y">12. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/akron-zips"><strong>Akron Zips</strong></a> (Last week: 12)</h2>
<ul><li id="LfJ0Xr">Unanimous #12</li></ul>
<p id="LBs2Ml">Akron just can’t get off the snide, getting shut out at home by a <a href="https://www.ubbullrun.com/">Buffalo Bulls</a> squad coming off of a BYE week. It was <span>Zach Gibson</span>’s first start as Akron’s quarterback, with <span>Kato Nelson</span> on the bench due to a “violation of team rules” and he didn’t look terribly bad, all told. </p>
<p id="ilY7iz">There’s only one direction to go for Akron, who is in the midst of a complete retooling of the program, and down certainly is not it. They limited the damage in what could have been a terrible result.</p>
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<h2 id="j3VMPx">11. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/bowling-green-falcons"><strong>Bowling Green Falcons</strong></a> (LW: 11)</h2>
<ul><li id="gUrRib">Unanimous #11</li></ul>
<p id="ibTIFR">Bowling Green stays planted in the #11 seat after a loss to Central Michigan, who up to that point, had not won on the road all season. The Falcons lost more than that, however. BGSU is now down to their third-string running back in <span>Bryson Denley</span> after a nasty injury to <span>Davon Jones</span> early. That’ll hamper BGSU’s ability to move the ball going forward. </p>
<p id="eSli0R">That said, they showed a bit of fight late in the game, making the score extremely respectable, and now they face a WMU squad who has had the reputation of playing down to competition this year.</p>
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<h2 id="cLa4ai">10. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/northern-illinois-huskies">Northern Illinois Huskies</a> (LW: t-6)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="ndEZA5">Average vote: 9.5</li>
<li id="XRTiPq">Highest vote: 9 (three)</li>
<li id="iI0fw3">Lowest vote: 10 (three)</li>
</ul>
<p id="UTU1bO">NIU just couldn’t conjur up enough of that patented Huskies Devil Magic (patent pending) to steal away a victory from the Miami RedHawks, falling by a final score of 27-24. They had to rally around <span>Marcus Childers</span> in the second half, as grad transfer <span>Ross Bowers</span> left with a head injury early. They now face the heart of the schedule without two of their biggest defensive players as well, with Antonio <span>Jones</span>-Davis and <span>Antwain Walker</span> were reported as being out for the season on Wednesday by the <em>DeKalb Daily Chronicle</em>’s <span>Kaleb Carter</span>.</p>
<p id="TuVWzo">But first, Akron.</p>
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<h2 id="IbUZEs">9. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/ball-st-cardinals"><strong>Buffalo Bulls </strong></a><strong> (LW:9</strong>)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="U9Z8ly">Average vote: 8</li>
<li id="Y1eGbc">Highest vote: 6 (one)</li>
<li id="ufA3Ee">Lowest vote: 10 (one)</li>
</ul>
<p id="j5Njso">Buffalo fell three spots on a BYE week in Week 7 due to the general chaos in the MAC, and a win against Akron, no matter how big, doesn’t really get them a lot of looks from the voters. They’re now 1-2 in MAC play, and will have to take down a surging Central Michigan squad at home to keep any hope of competing for a MAC East title alive.</p>
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<h2 id="OHKNiL">8. Miami RedHawks (LW: 10)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="enhNvk">Average vote: 7.66</li>
<li id="hglrJS">Highest vote: 5 (one)</li>
<li id="ljEfi2">Lowest vote: 9 (two)</li>
</ul>
<p id="Vt6KYN">The RedHawks managed to pick up another MAC win against NIU in a cross-divisional matchup which will prove to be especially pivotal down the line in a MAC East race where four of the six teams are holding an overall record of 3-4 and three hold a MAC record of 2-1.</p>
<p id="t0MXzx">They’ll continue to depend on the arm of <span>Brett Gabbert</span> and a reasonably solid defense in order to work their way up the board. They next take on Kent State in what should be an intriguing matchup.</p>
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<h2 id="6gPHhO">7. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/central-michigan-chippewas"><strong>Kent State Golden Flashes </strong></a>(LW: t-6)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="boppbz">Average vote: 7</li>
<li id="cfI6p4">Highest vote: 4 (one)</li>
<li id="AnMQ1G">Lowest vote: 10 (one)</li>
</ul>
<p id="v1m7iB">Speaking of Kent State....</p>
<p id="B3rEZm">It was a back-and-forth affair in what became an offensive shootout between Kent State and Ohio on Saturday afternoon, but it was ultimately the Golden Flashes who blinked first, allowing what would eventually be the game-sealing touchdown drive to put the Bobcats up 14 late in the fourth quarter. </p>
<p id="3F0pvP">It wasn’t for lack of effort Kent State lost; they showed a lot of resilience and played mistake-free football throughout. They just played a better team who had everything to lose. </p>
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<h2 id="KW5gE9">6. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/toledo-rockets">Toledo Rockets</a> (LW: 2)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="1am6jB">Average vote: 6</li>
<li id="OId6QJ">Highest vote: 4 (one)</li>
<li id="jUsjk5">Lowest vote: 10 one)</li>
</ul>
<p id="9U0n0R">The Rockets finally come crashing to earth after back-to-back aura-shattering losses to Bowling Green and Ball State, where they scored a combined 21 points and gave up an astonishing 72 points. </p>
<p id="aC5HY6">Yes, the Rockets are ailing right now, with <span>Mitchell Guadagni</span> hurt and <span>Carter</span> <span>Bradley</span> (the second-string QB) questionable, but that doesn’t excuse how poor the offense has looked over the last three weeks of conference play. It has exposed the clear problems in the out-of-conference slate and made them seem more concrete, as opposed to matchup anomolies. Unless the Rockets make a big run to end the year, this may be as high as they get.</p>
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<h2 id="Z240Fk">5. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/western-michigan-broncos">Western Michigan Broncos</a> (LW: 1)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="VsdXm1">Average vote: 4.66</li>
<li id="ZzNks9">Highest vote: 1 (one)</li>
<li id="9ZURQ6">Lowest vote: 6 (three)</li>
</ul>
<p id="XQMe2W">Toledo wasn’t the only team to take a very hard tumble. </p>
<p id="jC5YrM">The one team the Rockets beat also finds themselves falling towards the middle of the table after a head-scratching performance against rival Eastern Michigan on the road. We still have no real concensus on the Broncos, with their two wins at the cost of losing team mistakes, and their two losses showing a WMU team who can’t finish games. </p>
<p id="O902rM">(More simply put, they had no business losing to an EMU team playing a backup quarterback who found out he was starting hours before the game.)</p>
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<h2 id="mCIHdn">4. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/eastern-michigan-eagles">Eastern Michigan Eagles</a> (LW: 8)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="eiMwAR">Average vote: 4.5</li>
<li id="qdJRhA">Highest vote: 3 (three)</li>
<li id="rjhxjd">Lowest vote: 7 (two)</li>
</ul>
<p id="O1aTaY">So, that <span>Preston Hutchinson</span> kid... he’s pretty good!</p>
<p id="5HQCVl">It was up to QB2 to pull out the victory against WMU on Saturday, as <span>Mike Glass III</span> was dealing with an undisclosed injury. It might have been a blessing in disguise, as Glass had been struggling to keep turnovers low since the start of MAC play. The EMU defense also had a lot to say in the win, picking off <span>Jon Wassink</span> on the potential game-winning drive and forcing the Broncos off the field when needed.</p>
<p id="i78ii1">They’re 1-2 in the MAC West, but sometimes, all you need is one win to get momentum going.</p>
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<h2 id="ez60Vj">3. Ohio Bobcats (LW: 5)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="AQjVSQ">Average vote: 3.83</li>
<li id="Y9JWw7">Highest vote: 3 (three)</li>
<li id="7jEGSi">Lowest vote: 6 (one)</li>
</ul>
<p id="QHQtLA">The Ohio Bobcats eeked one out against a suddenly proific Kent State squad who seemed to be in control of the tempo. Thankfully for OU, <span>Nathan Rourke</span> looked like his old self-scoring four times in the win. </p>
<p id="PcUFKE">This is good news for an OU team who was very much in need of it; they’re 2-1 in the MAC East, and can separate themselves from the pack (while showing they deserved the preseason hype) with a win over Ball State this week.</p>
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<h2 id="picdSD">2. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/central-michigan-chippewas">Central Michigan Chippewas</a> (LW: 3)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="PxWe47">Average vote: 2.83</li>
<li id="U01Wq1">Highest vote: 2 (five)</li>
<li id="L1DD9K">Lowest vote: 7 (once)</li>
</ul>
<p id="6FXpsE">Despite the final score, CMU was the clearly dominant team in last week’s game against Bowling Green, dispatching the Falcons early in a coasting 38-20 victory. The MAC’s best running back duo in <span>Jonathan Ward</span> and <span>Kobe Lewis</span> shined once again, scoring four touchdowns combined, while the defense stifled the BG offense in the first three quarters, limiting it to 0 points in the first half, while allowing only 13 in the second, well after the game was over.</p>
<p id="PthU4c">CMU now travels to Buffalo for a revenge game, as UB decimated the Chips in Mt. Pleasant last season, effectively putting the nail in the coffin on the 2018 season.</p>
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<h2 id="09xVII">1. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/ball-st-cardinals">Ball State Cardinals</a> (LW: 4)</h2>
<ul>
<li id="DaAJsn">Average vote: 1.16</li>
<li id="sbGlBJ">Highest vote: 1 (five)</li>
<li id="0z2kb2">Lowest vote: 2 (one)</li>
</ul>
<p id="h92z5r">Look, we’re just as surprised as you are. </p>
<p id="tBrci0">Abolutely no one expected Ball State to play as well as they have this season, and that’s on us as media for not seeing the Cards might have been set up for success. They have a veteran starting line-up on offense and a young, but emerging defense which has presented problems for conference opponents. </p>
<p id="pbPx5z">Perhaps the best indication that BSU was turning the corner may have been last season, when they pushed Notre Dame to one score with a roster which would be torn asunder by injury. Many of the same players who got experience last season due to those circumstances are now starters and contributors this year, and in the out-of-conference season, they didn’t lose by any more than 11 points. </p>
<p id="4TdVXa">This week’s game against Ohio could be a watershed moment for the Cardinals, and we’re excited to see how it turns out.</p>
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https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/10/24/20929021/2019-mac-football-power-rankings-week-8James H. Jimenez2019-10-23T13:56:40-04:002019-10-23T13:56:40-04:00In Pictures: Western Michigan Broncos at Eastern Michigan Eagles
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<figcaption>The eagles grabbed victory | Kenneth Bailey</figcaption>
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<p>The finish was a thriller... now see the pictures.</p> <p id="Oi2con">I’ve discovered that it is much more fun to take pictures at games where Eastern Michigan wins than games where they don’t. </p>
<p id="0ixzOG">The game was close enough to be frustrating and when Western Michigan took the last minute lead, I didn’t think Eastern Michigan would have it in them to pull off a victory, but they did... somehow.</p>
<p id="Y13qny">At any rate, here are the pictures:</p>
<div id="XvzhGs"><div data-anthem-component="gallery:8907942"></div></div>
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https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/10/23/20926310/western-michigan-broncos-at-eastern-michigan-eagles-football-game-picture-gallery-2019Kenneth Bailey2019-10-22T11:54:54-04:002019-10-22T11:54:54-04:00Five Things Learned: Western Michigan vs. Eastern Michigan
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HHKaG62g9J6Z9R7GOn0fZDW-TiI=/0x0:1095x730/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65524976/wmu13.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Coach Creighton should be pleased with the results from Saturday | Kenneth Bailey</figcaption>
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<p>Eastern Michigan downs their other cross state rival, but what does it mean?</p> <p id="HHNfd0">Eastern Michigan defeated Western Michigan with another thrilling finish. This is their third win of a touchdown or less. Despite everything, they were still in the Ball State game. They were only blown out by Kentucky and Central Michigan. So what does all this mean?</p>
<ol><li id="LzlKEo"><strong> Eastern Michigan was able to establish their running game.</strong></li></ol>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/E5-u2MLynWnSRKYX_JdCoF8qb7Y=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19308463/wmu16.jpg">
<cite>Kenneth Bailey</cite>
<figcaption>Shaq Vann during a run for his 97 yards for the game</figcaption>
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<p id="5CsQD9">I was surprised to hear <span>Shaq Vann</span> called out at first in the game. I didn’t realize that he was back and healthy. It seems like his running game started slow and then built up during the game. When all was said and done, he gained a net of 97 yards. That seemed to take some of the pressure off the Eastern Michigan passing game. It wasn’t a pretty running game because the results tapered off with the other backs, but it was a start. The running game has been by far EMU’s biggest weakness this season, and the fact they were able to depend on one in this game is encouraging, even if they had to get creative to make it happen.</p>
<p id="LEeUTG"><strong>2. Eastern Michigan may have a quarterback controversy.</strong></p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_jRm-PQbDOqYeQ8gxTSlOqXCWpc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19308478/wmu11.jpg">
<cite>Kenneth Bailey</cite>
<figcaption>Preston Hutchinson setting up to pass.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="ymxzZ3">It didn’t register until I looked through the lens, but <span>Mike Glass III</span> was in sweat pants during warmups. I’m not sure what the injury was (and EMU did not discolose the details of it either, only saying he sustained it in practice,) but that meant Eastern Michigan had to go to the well just hours before kickoff. Apparently the well must be champagne because backup quarterback looked excellent. </p>
<p id="PizcHC">Hutchinson was 31 for 36 for 357 yards. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. His performance against Western was enough to earn him MAC West Offensive Player of the Week honors. Not bad for someone who was told they woudl be starting that day.</p>
<p id="lBMMeo">The fact that he’s a sophomore bodes well for the future in Ypsilanti.</p>
<p id="8pkjHY"><strong>3. The Eastern Michigan defense was solid enough.</strong></p>
<p id="15IP7l">While the defense didn’t register any sacks, they did get 3 tackles for loss. They also broke up 4 passes. But the biggest play was when <span>Jeff Hubbard</span> sealed the deal with a last minute interception to pretty much any chance for Western Michigan to tie it. They were also able to hold John Wassink to 192 yards for the game.</p>
<p id="aWu6cA"><strong>4. Eastern Michigan still has a shot at bowl game.</strong></p>
<p id="k65Rmj">The combined losses against Ball State and Central Michigan really hurt in the way of ompting for the MAC West crown, especially as the Road to Detroit now seems to run through Muncie, Indiana. Toledo, Buffalo and Nothern Illinois look mortal this year. Eastern Michigan should be able to beat Akron. Kent State may be the wild card. But I could easily see Eastern Michigan finishing 8 and 4 and that should be enough to get them to a bowl game. The MAC West would be a reach at this point, but with how unpredictable the conferene has been this year.... you never know.</p>
<p id="TeZ3mq"><strong>5. Chris Creighton’s future is still in the air.</strong></p>
<p id="GmszOz">There is some degree of worry in Ypsilanti that Creighton may bolt. </p>
<p id="nziR4x">He’s taken a program that was a perennial basement dweller and has brought them to bowl contention. The program has embraced Creighton’s eccentricity, seen most plainly with the grey playing field and the adoption of “The Factory” moniker for Rynearson Stadium. You can’t blame the program at all; Creighton has managed to bring them out of the basement and given the fans in Ypsilanti somtheing to cheer about. </p>
<p id="RTYrCy"> I’m not sure he’s done enough to get a head coach job higher on the ladder, but he might have a shot at a coordinator spot at a more prestigious team. What will ultimately determine his fate is if outside athletic directors are willing to look past the win-loss record and take a risk on Creighton’s ability to tear something to the bare bones and craft an identity over several years. I’m not sure he’s ready to bolt but I hope that Eastern Michigan is ready to hire someone if he does, because momentum at this point in the program’s development is too important to ignore.</p>
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https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/10/22/20926252/five-things-learned-western-michigan-broncos-eastern-michigan-eagles-football-analysis-2019Kenneth Bailey2019-10-21T10:00:00-04:002019-10-21T10:00:00-04:00Five Things Learned: Northern Illinois Huskies at Miami RedHawks
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<img alt="Northern Illinois v Miami Ohio" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NCIvHgsB52uTjLBrgL8Mcq23qyQ=/0x0:3669x2446/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65515487/1182131906.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Miami emerged victorious with a share of the MAC East lead, while NIU took a tumble in the MAC West standings.</p> <p id="AGMbfW">The topsy-turvy nature of the MAC this season continued Saturday as the Miami RedHawk offense that was dormant in the first half against the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/northern-illinois-huskies">Northern Illinois Huskies</a> registered 20 points in the second half to take the 27-24 victory in the Mallory Cup. However, what does the game mean to both teams moving forward?</p>
<h3 id="GD9dbk"><strong>Big D</strong></h3>
<p id="YmO33n">One of the keys of the game Saturday was the play of Miami’s defense. As a team, it recorded nine TFLs, five pass break-ups, and a pair of sacks in game where it made more plays than NIU’s defense (four TFLs, two PBUs, and a sack). When you hold teams to 2.7 yards per rush and under seven yards per pass attempt, you’re going to have a chance to win most games.</p>
<h3 id="JWP9zq"><strong>Gabbert Ball</strong></h3>
<p id="Ebs6GA"><span>Brett Gabbert</span> certainly made things happen as he went 15-28 for 273 passing yards and a score while also leading the team in rushing for 42 yards. Being able to hit the big passing plays made a difference as the team had nearly 10 yards per attempt through the air with <span>Jalen Walker</span> and <span>James Maye</span> being the beneficiaries with 200+ receiving yards on nine receptions between them. Running for only two yards per carry isn’t going to be sustainable for success, but Miami let Gabbert loose and found a way to win.</p>
<h3 id="pLCsCD"><strong>QB1</strong></h3>
<p id="SAlmEE">With the unfortunate injury to <span>Ross Bowers</span> in the second quarter, <span>Marcus Childers</span> kept the Huskies in the game with 144 yards passing and a score along with 27 yards on the ground. Were it not for a missed field goal for NIU, <span>Childers</span> might’ve had a chance to win the game in overtime so QB play didn’t let the Huskies down. Bowers’s health will be something to watch going forward and it’ll be interesting to see how NIU handles the QB situation.</p>
<h3 id="YRwhdQ"><strong>Stepping Up</strong></h3>
<p id="6Orjc6">When you have an injury to your starting quarterback, you need your other capable players to step up to lift your team and that didn’t happen for NIU Saturday. Tre Harbison was held to 83 yards on 26 carries while the defense got ate up by a true freshman quarterback, and you can’t afford to miss field goals when you’re shorthanded. This was a team loss and the Huskies have to right the ship quick in a loaded MAC West.</p>
<h3 id="mSGEMA"><strong>The Stretch</strong></h3>
<p id="W4AH9c">Miami now has a fascinating slate of games now that it has a share of the MAC East lead. The next two weeks, the ‘Hawks hit the road to take on fellow division leaders in Kent State and Ohio while a home game with a capable Bowling Green squad looms after those games. After Akron, Miami concludes the regular season with a Ball State team who has yet to lose in MAC play. Meanwhile, the home stretch for NIU will define its season since after Akron, it hits the road for CMU and Toledo before finishing the season at home with EMU and WMU. </p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/10/21/20924655/five-things-learned-northern-illinois-huskies-at-miami-redhawks-midamerican-conference-2019Jordan Rinard2019-10-20T20:22:00-04:002019-10-20T20:22:00-04:002019 MAC Football Week 8 Game Recap: Buffalo Bulls Blank the Akron Zips, 21-0
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 22 Buffalo at Rutgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vraNdbzKNS44KKxdMyvYcgZFTCg=/0x92:1808x1297/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65513107/1042142584.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Buffalo linebacker Kadofi Wright’s fourth quarter touchdown helped seal the win over the Akron Zips, 21-0 | Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Buffalo’s shutout win over Akron fueled by big defensive plays and the absence of Akron starting QB Kato Nelson</p> <p id="yLYRWp">The <a href="https://www.ubbullrun.com/">Buffalo Bulls</a> (3-4, 1-2 MAC) got their first MAC win of the season, 21-0 over the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/akron-zips">Akron Zips</a> (0-7, 0-3).</p>
<p id="8zemia">Buffalo opened game with a 14-play, 75 yard drive, capped by a two-yard touchdown run by running back <span>Kevin Marks</span>. Buffalo’s opening drive for touchdown concluded the offensive scoring for the day as a defensive battle ensued. </p>
<p id="KWVOE7">Buffalo held Akron’s offense to a total of 196 yards, including three-yards rushing (Akron’s QB had -39 yards rushing due to sacks). Buffalo’s defense recorded five sacks and three turnovers with two turnovers returned for touchdowns. </p>
<p id="lpLUMl">Buffalo’s linebacker <span>Ledarius Mack</span> returned a fumble 35 yards for a score with 3:57 left in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Buffalo linebacker <span>Kadofi Wright</span> recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown after he stripped the ball from Akron’s QB <span>Zach Gibson</span>.</p>
<p id="znPDUX">Buffalo’s great defensive effort was aided by the absence of Akron QB <span>Kato Nelson</span>, who is the team’s leading passer and rusher on the season. There was no official word why Nelson did not play. </p>
<p id="KZL7fH">The ESPN broadcast crew stated Nelson “was suspended for violation of team rules.” When asked in the post-game press conference why Nelson did not play, Akron head coach Tom Arth declined to comment.</p>
<p id="vVsPR6">Akron’s true freshman QB Zach Gibson got the start and finished the day 22-39 for 193 yards passing and three turnovers (one interception and two fumbles).</p>
<p id="OIcG36">Akron’s defense played its best game of the year. The Zips allowed only 254 total yards, which is 185 yards less than its season per game average. <span>John Lako</span> led the Zips with 14 tackles including two tackles for loss. </p>
<p id="CMfRO9">Akron’s great defensive effort was aided by a struggling Buffalo passing game as QB <span>Kyle Vantrease</span> completed 14-23 passes for 65 yards. Buffalo’s passing offense was held below 100 yards passing for the fifth time in seven games this season.</p>
<p id="Kob8lw">The field goal units for both squads continue to struggle as each team missed two field goals. Buffalo has made only five of its 13 field goal attempts this season while Akron has made only three of eight field goal attempts. </p>
<p id="u5K1tS">Buffalo travels to Central Michigan next Saturday to battle the Chippewas while Akron is on the road next Saturday against the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/northern-illinois-huskies">Northern Illinois Huskies</a>.</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/10/20/20923184/2019-mac-football-week-8-game-recap-buffalo-bulls-blank-the-akron-zips-21-0Keith Gregorski2019-10-19T19:57:48-04:002019-10-19T19:57:48-04:00Game Recap: Central Michigan shakes off road blues vs. Bowling Green, 38-20
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<figcaption>Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>CMU inches closer to bowl eligibility with a convincing road win against BGSU.</p> <p id="OpyFKK">Ain’t it nice to have the band back together. </p>
<p id="CYcxiW">The <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/central-michigan-chippewas">Central Michigan Chippewas</a> (5-3, 3-1 MAC) came into Bowling Green, Ohio, with a fully healthy roster looking to finally get a road win, and did so handily, running over the hapless <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/bowling-green-falcons">Bowling Green Falcons</a> (2-5, 1-2 MAC) by a final score of 38-20. </p>
<p id="7iyANG">The scoring started early, as Sullivan opened up his scoring account at the 11:53 mark of the first quarter on a 24-yard reception, diving and rolling into the endzone after reaching down for a pass. After stopping BGSU on downs, the Chippewas would drive the ball down the field for a 14 play, 59 yard drive before <span>Tommy Lazzaro</span> fumbled the ball on a QB read option keeper at the one-yard line on a touchdown attempt. <span>Caleb Biggers</span> made an alert snag to take the ball back for a 106-yard fumble return touchdown with 1:30 to go in the quarter to pull the score even at 7-7. </p>
<p id="is2Eua">An exchange of three-and-outs later, CMU would strike again, this time on a seven-yard touchdown run by <span>Jonathan Ward</span> to put the score at 14-7 with 12:07 to go in the second quarter. The key turning point of the game would come at the 7:08 mark, when BGSU’s David Konowalski committed an offsides penalty on 3rd and 17 on a play where the Falcons prevented first down. The next play, CMU converted on 3rd and 12 to keep the drive alive. BGSU them had a panic penalty trying to keep up with CMU’s hurry-up offense, granting CMU 1st and 5 at the BGSU 23. The Chippewas would score five plays later on a one-yard run by Ward with 1:45 to go in the first half to put the score at 21-7. A promising eight-play, 46 yard drive to try and get the game within a score was stopped by Da’Quaun Jamison, who read <span>Grant Loy</span>’s eyes and picked it off with :24 to go inside the CMU redzone.</p>
<p id="fWSKpN">Both teams exchanged touchdown drives to start the third quarter. Grant Loy ran for a three-yard score to end a 10-play, 75 yard drive at the 10:30 mark to put the Falcons within seven. The Chippewa offense then raced down the field on the back of a <span>Tony Poljan</span> 50-yard reception which was fumbled out-of-bounds, turning that play into a nine-yard touchdown run by Ward to put the score at 28-14. </p>
<p id="IE10pP">It was a pretty strange game from there, with BGSU losing the ball on downs twice and punting once on three possessions, while CMU threw an interception (<span>Jordan Anderson</span>, 7:05 in the third quarter) and missed a 50+ yard field goal attempt before eventually hitting paydirt at the 13:06 mark of the fourth quarter on a 51-yard <span>Kobe Lewis</span> touchdown run. That gave CMU a 35-14 advantage, which would turn into a 38-14 advantage after Jamison picked up his second interception of the day to set up <span>Ryan Tice</span> for a 25-yard field goal.</p>
<p id="w9QVt6">Grant Loy would put BGSU back on the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter with a touchdown pass to <span>Bryson Denley</span> at the 7:46 mark of the fourth quarter. By then, the game was largely out of hand, as the Falcons would fail the two-point conversion, making it a three-possession gap at 38-20. </p>
<p id="Nxn0fv">It was truly a dominant effort from the start by the Chippewas. CMU picked up 553 yards of offense on the day, and held on to the ball for a stifling 35 minutes and 25 seconds, while BGSU picked up 344 yards on the day, turning the ball over three times.</p>
<p id="RFa7rw">CMU also had a decided gap in clutch down conversions, going 8-of-14 on third down to keep drives alive. In comparison, BGSU went a pathetic 1-of-11 on third down and left many possessions empty, going 2-of-5 on fourth down attempts.</p>
<p id="7nNvKl">The Chippewa offense showed plenty of signs of life in Dormady’s second start back from a knee injury, as the transfer quarterback showed excellent communication in running the offense. He finished the night 22-of-36 (61 percent) for 295 yards, one touchdown and one interception.</p>
<p id="EK5hkT">Tommy Lazzaro also got looks for a second-straight game in a read-option package in clutch down situations, finishing 1-of-1 for four yards passing and picking up one rush for two yards and a fumble. He also handed off for a first down. </p>
<p id="FsyCbn"><span>Jonathan Ward</span> picked up 130 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 21 carries, while Kobe Lewis contributed 125 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries to help the CMU offense en route to a 254-yard performance on the ground. Ward (three rec., 12 yards) and Lewis (two rec., 16 yards) also helped in the passing game.</p>
<p id="4xJr7Q"><span>JaCorey Sullivan</span> was the key to CMU’s success early in the game, helping to establish CMU’s pace down the field as a passing asset, picking up seven receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. He finished with eight receptions for 126 yards on the day. Other key receivers incuded <span>Kalil Pimpleton</span> (four rec., 52 yards) and Tony Poljan (four rec., 89 yards). </p>
<p id="qac4iM">BGSU moved the ball fairly effectively against CMU for the most part, even taking into account missed opportunities. </p>
<p id="N1OkxU">Grant Loy finished 13-of-29 for 195 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions through the air, while also finishing as the primary running option, with 18 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown rush. </p>
<p id="XF6oqe">Bryson Denley (11 rush, 67 yards) and RB Marlow III (5 rush, 39 yards) took on most of the rushing load, as <span>Davon Jones</span> (already in for the injured <span>Andrew Clair</span>) had to be carted off with a leg injury early in the game.</p>
<p id="JXriHk"><span>Quintin Morris</span> (four receptions, 68 yards) was relatively limited, as CMU’s defense keyed in on Morris as the leading receiver. As matter of fact, Loy’s targetting of Morris often resulted in pass breakups or interceptions. Denley (3 rec., 48 yards, one touchdown) and <span>Austin Dorris</span> (3 rec., 40 yards) were the only other primary options with more than seven yards.</p>
<p id="UKTQFJ">For CMU defensively, Da’Quaun Jamison and <span>Troy Brown</span> picked up three interceptions agaisnt Grant Loy in his first true start as a quarterback. The CMU secondary was excellent in coverage throughout, with five pass breakups on the day. BGSU’s <span>Jordan Anderson</span> had a great leaping interception on a broken passing play to stop a CMU drive, on top of two pass breakups. BGSU finished with four pass break-ups overall.</p>
<p id="s9LQJz"><span>Devonni Reed</span> (11 total tackles) and <span>Michael Oliver</span> (10 total tackles) led the Chips defensively, while BGSU’s Jamari Bozeman led all tacklers with 14 stops. Two other defenders also reached double-digit stops in <span>Brandon Perce</span> (11) and <span>Kholbe Coleman</span> (10.)</p>
<p id="p55UiQ">CMU picked up three tackles for loss, with <span>Jacques Bristol</span> picking up a solo TFL and four players splitting a TFL. BGSU’s Karl Brooks picked up the Falcons’ lone tackle-for-loss. Neither team collected a sack on the day.</p>
<p id="vdgnOl">The BGSU defense forced three fumbles, recovering one for a defensive touchdown. CMU forced none.</p>
<p id="MaVSdl">The Chippewas will travel to Buffalo, New York, next week for a late afternoon game with the <a href="https://www.ubbullrun.com/">Buffalo Bulls</a> (3-4, 1-2 MAC) on Saturday. Bowling Green will travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan, for a nooner with the Broncos (4-3, 2-1 MAC as of publication.)</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/10/19/20922676/central-michigan-chippewas-bowling-green-falcons-football-final-score-game-recap-oct-19-2019James H. Jimenez2019-10-19T18:16:56-04:002019-10-19T18:16:56-04:00Game Recap: Ball State blasts past Toledo in dominant 52-14 victory
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<figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Rockets had no answer for a potent Cardinals offensive attack in a 38-point first half.</p> <p id="DIfq2W">Despite the 52-14 score line, it all started innocently enough.</p>
<p id="c7C9gH">Ball State’s first three offensive plays resulted in negative four yards and a sack as the Toledo (4-3, 1-2 MAC West) defense came up with a quick stop.</p>
<p id="LgQOBl">But thirty minutes later, Ball State (4-3, 3-0 MAC West) had put the Mid-American Conference on notice. </p>
<p id="h0IrU9">By the time the buzzer sounded on the end of the first half, Ball State’s offense had racked up 38 points of offense, two trick play touchdowns and almost 400 yards of total offense. Toledo had zero points, just two first downs and 33 yards of offense on 24 plays.</p>
<p id="qcgWbV">“Really, really proud of the effort, the focus and the attention to detail from the guys from top to bottom,” Ball State head coach Mike Neu said.</p>
<p id="5Ykp7b">Ball State scored first after stripping Toledo quarterback Carter Bradley which led to a field goal to take a quick 3-0 lead.</p>
<p id="UVSSlb">After more successive stops, it became the Plitt to Miller show. Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt found wide receiver Riley Miller for a 24 yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 10-0. On the very next drive, the Cards broke out the trickery with Plitt receiving a lateral after a HB toss and throwing it 39 yards to find Miller again in the end zone.</p>
<p id="bUWuTz">Those two touchdown passes would be two of the three that he tossed on the day as the redshirt junior finished 11-of-17 for 206 yards and an interception.</p>
<p id="a9ya9I">The rushing attack was pivotal in Ball State’s balanced offensive attack. The rushing game finished with nearly 400 yards in the win, led by Caleb Huntley who picked up 119 yards on 20 carries. Malik Dunner touched the ball only twice on offense and scored long touchdowns each time, finishing with 90 yards.</p>
<p id="ZCElnJ">“The offensive line has just been doing their thing all season,” Huntley said. “And they did that today. The guys know we have their back and they’ve got ours as well.”</p>
<p id="WZZ5So">Now Ball State is 3-0 in the MAC for the first time since 2013 and it becomes the only team undefeated in conference play after Kent State’s 45-38 loss to Ohio earlier today. The win is also the Cardinals first win against the Rockets since the same year.</p>
<p id="7dv29O">Two of the three conference wins came against teams picked to finish first and second in the western division in Toledo and Northern Illinois. Ball State now has a two-game lead on both teams with the tiebreaker in hand.</p>
<p id="0zGNks">“It was just all about execution,” Neu said. “The attitude, the next play mindset was there. The guys when they came off the field were just about keeping going and had the look of determination, the look of confidence.”</p>
<p id="4Rp1mZ">Next up, Ball State hosts defending MAC Champion Ohio while Toledo returns home to play Eastern Michigan.</p>
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https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/10/19/20922562/ball-state-cardinals-toledo-rockets-midamerican-conference-football-game-final-score-recap-2019Sam Barloga2019-10-19T18:09:20-04:002019-10-19T18:09:20-04:00RedHawks come back and beat Huskies, 27-24, after Bowers goes out with injury
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<figcaption>Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Miami comes back in the second half to win the Mallory Cup. </p> <p id="YEN3Ye">The <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/northern-illinois-huskies">Northern Illinois Huskies</a> jumped out to a 10-0 lead with just over three minutes to go in the first half. But the Miami RedHawks would go on a 27-7 run in a 20 minutes span and end up winning the game 27-24. </p>
<p id="2JaXux">Huskie quarterback <span>Ross Bowers</span> was hit late in the first half and left the game with what looked like possible concussion symptoms, leaving <span>Marcus Childers</span> at the helm for the final 36 minutes of the game. </p>
<p id="UIZBUe"><span>Childers</span> ran for two Huskie touchdowns and threw for another but it wasn’t enough as RedHawk quarterback <span>Brett Gabbert</span> was able to gut the NIU defense and get his team into scoring position on four of their six second half possessions. </p>
<p id="AkmG2B">Trailing 17-27, the Huskies were able to score a touchdown with just over three minutes remaining and cut the lead to three. Then, after a RedHawk three-and-out, NIU got the ball back at their own 41-yard line with 1:44 remaining. </p>
<p id="9f6n26">However, Childers struggled to throw the ball (as per the usual) and, on 4th-and-9, he attempted a pass to <span>Cole Tucker</span> just 10-yards away but the throw was well short, barely getting to the WR’s feet, and the Huskies turned the ball over, losing the game. </p>
<p id="fIaTji">Childers did manage a 13-play, 75-yard drive late in the game that was capped off by a 10-yard TD pass to <span>Cole Tucker</span> but, for the most part, he refused to throw the ball more than 5-yards down field and did more damage pulling the ball and running it than he did through the air. </p>
<p id="B3nePC">Next week, Miami travels to Kent State to take on the Golden Flashes with whom they’re tied atop the MAC East with (it’s a three-way tie between Miami, Kent State, and Ohio right now). The Huskies head back to DeKalb for Homecoming next Saturday, where they’ll take on the Akron Zips. </p>
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<h3 id="RLwq2L">Game Stats</h3>
<p id="4cKlS9"><strong>NIU Huskies</strong><br>Total Yards: 350 (235 passing, 115 rushing)<br>Bowers: 7/12 passing, 91 yards<br>Childers: 14/23 passing, 144 yards, 1 TD; 9 carries, 27 yards, 2 TD<br>Tre Harbison: 26 carries, 83 yards<br>Tucker: 6 catches, 82 yards TD</p>
<p id="3ZM0X9"><strong>Miami RedHawks</strong><br>Total yards: 344 (273 passing, 71 rushing)<br>Gabbert: 15/28 passing, 273 yards, 1 TD; 7 carries, 42 yards<br>Jalen Walker: 7 catches, 138 yards<br>Jaylon Bester: 14 carries, 32 yards<br>James Maye: 2 catches, 65 yards, TD</p>
https://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2019/10/19/20922655/redhawks-come-back-and-beat-huskies-27-24-after-bowers-goes-out-with-injuryDave Drury