As the season winds down, the Mid-American Conference Championship game picture is becoming much clearer. Miami wrapped up the East crown with a huge victory over Marshall, while the Bowling Green Falcons and Toledo Rockets now control their own destinies in the West.
Toledo Rockets Upset NIU Huskies
The Toledo Rockets got a big 49-30 victory on Saturday over the Northern Illinois Huskies to improve their record to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the MAC
Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski had a big game, throwing for 24 of 27 attempts for 301 yards and three touchdowns in the win. The turning point in the game came in the third quarter, when a series of Rocket penalties put them in a third-and-33 situation.
It did not matter though, because Gradkowski found the big tight end Andrew Clarke wide open in the middle of the football field to complete a 60-yard pass play that put the Rockets ahead 35-24.
"That was the turning point in the game, I don't think anyone in the stands thought we were going to get it," Gradkowski stated in a school press release.
NIU head coach Joe Novak talked about the play during the post game.
"He couldn't have been more wide open if no one was back there, that just knocked the wind out of us."
The loss drops the Huskies record to 9-2 on the year and 5-2 in the MAC.
"If we are 10-2 or anybody in this league is 10-2 and we don't go to a bowl game, that's wrong, that's where our bowl system is screwed up," Novak said after the game in a school press release.
The stand out players of Saturday's game include Trinity Dawson of the Rockets, who rushed for 99 yards and had two touchdowns, and Michael Turner for NIU, who ran 32 times for 181 yards and a touchdown.
The Akron Zips improved to 7-5 overall on the season and 5-3 in the MAC with their 35-28 win over the Ohio Bobcats (2-8, 1-5 MAC) on Saturday. The Zips were trailing 28-14 in the third quarter before rallying for 21 straight unanswered points to secure the victory.
"I think that the true measure of any team is character," stated Akron head coach Lee Owens after the victory. "We were at home down 21-0 today and we got a big win. It is what I am most proud of about this team, their ability to handle adversity and come back and win."
Charlie Frye completed 17 of 31 passes for 277 yards and threw for three touchdowns. Frye also ran for the touchdown that gave Akron the lead for good and completed the comeback over Ohio.
"A week ago, we had to throw it for 400 yards to come back and win," stated Owens during the post game conference.
"This week, our offensive coaches were able to change game plans in the middle of the game and our offensive players were able to adjust to that change, and that says a lot about the continuity of our offensive staff and the maturity of our offensive players."
No. 25 Bowling Green vs. Kent State
Bowling Green got a big victory in their match against Kent State on Saturday, winning 42-33 in the contest and improving their record to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the MAC.
"It wasn't pretty, but it was a W, a big one too," stated head coach Gregg Brandon in a press conference after the win Saturday. "We made the plays and won the game, and that's the bottom line. We're still in the hunt, it's a two-game season now."
Quarterback Josh Harris passed for 324 yards and had three touchdowns, leading Bowling Green in the win.
"We wanted to come out and establish ourselves as a dominant force down in the red zone," stated Harris after the game.
Around the MAC
Eastern Michigan's Anthony Sherrell carried the ball 43 times for 230 yards and four touchdowns as EMU blew past Ball State 38-14. Greg Jennings caught three touchdown passes for Western Michigan as the Broncos beat Central Michigan 44-21.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
