EASTERN MICHIGAN 24, BUFFALO 11
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KALAMAZOO, MI -- Connor Bazelak threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns to lead Bowling Green (7-5, 5-3 MAC) past Western Michigan 34-10 Tuesday at Waldo Stadium.
It was the Falcons fifth win in six games, with the only loss in that stretch coming last week against MAC West champ Toledo (32-31). Western Michigan (4-8, 3-5 MAC) dropped its second straight.
The Falcons jumped in front early, finishing their first drive with a field goal and adding a touchdown one play after picking off a Bronco pass.
Three more WMU touchdowns in the second quarter put the visitors in front 31-0 before Western Michigan closed the half with a 48-yard field goal as time expired.
The Falcons managed just three more points after intermission, but they kept Western Michigan off the board until a final TD with 4:44 remaining in the game.
In addition to 228 passing yards, BGSU got another 132 with one TD on the ground. Ta'ron Keith led the way with 13 carries for 66 yards. Harold Fanning Jr. topped Falcon receivers with 8 catches totaling 99 yards. Odieu Hillare and Jaylon Thomas caught TD passes.
Western Michigan QB Hayden Wolff completed 17 of 27 passes, good for 123 yards with two picks. Kenneth Woman topped Bronco receivers with eight catches for 44 yards, while Jalen Buckley led the ground attack with 18 trips totaling 85 yards with one touchdown.
BUFFALO, NY -- Eastern Michigan (6-6, 4-4 MAC) took care of business in Tuesday's regular season finale, taking advantage of Buffalo turnovers to build a 24-0 halftime lead on the way to a 24-11 victory.
The Eagles second straight win was EMU's sixth on the campaign, marking the third straight year Eastern Michigan has achieved bowl eligibility. It is the first such run in program history.
Buffalo (3-9, 3-5 MAC) struggled on both sides of the ball early, failing to score before intermission and committing three turnovers that aided the Eagles offense. One of those was a fumble that squired through the end zone for a touchback that gave possession over to Eastern Michigan. It was the second straight game in which an EMU fumble turned a potential touchdown into a touchback.
Ron Cook Jr's 6-yard run at 4:45 of the third quarter, along with a two-point conversion, made it a 24-8 game. However, Alex McNulty's 40-yard field goal at 6:01 was the only other score by either team in the final period.
Eastern Michigan's Austin Smith completed 19 of 27 passes, good for 141 yards with one TD. JB Mitchell III topped Eagle receivers with seven catches for 75 yards. Samson Evans led all rushers with 22 carries totaling 127 yards and a score.
Buffalo's Cole Snyder connected on 11 of 26 for 135 yards. C.J. Ogbonna threw just two passes, completing 1 for 39 yards. He also ran six times for 43 yards. Ron Cook Jr. rushed 10 times for 43 yards and one score. Marlyn Johnson topped receivers with four catches totaling 80 yards. Darrell Harding Jr. recorded two catches good for 62 yards.