Week four of the college football season left with many surprises in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). From a close non-conference battle to an upset that many didn’t see coming, each team gave some intriguing results that could play a big role later on down the line.
Here is the week four review for everyone in the MAC:
Akron
The Akron Zips (1-3, 0-0) were finally able to end their three-game losing streak and capture their first win of the season against the Duquesne Dukes (1-3, 0-0) in dominating fashion, 51-7.
The star of the show for the Zips on offense was junior running back Jordan Gant, who was given 13 carries for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
Ball State
Despite senior quarterback Kiael Kelly throwing for 209 yards on Saturday, it was not enough for the Ball State Cardinals (1-3, 0-0) to keep up their all-time undefeated record against the UConn Huskies (2-2, 0-0), with UConn defeating Ball State in a close contest, 31-25.
Ball State will be absent from competition for week five, but will return for in-conference play on Oct. 4.
Bowling Green
Week four for the Bowling Green Falcons (2-2, 0-0) was a tough one all around. On one hand, you have the Orange and Brown losing on the road in their final non-conference matchup against the Louisville Cardinals (3-0, 0-0), 40-17.
The next is dealing with injuries on the defense. Especially with star sophomore linebacker Dorian Pringle being out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL after the week three win against Liberty.
On the bright side for the Falcons, sophomore tight end Jacob Harris has recorded a receiving touchdown in back-to-back games.
Buffalo
While still maintaining the top spot in the conference, the Buffalo Bulls’(2-2, 0-0) week four performance did not go as planned. The Bulls had a 17-0 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but the Troy Trojans (2-2, 0-0) would storm back late with three-straight offensive drives that resulted in touchdowns, taking the lead with just 45 seconds remaining in the game.
Troy would hold off Buffalo’s hard-charging offense led by senior quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson to win at UB Stadium, 21-17.
Central Michigan
After a 49-10 victory against the Wagner Seahawks (0-4, 0-0), the Central Michigan Chippewas (2-2, 0-0) now move to 4th in the standings. Senior quarterback Joe Labas paved the way in the dominating performance, recording 12 for 14 in passing attempts for 241 yards and three touchdowns.
Contributing to 506 total yards of offense on the day for the Chippewas.
Eastern Michigan
A game-winning field goal with only three seconds left earned the Eastern Michigan Eagles (1-3, 0-0) their first win of the season over the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (1-3, 0-0), 34-31.
With the newfound confidence, the Eagles will look to get ready for conference play with an in-state performance as Central Michigan will travel to South Ypsilanti, Michigan, to face the Eagles at home.
Kent State
A 66-10 loss to the No.8 Florida State Seminoles (3-0, 0-0) was the unfortunate case for the Kent State Golden Flashes (1-3, 0-1). Even being down by more than four scores before the first quarter was concluded.
Although losing by 56 points was a tough pill to swallow, the Flashes were able to manage 206 yards on offense, including a 75-yard receiving touchdown by sophomore receiver Da’Shawn Martin in the middle of the first.
Miami
A back-and-forth showdown between two programs that had never met previously was the recipe in Oxford, Ohio. The Miami Redhawks (0-3, 0-0) led the UNLV Rebels (4-0, 0-0) going into the fourth quarter, 24-10. This is when the battle intensified when the Rebels stormed back and tied up the game 24 a piece, but the Redhawks struck back with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and a pick six to increase the lead, 38-24.
Miami looked to put the game away, but back-to-back offensive touchdown drives from the Rebels and a late fumble from sixth-year senior running back Kenny Tracy would give UNLV a chance to steal the game away with a field goal, 41-38. Miami would have one last shot to send the game into overtime, but a botched field goal attempt would have the Rebels holding on to win the game.
Northern Illinois
The Northern Illinois Huskies’ (1-2, 0-0) trip to Starksville, Mississippi, was nothing remarkable for Thomas Hammock’s group, as the Mississippi Bulldogs (4-0, 0-0) were able to put the game out of reach for the Huskies after NIU maintained a three point lead in the second quarter, 38-10.
The Huskies managed a three-point lead before halftime at 10-7, but it would be the only lead for Northern Illinois the entire day.
Ohio
Head coach Brian Smith’s squad was able to get right back to business, returning home to Athens, Ohio. However, it didn’t start that way for the Ohio Bobcats (2-2, 0-0). As the Gardner-Webb Runnin’Bulldogs (2-2, 0-0) got out to an early lead at the end of the first quarter, 14-3.
The Bobcats’ offense, led by senior running back Sieh Bangura, was able to lead the way with 18 carries, 123 rushing yards, and three touchdowns in the 52-35 victory.
Western Michigan vs. Toledo
The only in-conference battle of the weekend was between the Western Michigan Broncos (1-3, 1-0) and the Toledo Rockets (2-2, 0-1) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Rockets had a two-score lead late in the third quarter, but the defense of the Broncos kept the offense, led by senior quarterback Tucker Gleason, in check, forcing Gleason to turn the ball over twice and holding him to just 89 passing yards.
This would then lead to Western Michigan scoring a rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion from sophomore quarterback Broc Lowry late in the fourth quarter to give the Broncos their first conference win of the year over the Rockets, 14-13.
While Toledo is still considered to be a heavy favorite for the conference title, dropping a loss to a MAC opponent this early was not on the radar.
Western Michigan has now jumped to second in the standings.
