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AKRON: Rob Ianello's first year at Akron has gotten off to a rocky start, as
the new head coach is winless in four tries. Akron showed improvements this
past weekend, but still fell on the road against Indiana, 35-20. Patrick
Nicely led the way for Akron with 175 yards and two scores through the
air, while Jeremy LaFrance was on the receiving end of both touchdown tosses.
Akron enjoyed plenty of success on the ground, as the team posted 160 yards.
Alex Allen led the way with 80 yards, while Nate Burney tallied 62 yards on
nine totes. Still searching for their first victory on the season the Zips
will return home to open league play against Northern Illinois.
BALL STATE: Ball State's struggles against the Big Ten continued this past
weekend, as the 18th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes clobbered the Cardinals, 45-0. It
was the 20th loss in 21 matchups against opponents from that conference. Kelly
Page connected on 4-of-11 throws for 30 yards and Eric Williams carried the
ball just 10 times for 21 yards for an offense that mustered just eight first
downs and 112 total yards. The Cardinals will remain on the road this weekend
and will open conference action against Central Michigan.
BOWLING GREEN: The Falcons were the latest victim of Michigan's dangerous
ground attack, as BGSU was pounded 65-21 this past Saturday. Bowling Green,
coming off a win last week against Marshall, managed just 283 total yards,
including 32 on the ground. Aaron Pankratz completed 17-of-28 passes for 231
yards with a touchdown and an interception in defeat. Looking to rebound from
the tough loss to Michigan, the Falcons will begin conference play this
weekend at home against Buffalo.
BUFFALO: Since opening the year with a victory over Rhode Island, the Bulls
have dropped three straight games, including a 45-21 setback to Connecticut
this past Saturday. Jerry Davis led Buffalo with 227 yards and three
touchdowns, each of which went to Ed Young. However, Davis was also
intercepted three times, including two that were returned the other way for
touchdowns. Conference play will begin this weekend, as the Bulls will
remain on the road to take on Bowling Green.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN: The Chippewas can not create a winning streak, as the team
was defeated, 30-25, against Northwestern. The loss came a week after CMU
demolished Eastern Michigan, 52-14. Ryan Radcliffe was 29-of-43 through the
air for the Chippewas for 347 yards and two touchdowns, but was also picked
off twice. Kito Poblah caught six balls for 89 yards and a touchdown in the
loss. The Chippewas will be on the road for the third straight contest when
they battle the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston.
EASTERN MICHIGAN: The losing continues at Eastern Michigan, as the Eagles fell
for the 16th straight time since the beginning of last season. The most recent
setback was an embarrassing, 73-20 loss to second-ranked Ohio State in
Columbus. Alex Gillett was 13-of-22 for 200 yards, and two touchdowns, but was
also sacked twice. Kinsman Thomas and Donald Scott each tallied three catches
and scored once each, and Dwayne Priest posted a rushing TD in the crushing
setback. Without a victory since 2008 the Eagles are in desperate need for
one, and the hope is that EMU will find the win column this weekend against
Ohio.
KENT STATE: Kent State was not in action this past weekend, but the team will
return to the field this upcoming Saturday when the Golden Flashes head to
Oxford to take on Miami-Ohio in their conference opener. KSU opened the year
with a victory over Murray State, but since then the team has lost back-to-
back games against Boston College and Penn State.
MIAMI-OHIO: The RedHawks saw their modest two-game winning streak come to a
screeching halt on Saturday, as they were pummeled by Missouri, 51-13. Zac
Dysert completed 20-of-27 passes for Miami-Ohio (2-2), but finished with just
178 yards and was intercepted once. Armand Robinson was the top target for the
RedHawks, as the wide out hauled in 10 passes for 99 yards. The RedHawks will
return to league action this upcoming Saturday when they host Kent State.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Coach Jerry Kill's crew went to Minneapolis this Saturday
and walked away with a 34-23 victory over a Big Ten school. The win over
Minnesota came a week after NIU was defeated by other Big Ten squad in
Illinois. Chad Spann rushed for 223 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries,
while Chandler Harnish threw a pair of touchdown passes for Northern Illinois.
The Huskies will be on the road for the third consecutive week this Saturday,
and will finally open league play in Akron.
OHIO: After opening the season with a win over Wofford, the Bobcats have
dropped their last three matchups, including a heartbreaking, 24-23 setback to
Marshall this past weekend. Ohio, which had a chance to kick an extra point to
tie the contest, decided instead to go for a two point conversion on the
final play of the game, but unfortunately for coach Frank Solich's squad the
gamble did not pay off. Ohio received a big night from Terrence McCrae, who
had four receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Bobcats' quarterback Boo
Jackson threw for 115 yards with two scores and one interception in the loss.
The Bobcats will try to break back into the win column this Saturday when they
travel to Ypsilanti to battle Eastern Michigan.
TEMPLE: The Owls went to Happy Valley riding high on their 3-0 start, and even
though Al Golden's gang fought hard, they eventually fell to Penn State,
22-13. Chester Stewart was picked off three times and completed just 8-of-19
passes for 46 yards. Bernard Pierce rushed for two scores before leaving with
an apparent right ankle injury in the third quarter for the Owls (3-1), who
were off to their first 3-0 start since 1979. Fresh off their first loss of
the season the Owls will try to bounce back into the win column when they head
to West Point to take on Army.
TOLEDO: The Rockets opened the season with a loss at home to Arizona, but
since then the team has ripped off three straight road victories. The most
recent win away from home was an impressive 31-20 decision at Purdue. Austin
Dantin threw for two touchdowns and also ran for two more in the win, while
Adonis Thomas added a team-best 79 rushing yards. Dantin's main target was
Eric Page, who hauled in 10 passes for 94 yards and one score. The Rockets
will return home for the first time since early September this upcoming
weekend and will host the Wyoming Cowboys.
WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Broncos will not be on the field this weekend, but will
return to action on October 2nd when they host Idaho. Western Michigan has
lost two of its first three games, and is coming off a 37-24 setback to Toledo
in Kalamazoo.