Photo courtesy of Kent State Athletics
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Sports Network) -
AKRON: Terry Bowden's debut with the Zips (0-1) was one to forget as UCF dismantled Akron, 56-14, in the former Auburn head coach's debut. The Knights built a 35-0 halftime lead that made it a non-competitive clash. New coordinator Chuck Amato's defense was unable to stop the run and surrendered 206 yards on the ground in the loss. Stephen F. Austin transfer Dalton Williams led the way offensively for Akron, completing 30-of-50 pass attempts for 245 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Cody Grice led the Zips' defense with eight tackles. Akron continues its season with a non-conference battle against FIU in Miami on Saturday.
BALL STATE: Jahwan Edwards rushed for a career-high 200 yards and dashed into the end zone three times as the Cardinals (1-0, 1-0) exploded in the third quarter on their way to a 37-26 victory over Eastern Michigan on Thursday. Quarterback Keith Wenning completed 26-of-41 passes for 267 yards, while Jamill Smith caught seven passes for 119 yards. Wenning moved into sixth place on the school's career passing yardage list (4,426) in the contest. BSU fumbled three times, but lost just one of them as it managed to defeat its Mid-American West Division rival to claim an early lead in the league standings. The offense set a program record with 36 first downs. The Cardinals face a much tougher test on Saturday when they hit the road to take on Clemson.
BOWLING GREEN: The Falcons (0-1) submitted a gritty performance as they tried to take down the nationally-ranked Florida Gators in their opener before eventually falling, 27-14, in Gainesville. Matt Schilz completed 24-of-49 passes for 204 yards to lead BGSU, but he threw one costly interception with his team in excellent field position during a crucial point in the game. The Falcons managed to register 22 first downs to Florida's eight in the contest. Ryan Burbring, Je'Ron Stokes, and Chris Gallon all recorded their first career receptions for coach Dave Clawson's squad. BGSU returns to Ohio for its home opener versus Idaho this Saturday.
BUFFALO: The Bulls (0-1) only trailed by eight points at halftime, but the Bulldogs were too much down the stretch and Buffalo lost, 45-23, to Georgia in their opener. Alex Zordich threw for 148 yards and a touchdown after completing 14-of-24 passes for the Bulls, who were 3-9 in 2011. Branden Oliver was effective with 112 rushing yards and a touchdown. Zordich also ran for 83 yards and a touchdown while Alex Neutz compiled 52 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches. Buffalo's 24 points scored was the highest amount it ever reached against an SEC school as it was held to 10 by Tennessee last season. The Bulls will step down in competition this week, as they take on FCS foe Morgan State at home.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN: The Chippewas (1-0) used a strong second half to break free from a halftime tie with SE Missouri State and finished on top, 38-27, in their 2012 season opener last Thursday. Zurlon Tipton and Anthony Garland became the first tandem to run for 100 yards each for CMU since 1999 as the team racked up 324 total rushing yards with a 7.2 yard per carry average. Tipton led the way with career-highs of 180 yards and three touchdowns as head coach Dan Enos kicked off his third season at the helm. Ryan Radcliff was limited by SEMO's defense and finished with 171 yards, one touchdown, and one interception after completing 14-of-23 attempts. Sophomore tight end Jarrett Fleming had a milestone day with his first career touchdown reception, which gave CMU a 31-27 lead in the third quarter. The Chippewas host instate rival Michigan State when they return to the gridiron on Saturday.
EASTERN MICHIGAN: The Eagles (0-1, 0-1) played their MAC West Division rival Ball State evenly in the first half of their season opener on Thursday before being outscored 21-0 in a devastating third period. EMU battled back in the fourth frame, but the damage was done and it lost 37-26. Alex Gillett threw for 191 yards and three touchdowns, but completed only 15-of-34 passing attempts. He also led the team on the ground with 81 yards and a score on 11 carries. Gillett finished the contest tied for fourth in EMU history in career starts and passing touchdowns. BSU outgained the Eagles 596-386 as Jawan Edwards sliced through EMU's defense for a career-high 200 yards and three touchdowns. Coach Ron English's squad, which finished 6-6 in 2011, will return to action and host Illinois State on Saturday in its home opener.
KENT STATE: The Golden Flashes (1-0) finished 114th in scoring offense last season, but started 2012 strong in a 41-21 victory over Towson. The defense forced Towson into six total turnovers, which is the most by the program since 2008. Dri Archer broke the game open with a 98-yard kick return for a touchdown in the second quarter. Archer scored a total of three touchdowns and senior quarterback scrambled in for a touchdown. The 41 points scored was the most by KSU since its 2010 opener versus Murray State. The Golden Flashes take on Kentucky this week in Lexington.
MASSACHUSETTS: The Minutemen (0-1) had a rude introduction to the FBS as they were shut out, 37-0, by Connecticut in their season-opener. UMass forced three turnovers on defense against its former conference rival, but fell to 0-1 as it amassed just 59 yards of total offense. The Minutemen had not been shut out in their last 199 games. Head coach Charley Molnar lost his first-ever game as a college head coach after spending the past 28 seasons as an assistant. Cornerback Antoine Tharpe recorded his first career interception in the third quarter of the loss. UMass will play its first home game as a member of the FBS on Saturday when it hosts the Indiana Hoosiers at Gillette Stadium.
MIAMI: The RedHawks (1-0) jumped out to an early 3-0, lead over the 18th ranked Buckeyes and held it through the entire first frame, but Urban Meyer's debut was salvaged as Ohio State's superstar quarterback Braxton Miller compiled 368 total yards and three touchdowns in his team's 56-10 win over Miami. Coach Don Treadwell's team was outgained 538-312 in the contest and reached the first-down marker on only 5-of-19 third downs. Zac Dysert paced the offense by completing 31-of-53 attempts for 303 yards and a touchdown, but he was picked off twice in the loss. Miami finished with negative one yard rushing to OSU's 294. The RedHawks will look to bounce back on Saturday in their home opener versus Southern Illinois.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS: The Huskies (0-1) began their reign as MAC Champions with a hard-fought, 18-17, loss to Iowa at Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday. The Hawkeyes scored their only touchdown of the game with 2:15 left to play as NIU surrendered an eight-point lead in the final quarter. Jordan Lynch was a much more serious threat as a runner than a passer in his first start as he compiled 119 yards and a touchdown on the ground while producing just 54 through the air. NIU's defense held its Big Ten opponent to just 268 yards, recorded six sacks, and denied Iowa's touchdown efforts in all four of the Hawkeyes' visits to the red zone. The loss snapped the Huskies' nine-game winning streak and made them 0-8 all-time versus Iowa. NIU hosts Tennessee- Martin for its home opener on Saturday.
OHIO UNIVERSITY: Frank Solich's squad pulled off one of the biggest upsets in school history as the Bobcats (1-0) took down Penn State, 24-14, at Beaver Stadium for Ohio University's first-ever win over the Nittany Lions. After being outgained by PSU 173-52 in the first quarter, the Bobcats responded by outgaining their opponents, 447-173, over the next three quarters. Tyler Tettleton passed for a game-high 324 yards and Beau Blankenship led all runners with 109 yards. The defense forced PSU into three turnovers in the victory. Ohio has now won seven of its last eight games dating back to last season, with the only loss coming on a last second field goal in last season's MAC Championship game. The Bobcats will take on New Mexico State this weekend.
TOLEDO: Matt Campbell's first experience as the full-time head coach of Toledo (0-1) had to be thrilling as his squad came up just short in its 24-17 overtime loss to Rich Rodriguez and Arizona on the road on Saturday night. Campbell employed the services of both Terrance Owens and Austin Dantin at quarterback. Owens completed 11- of-22 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, while Dantin completed 10-of-25 attempts for 63 yards and was sacked twice. David Fluellen led the Rockets' rushing attack with 72 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Toledo, which was 9-4 in 2011, converted 10-of-15 third-down opportunities in the first half but went 0-for-8 on third down plays the after the intermission. The Rockets had no answer for Rodriguez's offense as Arizona outgained Toledo, 624-358 in the contest. UT hung around due to a plus-two turnover margin. Arizona had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but its place-kicker John Bonano missed a 25-yard field goal at the end of regulation. After Toledo won the toss and elected to play defense first, Arizona's Matt Scott threw a go-ahead 10-yard touchdown pass to his tight end to start overtime. Toledo was sent backwards once it got possession by false start and delay of game penalties before Dantin's pass on fourth- and-20 fell incomplete to end the game. UT will stay on the road this weekend as it heads to Wyoming to face the Cowboys.
WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Broncos (0-1) lost their season opener for the eighth straight season on Saturday as they were bested, 24-7, by Illinois in Champaign. Despite being outscored by 17 points, coach Bill Cubit's team outgained the Fighting Illini, 259-248. Johnnie Simon led WMU's defense as he tied his career-high with 18 tackles. Alex Carder completed 26-of-43 attempts for 239 yards and a touchdowns, but he was picked off twice in the opening quarter and finished with three total interceptions. Carder has now thrown seven total interceptions in his last two appearances. Kick returner Timmy Keith injured his right knee in the contest. His status for the Broncos' home opener versus Eastern Illinois on Saturday will be determined during the week.