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Broncos on a ‘row’ as they face Miami

10/31/2014

By MIKE SMITH
About this time last year, the Western Michigan Broncos were coming off what would be their only win of the 2013 season. It was a razor-thin 31-30 triumph UMass, a team that managed just one win itself.

What a difference a year makes. Western Michigan (5-3, 3-1) heads to Oxford this week for a matchup against Miami (2-7, 2-3 MAC). While the RedHawks are improved, as well, they will be facing one of the hottest teams in the MAC. Head coach P. J. Fleck’s squad, which works under Fleck’s “Row the Boat” mantra, has been rowing quite well- especially as of late.

The Broncos have won three straight after a 20-19 overtime loss to Toledo in a game that was ultimately decided by a missed PAT. Were it not for that miss, which bounced off the upright, WMU might be rolling into Oxford with the MAC’s best conference mark.

To Miami head coach Chuck Martin, it’s not only that the Broncos are winning, it’s how they are winning. Both sides of the ball have been turning in impressive performances against good competition.

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MRO POWER RANKING -- OCT. 29

10/29/2014

Four of the six MAC games last Saturday were cross-divisional matchups. MAC West teams emerged victorious in all four contests. That just further solidifies a growing sense that the West seems to be stronger in 2014. Such is reflected in this week’s MRO Power Rankings, where five of the top six teams hail from the West.

Ironically, the overall leader, Toledo came dangerously close to getting bumped off last week. Let’s take a look at where they all settled this time around.

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Rockets, Zips get media preseason hoops nod

10/28/2014

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Toledo Rockets and Akron Zips have been selected to win their respective divisions in the 2014-15 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. The poll was announced prior to the league's preseason media teleconference and was determined by a 20-member MAC News Media Panel.

The Rockets also garnered 15 votes to win the MAC Men's Basketball Tournament. Ten of the league's top men's basketball players were also selected to the preseason All-MAC teams for the East and West Divisions as announced by the league office.

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MAC presidents will support cost of attendance grants

10/28/2014

NCAA Convention could redefine athletics grant-in-aids
Cleveland, Ohio – With a strong commitment to sportsmanship, integrity and a student-first student-athlete experience, the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Council of Presidents affirms its commitment to the collegiate experience. The MAC will support the redefinition of an athletics grant-in-aid to include cost of attendance if autonomous legislation is enacted during the annual NCAA Convention in January, 2015.

The presidents of the MAC are committed to remaining a strong, vibrant and values-oriented NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Conference, focused on the overall campus life experience of the individual student-athletes which includes academic success and graduation, social growth and teams competing at the highest competitive levels.

“The MAC is dedicated to supporting our student-athletes in the classroom, the community and on the playing field with the ultimate goal of graduating and having a great collegiate experience,” said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher.

MAC announces Week Nine POTW

10/27/2014

The Mid-American Conference on Monday announced its Week Nine Football Players of the Week.
Earning East Division honors are: Blake Frohnapfel (QB, UMass), Adam Redden (S, Buffalo), Rich Bonnestetter (P, Ohio).
MAC West honorees are; Corey David (WR, Western Michigan), Kareem Hunt (RB, Toledo), Trevor Ishmael (LB, Western Michigan), Ron Coluzzi (P, Central Michigan).

EAST DIVISION

Offensive Player of the Week:
UMass QB Blake Frohnapfel
UMass senior quarterback Blake Frohnapfel (Stafford, Va.) threw for 438 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-35 loss at Toledo on Saturday. The five touchdowns tied the UMass single-game record, while his 438 yards were the third most for a single-game in program history. The 438 yards also marked the second time this season he has thrown for over 400 yards in a game. After Toledo took the lead following halftime, Frohnapfel engineered a pair of fourth quarter touchdown drives to tie the game twice giving the Minutemen a chance until the Rockets scored with 34 seconds remaining. Frohnapfel now has 2,921 passing yards for the season which ranks 2nd in the NCAA, while his 23 touchdowns passes ranks 6th nationally.

Defensive Player of the Week:
Buffalo S Adam Redden
Buffalo senior safety Adam Redden (Amherst, N.Y.) had 10 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, two sacks a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a 20-14 loss to Central Michigan The senior safety had two of the Bulls season-high five sacks in the game. On his first sack, he was able to force a fumble and recover it. The Bulls capitalized by scoring a touchdown and cutting the Central Michigan lead to 14-7 before the half.

Special Teams Player of the Week:
Ohio P Mitch Bonnestetter
Ohio junior punter Mitch Bonnestetter (West Bend, Iowa) recorded 326 punting yards on seven attempts on Saturday in a 42-21 loss at Western Michigan. He averaged 46.6 yards per punt, with his longest being a career high 64-yard punt in the first half. Bonnestetter also placed three punts inside the 20 and had one touchback.

WEST DIVISION

Co-Offensive Player of the Week:
Western Michigan WR Corey Davis
Western Michigan sophomore wide receiver Corey Davis (Wheaton, Ill.) set a new career-high with 212 receiving yards on nine receptions for two touchdowns in a 42-21 win over Ohio. The reigning MAC Freshman of the Year caught touchdown passes of 72 yards and 54 yards to help the Broncos improve to 5-3 on the season. The career game also upped Davis' receiving yards per game total to a MAC-best 117.3, which also ranks fifth in the nation. His seven touchdown receptions are also tops in the MAC.

Co-Offensive Player of the Week:
Toledo RB Kareem Hunt
Toledo sophomore running back Kareem Hunt (Willoughby, Ohio) carried the ball a season-high 26 times for a career-best 198 yards and one touchdown in a 42-35 win over UMass. Hunt appeared in a game for the first time since the opening half of the Ball State contest (Sept. 20). He has now run for at least 100 yards in six-straight games dating back to last season. Hunt’s previous best effort was 186 yards vs. Buffalo on Nov. 12, 2013.

Defensive Player of the Week:
Western Michigan LB Trevor Ishmael
Western Michigan senior linebacker Trevor Ishmael (Miami, Fla.) had eight tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and an interception returned for a touchdown in a 41-21 win over Ohio. His first career defensive touchdown came late in the second quarter when he picked off a pass at the Ohio 12-yard line and returned it for a score to give Western Michigan a 28-7 lead.

Special Teams Player of the Week:
Central Michigan P Ron Coluzzi
Central Michigan sophomore punter Ron Coluzzi (Naperville, Ill.) had four punts for a 47.2 average in a 20-14 win at Buffalo. On a windy day at Buffalo, Coluzzi averaged 47.2 yards per kick including a 54-yard boot into the wind. Coluzzi dropped one punt inside the 20 and averaged 42.1 net yards per punt.

Toledo fends off surging UMass challenge

10/26/2014

By EVAN MEYER
TOLEDO, OH – Sophomore running back Kareem Hunt rushed for a career-best 198 yards and a touchdown as the Toledo Rockets came back from a 20-7 deficit early in the second quarter to defeat the Massachusetts Minutemen 42-35 Saturday afternoon at the Glass Bowl.

Toledo (5-3, 4-0 MAC) rebounded after a 37-30 loss at Iowa State on October 11. With the victory, their fourth in the last five games, the Rockets remained the only undefeated team in Mid-American Conference play and remain atop the Western Division.

“There were a lot of twists and turns in this game.” UT head coach Matt Campbell said. “I am proud of our kids staying the course with our game plan and what we were trying to do.”

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Defense helps RedHawks prevail over Kent State

10/25/2014

Miami's Kent Kern brings down Akron RB Nick Holley.

STORY AND PHOTOS
By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH – One week after giving up 51 points to Northern Illinois, the Miami RedHawks defense earned a measure of redemption in a 10-3 MU win over Kent State at Yager Stadium.
(CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE)

"Last week was just not a good showing on our part at all. We had a lot to prove this week, so we played with a chip on our shoulder, and I think that showed today," said Miami safety Heath Harding, who contributed a key third quarter interception.

The RedHawks, more recently known for their offense – particularly the passing of quarterback Andrew Hendrix – needed their defense to pull out their second win of the season. Hendrix struggled with the passing game, completing just 11 of 28 for a season-low 120 yards.

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Akron turnovers fuel Ball State victory

10/25/2014

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State Cardinals scored 29 unanswered points Saturday to overcome a 15-point second-quarter deficit on the way to a 35-21 victory over Akron.

Scott Secor set a Scheumann Stadium record with five field goals and the Cardinals generated five turnovers for the second consecutive week. Ball State won its second straight to improve to 3-5 (2-2 Mid-American Conference), while Akron fell to 4-4 (2-2 MAC).

“This was one of those days that ages you as a coach, but at least we got the result we wanted,” Ball State head coach Pete Lembo said. “I am very proud of our guys and how they played, especially in the second half.

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Chippewas edge Buffalo on Rush TD pass

10/25/2014

BUFFALO, NY -- Cooper Rush threw for 231 yards and the game-winning touchdown Saturday as Central Michigan edged Buffalo 20-14 at UB Stadium Saturday afternoon.

With the score tied 14-all midway through the fourth quarter. Rush found Titus Davis on a seven-yard touchdown strike that proved to be the difference in a defensive battle.

Central Michigan came into UB Stadium boasting the top defense in the league, and that defense stepped up again in a tight contest. The Chippewas held the Bulls to just 38 yards rushing and Anthone Taylor, ranked 10th in the nation in rushing heading into the game, was limited to a season-low 25 yards.

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Late TDs send Huskies past EMU

10/25/2014

YPSILANTI, Mich. - Quarterback Drew Hare ran for 166 yards and the Northern Illinois Huskies scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to defeat Eastern Michigan, 28-17, Saturday at Rynearson Stadium

With the win, NIU improved its season record to 6-2 overall, 3-1 in Mid-American Conference play, to become bowl eligible for the seventh straight season. The Huskies claimed their 12th consecutive MAC road win dating back to 2011. EMU fell to 2-6, 1-3 in the MAC, with the loss.

"Our team, we have our motto, the Hard Way, and that was hard today," said NIU head coach Rod Carey, who improved to 18-5 as the head coach at NIU. "We were doing the little things [wrong] and we had to reel it in. Our guys were making plays [late], we finally got pressure on the quarterback and after getting behind in the fourth quarter, I like the way we bounced back."

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<<Previous

Broncos on a ‘row’ as they face Miami

MRO POWER RANKING -- OCT. 29

Rockets, Zips get media preseason hoops nod

MAC presidents will support cost of attendance grants

MAC announces Week Nine POTW

Toledo fends off surging UMass challenge

Defense helps RedHawks prevail over Kent State

Akron turnovers fuel Ball State victory

Chippewas edge Buffalo on Rush TD pass

Late TDs send Huskies past EMU

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