CENTRAL MICHIGAN 37, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 31
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TOLEDO, OH - MAC West-leading Toledo Scored 24 first half points and survived four turnovers to post a 31-13 victory over Buffalo Tuesday at the Glass Bowl.
With the win, Toledo (8-1, 5-0 MAC) remains undefeated in MAC play. Buffalo (3-6, 3-2 MAC) drops a game behind Miami in the MAC East.
The Rockets struck early, putting up 14 points before the game was three minutes old. Jacquez Stuart ran the opening kickoff back 97 yards for one score. After a Buffalo punt, Peny Boone broke off a 71-yard TD run on UT's second play from scrimmage.
Davin Grant's interception and 46-yard return set up UB's first touchdown -- a Cole Snyder 4-yard pass to Cole Harrity midway through the first stanza.
Dequan Finn hit tight end Anthony Torres on a 26-yard pass and Luke Pawlak hit a 39-yard field goal to put Toledo up 24-7 at intermission.
Stewart's 12-yard run at 7:10 of the third quarter completed Toledo scoring. Buffalo, which punched out or stripped away three UT fumbles, added one more TD on a 1-yard Jacqez Barksdale run late in the third quarter. Neither team scored in the final period.
Toledo had a balanced attack with 173 yards in the air and 179 on the ground. Boone led UT rushers with 12 carries for 125 yards (10.4 ypc) and a TD. Finn completed 12 of 19 passes totaling 12 of 19 passes for 173 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception.
Buffalo's Cole Snyder connected on 14 of 41 passes (34%) for a total of 151 yards with one TD and two interceptions. Ron Cook Jr. led UB rushers with 17 carries for 87 yards.
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI -- The hosting Chippewas built up a 37-11 third quarter lead and held on for a 37-31 win over Northern Illinois (4-5, 3-2 MAC) .
The Huskies out-gained CMU 505-447 overall, but committed three turnovers on a snowy evening. Central Michigan (5-4, 3-2 MAC) played turnover-free football.
Most of the Chippewas damage came on the ground as they rushed 47 times for a total of 331 yards (7.0 ypc) and four touchdowns. Marion Lukes (21 carries, 202 yards, 1 TD) and quarterback Jase Bauer (20 carries, 106 yards, 2 TDs) led the ground attack. Bauer also completed 9 of 16 passes for 116 yards and a TD.
Northern Illinois quarterback Rocky Lombardi completed 20 of 35 tosses, totaling 298 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. His top target was Trayvon Rudolph, who caught eight balls for 172 yards and a score. Antario Brown ran 22 times for 167 yards and a score.