OHIO 37, MIAMI 21
TOLEDO 28, BALL STATE 21
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan used an impressive defensive performance, highlighted by a season-high three interceptions, en route to a 34-28 victory over Akron tonight inside InfoCision Stadium.
The win is Eastern's (6-4, 3-3 MAC) sixth of the season and officially qualifies the Green and White for postseason play. It marks the sixth time in program history, and the fifth under ninth-year Head Coach Chris Creighton, that the team has qualified to play in a bowl game. Moreover, it marks bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive year (excluding the COVID-19, 2020 season), which is a program record.
Sophomore quarterback Austin Smith led Eastern Michigan's passing attack with 190 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and one interception. Elsewhere, junior defensive back Kempton Shine showed out for the Eastern Michigan defense, recording one interception.
EMU won the turnover battle in Tuesday's game, forcing three turnovers giving the ball away once, with Eastern Michigan turning those takeaways into 14 points. The Eastern Michigan offense did a good job prolonging drives, converting on 50 percent of third-down attempts.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan got on the scoreboard first and opened up a 3-0 lead on the game's first drive. Akron responded and went ahead 7-3 before the EMU scored again on a 40-yard touchdown reception from Smith to Drummond to jump back in front 10-7.
Eastern Michigan continued to increase its advantage, scoring again with 14:21 left in the second quarter to go up 17-7.The EMU continued to extend their advantage after Akron closed the gap to 17-14, scoring again to go up 24-14.
Eastern Michigan continued to increase its advantage, scoring again with 15:00 remaining in the third quarter to go ahead 31-14. Akron then rallied, tallying 14 points before the EMU responded with a field goal to extend their lead to 34-28. Neither team scored again in the game.
Akron quarterbacks Jeff Undercuffler Jr. and DJ Irons combined to complete 19-of-34 passes, good for 223 yards with one TD and three picks. Alex Adams topped receivers with six catches for 102 yards and a score. Cam Willey carried 18 times for 144 yards (8.0 ypc) and three touchdowns to lead UA's ground game.
By MIKE SMITH
OXFORD, OH - It was another "Battle of the Bricks" Tuesday at Yager Stadium, and in the end Ohio (5-1 MAC, 7-3 overall) walked away with another brick for its road to a possible MAC East title.
The Bobcats' potent offense rolled up 557 yards and controlled the ball for 41:20, eventually wearing down Miami's defense on the way to a 37-21 victory. It was a 7-7 game before Ohio kicked a field goal to close the first half. When the teams returned, Ohio's offense went into another gear. The Bobcats scored touchdowns on three straight possessions and put points on the scoreboard with every second half drive.
Miami (2-4 MAC, 4-6 overall) managed two second half scores, but it could not keep up with the visitors. Enjoying success both on the ground (194 yards) and through the air (363 yards), Ohio converted 10-of-16 third down conversion opportunities. Meanwhile, Miami went 1-of-7 on third down and 0-for-2 in fourth down conversion tries.
As has been the case in recent weeks, Miami struggled with its ground game. The RedHawks totaled 69 yards on 21 carries (3.3 ypc). Keyon Mozee led the way with six trips for 27 yards. All three Miami touchdowns came on passes, and all three went from junior quarterback Brett Gabbert to wideout Mac Hippenhammer. Gabbert completed 20-of-26 attempts on the night. Hippenhammer registered eight catches for 107 yards.
Ohio opened scoring with a 1-yard Bangura run at 5:46 of the first quarter. Miami evened the contest when Gabbert hit Hippenhammer with a 5-yard pass early in the second period. It stayed 7-7 until Nathanial Bakos booted a 25-yard field goal as time expired.
Rourke found Bangura for a score midway through the third stanza, but MU matched it with a 37-yard pass to Hippenhammer.
Two Rourke TD passes to Jones (48 and 10 yards) expanded the visitors lead to 31-14 early in the fourth quarter. Although MU scored a final touchdown, Ohio added two more field goals for the final margin.
TOLEDO, Ohio. - Sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn threw for three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:18 left to lead Toledo to a 28-21 victory over Ball State at the Glass Bowl Tuesday night.
The win clinches at least a share of the MAC West Division crown for Toledo (7-3, 5-1 MAC). The Rockets can clinch a trip to the MAC Championship Game in Detroit on Dec. 3 with a win in either of their final two games or a loss by Western Michigan in any of its final three contests. The Broncos host Northern Illinois on Wednesday. Toledo and WMU will also meet in the regular-season finale in Kalamazoo on Nov. 25.
Finn, who missed Toledo's most recent game due to an injury, completed 21-of-38 passes for 301 yards. He also threw TD passes to Jerjuan Newton and Devin Maddox in the first half. Newton led the Rockets with a career-high seven receptions for 94 yards. Micah Kelly paced the running attack with a career-high 85 yards.
Toledo's defense put in another outstanding performance, holding Ball State (5-5, 3-3 MAC) to just 281 yards of total offense, including 94 passing yards. Linebacker Dyontae Johnson led the Rockets with 11 tackles and safety Maxen Hook sealed the victory with an interception in the waning seconds of the game.
First Quarter
Toledo opened the scoring on its second possession when Dequan Finn hit Jerjuan Newton for an eight-yard touchdown. Ball State tied the score at 7-7 on a nine-yard run by Carson Steele, capping a six-play drive that was aided by three Toledo penalties.
Second Quarter
Ball State moved out in front on a 38-yard touchdown run by Steele. Toledo struck back almost immediately when Finn connected with Devin Maddox for 48-yard bomb, tying the score at 14-14 with 8:51 left.
Third Quarter
Steele scored for the third time on the Cardinals' first possession of the half, this time from 34 yards out to give Ball State a 21-14 lead. Moments later, Peny Boone scored from three yards out to tie the score with 9:48 left in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Both teams traded punts until Finn hit tight end Jamal Turner for an eight-yard TD with 1:18 left. The Rockets sealed the win with safety Maxen Hook's interception with 35 seconds left.