Buffalo 42, Bowling Green 17
Kent State 69, Akron 35
When Jaret Patterson finished the Bulls opening drive with a 17-yard touchdown run, it was a sign of things to come. MANY THINGS!!
Patterson eventually logged 31 carries, gaining a school record 301 yards and scoring four TDs. The game’s final touchdown was a 57-yard Patterson gallop, putting icing on the cake of a comfortable victory that moved UB to 3-0 on the campaign.
After utilizing its passing game to knock off defending MAC East Miami the previous week UB ground it out against the winless Falcons. In addition to Patterson’s 301 rushing yards, Kevin Marks Jr. carried 15 times for 90 yards.
Quarterback Kyle Vantrease attempted just 12 passes, completing seven for 74 yards. Antonio Nunn accounted for 70 of that total on six catches.
James Patterson (13) and Cory Gross Jr (10) combined for 23 tackles to lead the Bulls defensive effort.
Bowling Green’s Matt McDonald completed 17-of-27 attempts for 219 passing yards. He was picked off once. Three BG receivers had at least 55 yards.
The Falcons also got 180 yards from their ground game, with 85 by Andrew Clair on 14 trips. Teiron Stewarts nine rushes (42 yards) included two scores.
Up 7-3 after one quarter, Buffalo scored 28 unanswered points through the next two stanzas. Both Bowling Green touchdowns came in the final period.
Kent State 69, Akron 35
Tuesday’s battle for the Wagon Wheel trophy was a tight contest -- for nearly two quarters.
The arch-rivals were tied at 28-aal until KSU’s Dustin Crum hit Ja’Shaun Poke on an 11-yard score with 15 seconds remaining before halftime.
The Flashes pulled away with three more third quarter TDs. After Akron scored its lone second half TD at 12:50 of the final period, KSU added two more touchdowns for the final margin.
Although it had the ball for just 39 more seconds on the evening, undefeated Kent State rolled up a massive 750 yards of offense. Two Flashes had over 100 yards rushing -- Marqueez Cooper (14 carries, 107 yards, 3 TDs) and Dustin Crum (13 carries, 104 yards, 2 TDs). Xavier Willams nearly reached the century mark as well, logging 10 trips for 97 yards and a score. Overall, KSU registered 390 yards rushing.
It got another 360 through the air, most off the arm of Crum, who completed 22-or-25 for 348 yards and three TDs. Isaiah McKoy led Kent State receivers with six catches for 140 yards and a TD, while Poke contributed 82 yards and a TD on six receptions.
Most of Akron’s offense came from the ground game. Teon Dollard was the workhorse, carrying 28 times for 202 of UA’s 21 rushing yards. The junior also provided four of UA’s five touchdowns.
Quarterback Zach Gibson completed 9-of-15 passes for 154 yards with one pick. Bubba Arslanian (15 tackles, 9 solo) and A.J. Watts (12 tackles, 9 solo) led the Akron defense.
Khalib Johns notched 10 hits (5 solo) for Kent State..