KENT STATE at AKRON
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Wednesday, Nov. 1 -- 7 p.m. ET
Doyt L. Perry Stadium -- Bowling Green, OH
ESPN2
After picking up its first win in over a month, Ball State visits Bowling Green Wednesday. The Falcons have won two straight and three of their last four outings.
BALL STATE
-- The Cardinals (2-6, 1-3 MAC) registered their first MAC victory last week with a 24-17 triumph over visiting Central Michigan.
After a 3-0 CMU lead, the Cardinals took a 10-3 halftime lead and extended their advantage to 24-10 befoe a late Chippewas touchdown.
-- Ball State out-gained the visitors 344-260 overall. Neither team committed a turnover.
-- Sophomore Kiael Kelly completed 13 of 16 attempts, good for 101 yards.
-- Oian Magwood topped receivers with seven catches for 49 yards total.
-- BSU thrived on the ground, recording 243 yards and three rushing TDs. Marquez Cooper led the way with 26 carries totaling 162 yards and a score. Kelly ran 15 titles for 64 yards and a pair of scores.
-- Keionte Newsom paced BSU defenders with 10 tackles, while Cole Pearce added nine.
-- The Cardinals rank 10th among MAC teams in scoring (16.1 ppg) and are eighth in scoring defense (29.0 ppg).
-- Ball State is eighth in rushing (135.1 ypg), ninth in passing (159.9 ypg) and seventh in passing efficiency (112.3).
BOWLING GREEN
-- The Falcons (4-4, 2-2 MAC) only outgained visiting Akron 297-279 but took advantage of four UA turnovers to post a 41-14 victory. The Zips led 7-3 after one quarter, but BGSU scored the next 38 points.
-- Connor Bazelak (6 of 11, 69 yards, 1 TD) and Camden Orth (2 of 3, 14 yards, 1 TD) combined for just 83 yards passing with two TDs.
-- Bowling Green rode its ground game with 42 carries totaling 214 yards (5.1 ypc) and three scores.
-- Senior DL Dontrez Brown recovered two fumbles.
-- The Falcons rank seventh among MAC teams in scoring (22.3 ppg) and are sixth in scoring defense (25.0 ppg)
-- BGSU is fifth in rushing (148.1 ypg), 10th in passing (153.5 ypg) and ninth in passing efficiency (110.8).
-- Stewart is fourth among MAC rushers (83.8 ypg)
-- Kicker Alan Anaya has made 8 of 11 field goals with a long of 42.
Saturday, Nov. 1 -- 7:30 p.m. ET
InfoCision Stadium - Akron, OH
ESPNU
Suffice it to say the annual Battle for the Wagon Wheel trophy is a spirited contest. Although both teams have struggled this season, the 2023 meeting should be another hard-fought challenge. After all, both teams are hungry for a win.
Both programs have identical 1-7 records and are still looking for a first MAC victory after four conference losses.
Kent State won last year's meeting at Dix Stadium, 33-27. The lead see-sawed through two quarters, with KSU up 21-17 at intermission. Nine straight points by the Flashes when play resumed opend a 30-17 edge, and KSU held off Akron's late push.
Both teams had over 450 yards (KSU 455, UA 492)of total offense, which could be a considerably higher number than this year's offensive production. The two teams are among the MAC's bottom three in total offense and are averaging less than 300 yards per game. That has contributed to scoring difficulties. Kent State is 12th/last among MAC teams, scoring an average of 12.5 ppg. Akron is 11th with an average of 15.4 ppg.
KENT STATE
-- The hosting Flashes failed to score a touchdown while falling to Buffalo 24-6 last week. Kent State kicker Andrew Glass booted two field goals (37- and 38-yards) to open scoring. However, UB scored the game's final 24 points.
-- Buffalo out-gained the Flashes 331-164.
-- Kent State's Michael Alaimo completed 7 of 14 passes totaling 51 yards, while Tommy Ulatowski hit 5 of 12 tosses totaling 27 yards with one interception.
-- Chrishon McCray caught five balls for 52 of the Flashes 78 receiving yards.
-- Jaylon Thomas logged 17 carries totaling 65 of KSU's 86 yards rushing.
-- The Flashes rank 10th among MAC teams in rushing (117.4 ypg), 12th/last in passing (142.5 ypg) and tied for last/12th in pass efficiency (104.3).
AKRON
-- The Zips are home after two weeks on the road. They stayed within one score while losing at Central Michigan 17-10 two weeks ago. However, Bowling Green forced four turnovers on the way to a 41-14 victory last week.
-- Akron held BGSU to 83 yards passing overall, but the Falcons got two TDs through the air and 214 on the ground while averaging 5.1 ypc.
-- Although Lorenzo Lingard carried 12 times for 56 yards, the Zips managed just 45 net yards rushing. BGSU recorded five sacks and seven TFL totaling 54 yards.
-- QB Jeff underfuffler Jr. completed 22of 39 passes totaling 234 yards with two interceptions.
-- Daniel George topped UA receivers with seven catches totaling 74 yards. Jasaisah Gathings had two receptions totaling 46 yards.
-- Akron ranks 12th/last among MAC teams in rushing (91.1 ypg), seventh in passing (188.9 ypg) and 10th in pass efficiency (104.5).