Blog Archives

CMU edges Zips in defensive battle

10/31/2015

CMU wide receiver Anthony Rice beats defender John Senter for a long touchdown. Rice had just one reception on the day, but it went for a big score in the defensive battle. (SGWarren/BMP)

BY EVAN MEYER
AKRON, OHIO – Junior quarterback Cooper Rush engineered touchdown drives of 69 and 75 yards in leading the Central Michigan Chippewas to a 14-6 victory over the Akron Zips in a battle of defenses Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium.

Central Michigan (5-4, 4-1 MAC) picked up it's third consecutive victory, second straight on the road, and fourth in the last five games to stay just one-half game behind Toledo and Western Michigan in the MAC Western Division. In addition, Central defeated UA for the sixth consecutive time and 10th in the last 11 games.

“It wasn’t the prettiest game.” CMU had coach John Bonamego said. “We didn’t move the ball well against Akron, but (in) the two other phases (defense and special teams, I thought we were decisive.”

Akron (3-5, 1-3 MAC) dropped its second straight contest and third in the last four games.

“We were right there.” Zips head coach Terry Bowden said. “We needed just one more play, and that is what they did to beat us. They made one more play.”
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

Ball State defense comes through in win over UMass

10/31/2015

Victory ends five-game Cardinals losing skein
By Doug Zaleski
Ballstatesports.com
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ben Ingle said he was fooled on a curl route early in Saturday’s football game, but he didn’t fall out of position the second time.
That proved to be especially critical for Ball State as it turned in perhaps its most consistent effort on defense this season. The Cardinals bent at times, but they didn’t break in key situations.
The result was a 20-10 Mid-American Conference victory over UMass at Scheumann Stadium as the Cardinals ended a five-game losing streak.
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

MRO PREVIEW: CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT AKRON

10/30/2015

By EVAN MEYER
Besides providing a time to rest and recharge, a bye week is one of those rare occasions when a team can savor a victory. Of course, it might also be a time when a team must live another week with the memory of a poor outing. The latter was the case for the Akron Zips.

In their last game on October 17th, the Zips ran into a Bowling Green Falcons team at the top of its game. BG dominated every facet in a 59-10 win. It was Akron's worst defeat of the season and its largest margin of defeat in a Mid-American Conference game since the end of the 2011.

Such defeats often leave a team anxious to get back on field as quick as possible. Akron will get that chance -- finally -- when it hosts Central Michigan. It is UA's only home game in a five week stretch.
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

Bulls capitalize on second chances to down Miami

10/30/2015

Ron Willoughby juggles the ball before recovering it for a 78-yard first quarter TD. (MRO/M. Smith)

By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH -- Field goals made, field goals missed and field goal attempts that went away were all part of a 29-24 Buffalo Bulls win over Miami Thursday night at Yager Stadium.

Buffalo broke a 17-all halftime tie with two third quarter touchdowns and kept Miami off the board in the second half until a final touchdown with 2:21 remaining. Miami followed with an onside kick that took a favorable RedHawks bounce. Junior running back Jordan Johnson, however, was nearby and pounced on the ball to effectively end put the win away. The hosts got the ball one more time, but there were just 30 seconds left and MU took over at its own 19.

Johnson’s recovery capped a solid evening in which he went eclipsed the century mark rushing for the second time in as many starts. He had 147 yards the previous week against Ohio and followed that up with a net of 123 yards and two TDs against Miami. He also registered two catches for 17 yards.

Buffalo (4-4, 2-2 MAC) totaled 433 yards of offense to 348 for Miami (1-8, 0-5).

(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

Broncos’ Bogan scores four TDs in win over EMU

10/30/2015

YPSILANTI, Mich.- The Western Michigan Broncos defeated Eastern Michigan, 58-28, on the road Thursday night to start Mid-American Conference play 4-0 for the first time since 2008.

WMU also secured the Michigan MAC trophy for the second year in the row, sweeping in-state conference counterparts Central Michigan (Oct. 10, 41-39 win) and Eastern Michigan.

Western Michigan had 595 yards of total offense and led 23-14 at the half. The Broncos scored three touchdowns in the first six minutes of the third quarter to break the game open and build a 44-14 advantage.

The Broncos’ 58 points were the most scored by the Broncos since racking up 68 against Akron in 2011.
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

MRO Preview - SATURDAY GAMES

10/29/2015

East meets West twice Saturday in the only Mid American Conference games on the schedule. Only one of the four teams is coming off a win. The Chippewas, who visit Akron Saturday, edged Ball State in their last outing.
The Cardinals, host UMass in the other game. UMass put an early scare into scare into Toledo last week before a furious Rockets comeback emphatically ended the upset bid.
Akron had last week off to regroup after getting pummeled by MAC East leader Bowling Green Oct. 17.
Here’s more on the matchups;
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

MRO THURSDAY PREVIEW

10/28/2015

You might call tomorrow a Thirsty Thursday for at least two teams kicking off a month of MACtion in 16 midweek games.

Eastern Michigan and Miami are winless in MAC play and occupy the cellar of their respective divisions. Each team has one win, albeit the RedHawks victory was against FCS-level Presbyterian way back in Week One. Eastern Michigan picked up its win – on the road, no less – against Wyoming in Week Two. Suffice it to say both teams could use a another win. They actually play each other Nov. 7 in Oxford, so somebody will be getting at least one more.

Facing the Eagles and RedHawks Thursday are two teams coming off wins. Eastern hosts Western Michigan as part of the MAC Michigan Trophy series. Miami, which dropped a 35-13 decision to the Broncos in Kalamazoo Saturday, will host Buffalo. The Bulls belted Ohio, 41-17, over the weekend.

Here’s more on Thursday’s matchups.
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

Chippewas, Zips top MAC media preseason hoops poll

10/28/2015

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Central Michigan Chippewas and Akron Zips have been selected to win their respective divisions in the 2015-16 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. The poll was announced prior to the league's preseason media teleconference and was determined by a 23-member MAC News Media Panel.

The Chippewas 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.
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

MRO POWER RANKINGS -- Oct. 27

10/27/2015

BY J. OLSEN
For a few hours last Saturday, it looked like the MAC Reporter Online Power Rankings leader might be headed for a face first fall . Ah ... life at the top!
Make no mistake about it. There are some serious contenders nipping at the heels of the Toledo Rockets. One of them, in fact, is next on the UT schedule as defending MAC champ Northern Illinois visits the Glass Bowl Nov. 3. Of course, Western Michigan remains undefeated in MAC play, as does UT's neighbor, Bowling Green.
Here's the week's rankings:
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

MAC announces Week Eight POTW

10/26/2015

The Mid-American Conference on Monday announced its Week Eight Players of the week.

MAC East honorees are Matt Johnson (Bowling Green), Okezie Alozie (Buffalo) and Joeseph Davidson (Bowling Green).

MAC West honorees are Drew Hare (Northern Illinois), Robert Spillane (Western Michigan) and Brian Eavey
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

Falcons blast KSU to continue roll

10/25/2015

Kent State receiver Antwan Dixon goes up over BGSU defender Eiiar Harday. (SGWarren/BMP)

BY EVAN MEYER
KENT, OHIO – The Bowling Green Falcons scored on their first five possessions to build a 31-0 halftime lead and never looked back as they blanked the Kent State Golden Flashes, 48-0, Saturday afternoon at Dix Stadium.

Bowling Green (6-2, 4-0 MAC) collected its fifth consecutive victory to stay atop the Mid-American Conference Eastern Division while registering its first shutout since November 13, 2013 when the Falcons blanked Ohio, 49-0. The win makes BGSU bowl eligible for the fourth straight season.

“This was a great team win” BGSU head coach Dino Babers said. “This was one of those trap games. I told the kids, this was a coaches’ game, and I told the coaches this was a coaches’ game. You can’t let your team get trapped. They know how important the rest of these games are down the stretch and there are going to be no surprises.”
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

Late Eavey field goal sends CMU past Ball State

10/24/2015

MUNCIE, Ind. - Cooper Rush threw for 316 yards, Brian Eavey kicked three field goals, and the Central Michigan defense slammed the door when it had to Saturday as the Chippewas gritted out a 23-21 victory over Ball State.

The win, which snapped a five-game losing streak against Ball State, lifted CMU to 4-4, 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference. Ball State is 2-6, 1-3.

It was CMU's first road victory of the season, and the first away from Kelly/Shorts Stadium for first-year coach John Bonamego. Ball State lost its fifth straight game and fell for the fourth time in five home outings.
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

Rockets shake off turnovers, UMass challenge

10/24/2015

FOXBOROUGH, MA - Faced with its first double-digit deficit of the season, No. 19 Toledo (7-0, 4-0 MAC) responded with a dominating second-half performance in a 51-35 victory over UMass (1-6, 0-3 MAC) on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

After being hampered by three interceptions in the first half, the Rockets scored on their first five possessions of the second stanza. Combined with a stifling showing by UT's defense in the final 30 minutes, it was more than enough for Toledo to maintain its unbeaten record and notch the fifth-largest comeback in school history.
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

Big first half sets up Huskie win over EMU

10/24/2015

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois Huskies piled up 374 yards of total offense and 35 points in the first half en route to a 49-21 Mid-American Conference victory over Eastern Michigan Saturday at Huskie Stadium.

The win, NIU’s third consecutive victory, improved the Huskies’ record to 5-3 overall, 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference. Eastern Michigan lost its sixth consecutive game to fall to 1-7, 0-4 in the MAC.
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

WMU passing game clicks in win over Miami

10/24/2015

BY MIKE SMITH
KALAMAZOO, MICH -- Zach Terrell tossed three touchdown passes, including a pair to Daniel Braverman, as Western Michigan defeated the Miami RedHawks 35-13 Saturday at Waldo Stadium.

With the win Western Michigan bumped its overall record over .500 (4-3) and remained undefeated (3-0) in Mid-American Conference play. Miami fell to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in MAC action.
(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

<<Previous

CMU edges Zips in defensive battle

Ball State defense comes through in win over UMass

MRO PREVIEW: CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT AKRON

Bulls capitalize on second chances to down Miami

Broncos’ Bogan scores four TDs in win over EMU

MRO Preview - SATURDAY GAMES

MRO THURSDAY PREVIEW

Chippewas, Zips top MAC media preseason hoops poll

MRO POWER RANKINGS -- Oct. 27

MAC announces Week Eight POTW

Falcons blast KSU to continue roll

Late Eavey field goal sends CMU past Ball State

Rockets shake off turnovers, UMass challenge

Big first half sets up Huskie win over EMU

WMU passing game clicks in win over Miami

MAC Football

Categories

Archives