Kent State 62, Bowling Green 24
Ohio 24, Akron 10
Buffalo (2-0) 42, Miami (1-1) 10
Tuesday night’s Buffalo lopsided win over defending MAC East champion Miami may have heralded the year of the Raging Bulls.
Buffalo was operating on all cylinders against MU as it rolled up 205 yards rushing and a massive 353 yards through the air. Meanwhile, the Bulls defense allowed just one touchdown and a late field goal while holding Miami to a total of 258 offensive yards.
MU held dangerous Jaret Patterson to 73 yards rushing, but Kevin Marks added another 109 of his own. Quarterback Kyle Vantrease, meanwhile, completed 17-of-27 attempts for 353 yards (20.7 ypc) and four touchdowns. A 78-yard pass to Trevor Wilson put Buffalo up 14-0 midway through the fourth quarter. The Bulls final tally was an 82-yard Vantrease-to-Antonio Nunn connection at 13:36 of the final stanza.
Sophomore A.J. Mayer got the start for MU, which lost QB Brett Gabbert in the opener against Ball State. Mayer completed just 7-of-25 with one TD and one interception on the evening. However, the RedHawks dropped several deep balls that might have resulted in scores or long gains. Aveon Smith came in late to replace Mayer, completing his only pass but adding 28 yards on three carries to give Miami 139 rushing yards on the night.
Kent State (2-0) 62, Bowling Green (0-2) 24
The Flashes broke a 10-all tie through one quarter with seven straight touchdowns and 38 unanswered points on the way to a lopsided victory.
KSU again displayed balance while picking up its second victory. The Flashes ran for 295 yards and amassed another 373 yards through the air. Bowling Green registered 260 rushing yards, including 162 by Terion Steward, who averaged 11.6 yards per trip on 14 carries. However, Matt McDonld was just 6-of-20 for 105 yards passing.
Kent State starter Dustin Crum completed 18-of-27 passes for 271 yards and for TDs before giving way to Collin Schleee. He went 5-for-8 for 101 yards and a score. Isaiah McKoy (6 catches 74 yards) and Ja’Shaun Poke (5 catches, 80 yards) each scored two touchdowns to lead the receiving corps.
Bowling Green’s Kholbe Coleman led all defenders with 15 tackles (8 solo).
Ohio (1-1) 24, Akron (0-2) 10
Visiting Akron stayed with seven points of Ohio until the Bobcats added a DeMontre Tuggle one-yard TD run with 2:02 left in the contest.
The Zips, winless since 2018, actually outgained OU 435-307 and ran 22 more offensive plays while picking up five more first downs (20-15). Junior Teon Dollard was the Akron workhorse, carrying 22 times for 165 yards (7.5 ypc). Redshirt freshman QB Zach Gibson completed 18-of-30 passes for 218 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Akron had three turnovers overall, while the Bobcats helped themselves by playing turnover-free football.
Like his counterpart, Tuggle logged 22 carries. That produced 139 yards and two TDs. Armani Rogers added the other Bobcat touchdown.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Kurtis Rourke completed 8-of-14 attempts for 92 yards. Shane Hooks grabbed four passes for 73 yards, including one for 40.
Defensively, Akron’s Bubb Arslanian recorded a game-high eight tackles, including two sacks. Jamison Collier led OU with seven hits (6 solo).