Around the MAC: Ohio makes AP rankings in week seven
Sunday morning, when the Associated Press poll was released, the Mid-American Conference had a ranked team for the first time in the past two seasons.
No. 25 Ohio Bobcats (7-0) are the only undefeated MAC team remaining. Out of the five other conference unbeatens, four kept its unblemished record in week seven. There are still five teams without a conference win, and Eastern Michigan and Massachusetts are completely winless.
Toledo Rockets 52, Eastern Michigan 47
Saturday was a classic MAC shootout at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti with 99 points scored and 1,279 total offensive yards tallied by both schools. EMU sophomore running back Bronson Hill had a career day with 283 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Terrance Owens threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns for Toledo.
Kent State 31, Army 17
The Golden Flashes took care of the academy opponent and triple–option offense, unlike Central Michigan. Army still had a whopping 457 total yards and dominated time of possession but struggled to put points on the board after solid drives. Kent State junior running back Dri Archer had 222 rushing yards and a score.
Ohio 34, Akron 28
Even though the Bobcats earned a ranking by the AP poll, it is the third–straight week they won by a touchdown or less against three MAC teams that have a combined 0–9 conference record and 2–17 overall record. Akron quarterback Dalton Williams threw for all four of the Zips' touchdowns and 298 yards.
Ball State 30, Western Michigan 24
In arguably the most intense MAC game of the week, Ball State scored a touchdown to take the lead with 50 seconds remaining in regulation. The Broncos true freshman kicker Andrew Haldeman then booted a career-long 52-yard game–tying field goal as time expired. Haldeman missed a field goal in the first overtime before the Cardinals scored to win the game.
Bowling Green 37, Miami 12
The Falcons' defensive front dominated Saturday, limiting Miami to two rushing yards on 20 attempts. BooBoo Gates scored a defensive touchdown for BGSU on a 37-yard interception return, and the Falcons cruised, handing Miami its first conference loss.
Northern Illinois 45, Buffalo 3
Junior quarterback Jordan Lynch continued his stellar season with two rushing and passing touchdowns, 232 passing yards and 129 rushing yards. He leads the MAC in total yards by nearly 300. NIU has now won six–straight games and faces only one team with a winning–record the rest of the season in Toledo on Nov. 14. – a game that will likely decide the MAC West Division.
