Mid-American Conference

MAC Football Final Scoreboard:  Saturday, September 5

Buffalo 51, Albany 14  Final
Old Dominion 38, Eastern Michigan 34  Final
Miami 26, Presbyterian 7  Final
Tennessee 59, Bowling Green 30  Final
Illinois 52, Kent State 3  Final
Oklahoma 41, Akron 3  Final
NIU 38, UNLV 30  Final

Game stories courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments


Buffalo 51, Albany 14 
Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York football team kicked off the Lance Leipold era in impressive fashion with a 51-14 victory over Albany on Saturday afternoon in front of 20,872 fans at UB Stadium. The Bulls utilized a balanced attack of 212 rushing yards and 255 passing yards en route to scoring the most points in a season opener in school history. 

Offensively Buffalo scored on six of its first eight possessions of the game, including five touchdowns and one field goal.  After Albany scored on their initial drive, Buffalo scored the game's next 38 points as quarterback Joe Licata had touchdown passes to wide receivers Marcus McGill and Jacob Martinez. 

"I'm very excited about this win, but like I told our team, I hope the focus can now go on the team," said head coach Leipold.  "It is going to take every player to get this thing done and we will work hard and take it a day at a time.  Joe Licata is just so calm and he has a great feel for the game. He is everything you want out of you senior quarterback and leader.  We want to build a program. We want to build a fan base. It's a football passionate area. We want to build a place where people want to be in the Northtowns on Saturday and the Southtowns on Sunday. I think that would be really special."

The Bulls had a balanced offense with the ground game totaling 212 yards and 10 first downs, while the passing game accounted for 255 yards and 11 first downs.  Buffalo was perfect in the red zone scoring on all six trips inside the Albany 20-yard line with five touchdowns and one field goal.

Jacob Martinez added an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter.  It was the first punt returned for a touchdown by the Bulls since 2002.  The 51 points scored in the season opener were the most by a UB team in school history.

Buffalo running back Anthone Taylor posted his 10th career 100-yard rushing game with 104 yards on the ground, moving him into fourth in school history in career 100-yard games.  Licata threw two touchdown passes to bring his career touchdown total (pass and run) to 64 – a new school record. Licata moved passed Cliff Scott (1991-94) for second in school history in career completions with 563.

"I think today went like it should have gone," said Licata. "I thought our offensive line did a heck of a job, our running backs did great and our receivers really blocked down field to help the backs out. I think the run really set up the pass today and that transitioned to a pretty smooth offense."

The Bulls will travel to Happy Valley to face Penn State. The Nittany Lions are coming off a 27-10 loss to Temple on Saturday.


Old Dominion 38, Eastern Michigan 34
Box Score 

YPSILANTI, Mich. – On a hot and muggy day, Eastern Michigan opened up its 2015 campaign at "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium on Saturday, versus Old Dominion. The Eagles (0-1) took an early lead in the contest and held on until the fourth quarter when the Monarchs (1-0) scored a touchdown with just 1:57 left in the game to seal a 38-34 non-conference decision in favor of ODU.

The contest was not short of offense as both teams went for 400-or-more yards in the season opener. The Eagles outgained Old Dominion, 444-413, but EMU was forced into three turnovers which proved to be the difference in the game.

For the Green and White Darius Jackson was a dual threat on the field rushing for 117 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns, while pulling in five receptions for 67 yards, leading EMU in both categories. In the passing game, Reginald Bell went 12-of-18 for 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Bell found Dustin Creel on both of the touchdown passes.

On the defensive side of the ball, Anthony Zappone led the Eagles in tackles with 11, while Great Ibe recorded nine. The Green and White posted two sacks in the contest as Derric Williams and Luke Maclean each took down the quarterback in the backfield.

Old Domionion's Ray Lawry had a day for the Monarchs, rushing for 223 yards on 28 carries. Lawry made his way into the endzone on four occasions, including a 54 yard touchdown dash. Shuler Bentley went 18-for-32 in passing attempts, tossing for 184 yards in the ODU victory.

After a stout defensive effort, the Eagles forced the Monarchs to punt on the opening possession. Taking over at their own 20-yard line, EMU's running game paced the offense from the get go. A four-play 68-yard drive was highlighted by a 26-yard run by Jackson. With the Green and White's offensive line sealing the ODU defense, Jackson broke through a hole at the line of scrimmage and exploded into the end zone to put the Eagles ahead with 11:50 to play in the first quarter.

On the ensuing ODU drive, the Eagles defense continued to play with tenacity, coming up with several momentum building plays. Following a near-interception by sophomore Juan Giraldo on the first play from scrimmage, a tackle for a loss and a batted ball at the line forced the Monarchs to punt.

Taking over on downs, Bell followed a six-yard run by redshirt sophomore Shaq Vann with a 38-yard pass to Jackson, giving EMU a first down at the ODU 10-yard line. Looking to double their lead, the Eagles fed the hot-handed Jackson. Taking the handoff from Bell, Jackson bulldozed his way into the end zone.

With the Green and White defense dominating for a majority of the first quarter, ODU made its way into the end zone with 1:31 left in the first quarter. Bentley dropped back in the pocket and found David Washington for a 14-yard touchdown to cut EMU's lead in half.

Heading into the second half with a 14-7 edge, the defensive play of each team kept the score at a standstill for most of the second quarter before the teams traded field goals. After a field goal by ODU with time expiring, EMU headed to the locker room with a 17-7 lead.

EMU wasted little time, capitalizing on its first possession of the second half. Starting the drive at its own 34-yard line, a roughing the passer call against the Monarchs gave EMU a first down shy of midfield. Following a trio of completions, Bell zipped a screen pass to Creel who ran it in from 10-yards out for the score.

The Monarchs responded quickly, breaking away for a long touchdown run in down the sideline on the next possession.

EMU took over, but a fumble was recovered by the Monarchs, giving them the ball at the Eagles' 32-yard line with an opportunity to even the score. With the Eastern defense looking as though it would contain the Monarchs, an untimely pass interference call gave ODU new life. Gifted with first and goal after the Eagles' penalty, the Monarchs ran it up the middle for the touchdown to tie the score at 24.

Continuing to excel on kick-off returns, freshman Devon Russell carried the kick past the EMU 35-yard line before a flag allowed the Eagles to start their drive in ODU territory. Utilizing a dynamic run game, the Eagles rushed their way to first and goal. Coming up empty on their first two downs, Bell dropped back in the pocket looking to pass. Cutting across the end zone, Creel leapt above his defender to catch Bell's pass and give EMU a 31-24 advantage.

Old Dominion needed just four plays on its next drive to erase the Eagles' lead. A pair of carries and a long pass across the middle of the field put the Monarchs inside the EMU 10-yard line with a fresh set of downs. Running it up the middle on a few of the previous plays, Lawry swung outside before leaping across the goal line from two yards out.

Following empty possessions from both teams, the Eagles' Dylan Mulder sent a 52-yard field goal through the uprights to put EMU in front 34-31 with 3:40 to play. Mulder's field goal tied the longest in program history while also marking a personal-best and tying for the longest in Rynearson Stadium laurels.

After EMU's Williams' sack forced ODU to punt, it seemed as though the Eagles would run the clock down to an opening day victory. Unfortunately for the Green and White, a holding penalty left the offense facing second and long. Despite two completions by redshirt sophomore Brogan Roback, the Eagles were forced to punt on fourth down.

Taking over on downs with 3:02 to play, a 30-yard completion put the Monarchs at the Eagles 46-yard line. After back-to-back stops by the defense, ODU's Lawry exploded for a 45-yard touchdown run. Lawry's breakaway run gave the Monarchs the lead for the first time in the game with 1:49 remaining.

Trailing 38-34 with less than two minutes to play, the Eagles turned to the arm of Roback. Finding redshirt junior Kevin Davis for a 14-yard reception, Roback converted on fourth down to keep the Eagles rolling. Following up a timely fourth down conversion, Roback completed 3-of-4 passes before his fifth attempt was deflected and intercepted. Spurned by its third turnover of the game, EMU watched as Old Dominion kneeled to end the game.

The Eagles return to the field next Saturday, Sept. 12, when they travel to Laramie, Wyo. to square off with the University of Wyoming. EMU will take on the Cowboys (0-1) at War Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. MT.


Miami 26, Presbyterian 7  
Box Score 
Postgame Notes

OXFORD, Ohio – Behind a 26-7 win on Saturday afternoon against Presbyterian College (0-1) at Yager Stadium, the Miami University football team (1-0) recorded its first season-opening win since 2007, snapping a seven-year skid in openers. The RedHawks took a 13-0 lead into the half and went on to outscore the Blue Hose 13-7 in the second half.

Miami struck first as senior quarterback Drew Kummer hit redshirt-freshman wide receiver Chris Hudson on a 10-yard touchdown strike at the 8:26 mark of the first quarter. It was the first career reception for Hudson and Kummer's second career touchdown pass, which capped a five-play, 80-yard drive. Senior kicker Kaleb Patterson's extra point gave the Red and White an early 7-0 lead.

A Kummer to Hudson connection led to the RedHawks' second score of the game as Kummer hit Hudson for a 37-yard reception down to the Presbyterian 1-yard line. Redshirt-freshman running back Alonzo Smith ran the ball up the middle for the MU touchdown at 5:43 in the second quarter to extend the RedHawk lead to 13-0. The PAT attempt was no good for the Red and White.

After a 30-plus minute delay due to lighting in the area midway through the third quarter, Presbyterian iced an eight-play, 38-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Darrell Bridges with 4:04 to go in the quarter. A good extra point put the Blue Hose within six of the RedHawks, 13-7.

In the fourth quarter two quick plays totaling 78 yards led to Miami's third touchdown of the game. On the opening play of the drive, redshirt freshman running back Kenny Young broke loose for a 26-yard run. Kummer then hit junior wide out Rokeem Williams on a 52-yard touchdown pass with 12:53 to play to complete the 18-second series. The Red and White went for a two-point conversion but were unable convert on the pass attempt, leaving the RedHawks with a 19-7 advantage.

On MU's next offensive series, Smith scored his second touchdown of the game, which was the last score for either team, on a 1-yard run with 6:48 to go, extending the RedHawks' lead to 26-7 after the Patterson PAT. Smith had rushes of 28 and 21 yards during the six-play drive.

Kummer finished with 255 yards passing and two touchdowns, completing 14-of-19 pass attempts. Sophomore wide receiver Jared Murphy posted the first 100 yard receiving game of his career, leading all players with 101 yards receiving on five catches, including a 50-yard reception. Smith was the RedHawks' leading rusher with 86 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.

Defensively, sophomore safety Tony Reid thwarted the Blue Hose's first two drives of the game with a fumble recovery in the end zone on their opening drive and an interception in the end zone on their second drive. Reid finished with three solo tackles on the day. Senior linebacker Kent Kern paced the RedHawks with nine tackles, including four solo stops.

Donelle Williams led the Blue Hose defense with seven solo tackles and nine total tackles. Quarterback Tamryn Garrick completed 14-of-27 passes for 163 yards. Bridges led all players with 125 yards on the ground on 27 carries, while Daryl Wilson was PC's leading receiver with 86 yards receiving on five catches.

Miami hits the road for Madison, Wisconsin to battle the Wisconsin Badgers for a noon (ET) kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 12.


Tennessee 59, Bowling Green 30
Box Score 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bowling Green dropped its season opener to the No. 25-ranked Tennessee Volunteers, 59-30, Saturday evening in front of 61,323 fans at Nissan Stadium. A lightning delay, which occurred midway through the third quarter, delayed the ballgame 1:20.

Redshirt-senior Matt Johnson threw for a career-high 424 yards, completing 27-of-49 passes for two touchdowns and no interceptions. Redshirt-junior Gehrig Dieter led all Falcon receivers with career highs in catches (7) and yards (133). Junior Ronnie Moore added 95 yards on five catches, while redshirt-senior Chris Gallon had three receptions for 45 yards. Sophomore Roger Lewis registered two catches for 49 yards.

Junior Fred Coppet led the Bowling Green rushing attack with 63 yards on 12 carries. Redshirt-senior Travis Greene chipped in with 34 yards on nine touches. Redshirt-senior Ryan Burbrink – who also caught four passes for 70 yards – scored the Falcons' lone rushing touchdown.

Dino Baber's #FalconFast offense ran 85 plays, racking up a total of 557 yards of offense. Bowling Green gained 24 first downs, and the Falcons were a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth-down attempts. The 557 yards of offense is third most for the Falcons under Babers.

Defensively, redshirt-sophomore linebacker Austin Valdez led the way with 13 tackles. Fellow linebacker, senior Trenton Greene, registered 12. In his first game for the Falcons, graduate transfer Eilar Hardy totaled 9 tackles. Sophomore defensive backs Clint Stephens and Ben Hale recorded six apiece, while redshirt-senior defensive lineman Zach Colvin notched the Falcons' lone sack.

The Falcons got off to a fast start, as Johnson found Lewis down the Tennessee sideline on Bowling Green's opening drive for 45 yards down to the Vols' 24-yard line on third down. BGSU eventually settled for a 40-yard Tyler Tate field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

Tennessee would go on to score the next 21 points, but the Falcons punched right back, scoring 17 straight points of their own to trim Tennessee's lead to a single point at 21-20.

Gallon got the Falcons' first touchdown drive of the season going, with back-to-back receptions totaling 38 yards. Johnson later kept the ball on a zone read on 4th-and-one and picked up 20 yards to move the ball inside the Tennessee ten-yard line. Redshirt-sophomore Hunter Folkertsma capped off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown catch – the first touchdown of his career.

Bowling Green then forced a stop, and another gutsy fourth-down call led to another Falcon touchdown. At their own 13-yard line, Greene found a hole and rushed for 18 yards to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, the Falcons were celebrating in the end zone. Johnson found Dieter for 31 yards before the pair connected again for a 38-yard touchdown. On both plays, Dieter beat his man down the Tennessee sideline, and on the touchdown catch, the Vols' defensive back was even flagged for pass interference.

The Falcons turned another stop into three more points, as Tate connected from 37 yards out before Tennessee scored two consecutive touchdowns to take a 35-20 lead into the break.

Out of the break, both teams came out firing. Bowling Green forced a quick stop, and then a pair of big plays set up a BGSU touchdown. Johnson found Moore for 23 yards. A Coppet 31-yard rush then got the Falcons down to the Vols' seven-yard line, prior to a Burbrink rushing touchdown that cut the deceit to a single score. However, Tennessee returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards, and on the first play from scrimmage, Josh Dobbs – who completed 15-of-22 passes for 205 yards – connected with Ethan Wolf for a 18-yard score, stretching the lead back to 15 at 42-27.

After the lightning delay, the Falcons continued to chip away, as Tate nailed his third field goal of the game to pull BGSU with 12 at 42-30. Tate's field goal was good from 25 yards out. However, the Falcons could not draw any closer, and Tennessee closed out the contest by scoring the game's final 17 points to secure the win.

Bowling Green will travel to College Park, Md. next Saturday (Sept. 12) to take on the University of Maryland Terrapins. Kickoff is schedule for noon. 


Illinois 52, Kent State 3 
Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Too many turnovers and a rash of other mistakes combined to crush Kent State's hopes early in a 52-3 loss to Illinois in Saturday's 2015 season opener at Memorial Stadium.

The Fighting Illini turned three interceptions and a muffed punt by the Golden Flashes into 28 quick points while building a 38-0 halftime lead. Three of the four scores off of turnovers arrived on one-play drives lasting fewer than than seven seconds each.

The frustrating opener followed an exhausting Friday night that saw Kent State and Illinois endure a long lightning delay before finally postponing to Saturday.

"When you play against a team on paper that is more athletic than you and then you turn the ball over, don't play well on special teams and make other mistakes, a game can get away from you early," said Kent State head coach Paul Haynes. "The good thing is that when you go through that locker room, there are not a lot of guys hanging their heads. Yes, we were disappointed. But we are going to grind it out and compete.

"It was tough to get down to a good football team the way we did. I don't want to say (the postponement) was part of what happened. They made plays. We didn't. We turned the ball over, and we made mistakes...That's it."

After a Wes Lunt-to-Tyler White touchdown pass of 2 yards opened the scoring for Illinois just three minutes into the first quarter, Illinois transformed KSU's four first-half turnovers into a 34-yard Lunt-to-Matt Murdock touchdown pass with 11:04 to play in the first, a 21-yard Lunt-to-Josh Ferguson touchdown six minutes later, and a 34-yard Lunt-to-Geronimo Allison score with 10:36 to play in the second quarter.

Kent State Colin Reardon suffered three interceptions before the game was 20 minutes old. A muffed punt by Ernest Calhoun accounted for turnover No. 4.

The Golden Flashes played turnover-free football in the second half, but by then the damage was already done.

The lone points of the day for Kent State were provided by redshirt freshman Shane Hynes on a 43-yard field goal with 8:30 to play in the fourth quarter.

Poor blocking on an earlier field goal attempt of 22 yards spoiled Hynes' hope of breaking the shutout just before halftime. The missed assignment up front came two plays after a false start penalty robbed the Flashes of a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Trayion Dhurham. That scoring opportunity was setup by one of the few bright spots provided by Kent State's offense – a 55-yard pass from Readon to Kris White, who was hauled down at the Illini 11. Durham followed by carrying a slew of tacklers 10 yards before finally getting dropped at the Illini 1.

A 27-yard touchdown pass from George Bollas to P.J. Simmons late in the fourth quarter was also nulified by a false start.

"I saw some things to build on today," said Haynes. "We scored a couple of touchdowns and had them negated by two freshmen moving early. We had a lot of young guys out there. Six or seven of them were true freshmen who are going to be good players for us in the future."

A total of 21 players made their debut for Kent State within the game's first three quarters. The Flashes also escaped Saturday relatively injury free.

Reardon completed 15-of-34 passes for 156 yards and eight KSU ballcarriers combined for 59 yards on 38 carries attempts as the Flashes were outgained 342-245 by Illinois.

Lunt threw for 162 yards on 11-for-19 passing for the Illini before giving way to backup Chace Crouch in the third quarter.

An acrobatic interception by Demetrius Monday on a long throw by Crouch in the third provided the day's defensive highlight for Kent State.

The Golden Flashes open their home season next week when Delaware State visits Dix Stadium for a 6 p.m. Saturday kickoff. AMETEK will provide postgame fireworks.


Oklahoma 41, Akron 3  
Box Score 

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma (1-0) posted 24 unanswered second-half points to register a 41-3 victory over Akron (0-1) in the season-opening contest for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Memorial Stadium.  The 19th-ranked Sooners recorded a 539-226 advantage in yards in the affair, including throwing for 439 yards through the air.

Senior QB Kyle Pohl (Farmersville, Ohio) was 6-of-17 for the Zips for 88 yards, while Baker Mayfield threw for 388 yards completing 23-of-33 attempts.

Akron's leading rusher was sophomore QB Tra'Von Chapman (Kent, Ohio) with 48 yards, while senior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio) and sophomore QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) also added 36 and 30 yards on the ground. Samaje Perine paced the Sooners' ground attack with 33 yards and one touchdown.

Akron finished the evening with 76 tackles, including 46 solo stops. Senior LB Dylan Evans (Nazareth, Pa.) equaled a career-best with a team- and game-high 13 tackles, including setting a new career mark with eight solo stops. Adding seven tackles apiece were seniors LB Jatavis Brown (Belle Glade, Fla.), CB Kris Givens (Ridgeland, Miss.) and LB Darryl Monroe (Orlando, Fla.). Dominque Alexander paced the Sooners with 10 tackles. The seven tackles for Givens and Monroe represented career-high marks.

Stepping under center for his first collegiate start for the Zips was Chapman, who despite not completing a pass in the first half, rushed for 48 yards on a team-high 14 carries.

The Sooners collected a first down on the opening play of the game before falling to convert a first down thereafter over their first three drives.

The Akron defense was stout over the Sooners' initial two drives limiting Oklahoma to 15 yards, including -5 on the ground. Redshirt junior DL Jamal Marcus (Durham, N.C.) registered a four-yard tackle for a loss on a 1-and-20 play.

A gain of 35 yards on a pass down the sideline to Durron Neal set up the Sooners with a 1st-and-10 on the Akron 22-yard line. Akron dug in defensively on the drive surrendering only four more yards forcing Oklahoma to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Austin Seibert with 3:58 remaining in the opening quarter.

In the fourth series for the Zips, Pohl made his 2015 debut at quarterback for Akron and attempted only one pass on the drive.

Senior P Zach Paul (Broadview Heights, Ohio) blasted a 73-yard punt to the Oklahoma six-yard line. The Sooners were only able to manage five yards on the drive before punting back to the Zips where senior WR Imani Davis (Miami, Fla.) fair-caught a ball on the Akron 47-yard line.

A 42-yard pass from Pohl to sophomore WR Jerome Lane (Akron, Ohio) on a 2nd-and-10 play set up the Zips on the Oklahoma five-yard line to end the first quarter.

Akron outgained the Sooners in the initial stanza in total yards, 68-59, including 26-0 on the ground. Hundley paced the Zips' rushing attack with 12 yards on two runs.

Akron held a 7:58-7:02 time of possession advantage in the first quarter. Junior DL Se'Von Pittman (Canton, Ohio) recorded the Zips' other tackle for a loss, while Evans collected four tackles.

After a delay of game penalty to begin the second quarter, Akron moved the ball to the four-yard line on a rush for five yards by Chapman. Senior K Robert Stein's (Cincinnati, Ohio) 21-yard field goal attempt on 4th-and-10 dinged off the left upright to keep the Zips off the scoreboard.

After the Zips were unable to convert on their next drive, the Sooners had a long punt return by Sterling Shepard nullified by a holding penalty. Oklahoma started the drive on its own 40-yard line and was able to assume a 10-0 lead after a two-yard run by Perine capped an 11-play, 60-yard scoring drive (4:12) with 5:32 remaining in the half.

The Zips began the ensuing drive on their 25-yard line Hundley rushing for five yards before Chapman scampered for 10 yards on the next play to give Akron their second first down of the game at the 40-yard line. The Zips were not able to extend the drive as Paul lifted a 33-yard punt to the Oklahoma 20-yard line.

A four-play, 80-yard drive (1:08) capped by a 29-yard touchdown reception by Dede Westbrook gave the Sooners a 17-0 advantage with 2:21 left before the intermission.

After a three-and-out drive for Akron, junior FB Christian Allen (Morgantown, W.Va.) forced and recovered a fumble by Shepard on the punt return at the Oklahoma 31-yard line with 1:18 left in the half. The fumble recovery was the first of Allen's career.

The Zips moved the ball to the nine-yard line but three-straight passes from Pohl to redshirt junior WR Tyrell Goodman (Yonkers, N.Y.) came up short as Stein connected on a 26-yard field goal with six seconds left on the clock to cut Akron's deficit to 17-3. The scoring drive play consisted of seven plays for 22 yards over a span of 1:12.

The Zips tallied 126 first-half yards but the Sooners edged Akron in total yards, 212-126, including 190 through the air. Hundley paced the Zips' ground attack with 33 yards on seven carries.

Pohl was 3-of-9 through the air for 60 yards in the first half, while his counterpart, Mayfield connected on 13-of-20 passes for 190 yards.

Evans registered a team-high tackles in the initial stanza, including six unassisted tackles. Senior Cody Grice (Akron, Ohio) added six tackles, with five being unassisted.

A 76-yard pass and catch from Mayfield to Joe Mixon on the Sooner's opening play of the second half extended Oklahoma's lead to 24-3 with 11:56 remaining in the third quarter.

On their ensuing drive, the Sooners drove 80 yards in 3:38 using nine plays capped by an 11-yard touchdown from Mayfield to Jeffrey Mead to push their advantage to 31-3 with 7:11 left in the third quarter.

A 24-yard run by Chapman for the Zips on a 3rd-and-8 play on the following drive gave Akron a first down on the Oklahoma 49-yard line. The play was the longest run from scrimmage up to that point in the game, but the Zips were unable to convert on the drive and punted back to the Sooners.

Starting on its own seven-yard line, Oklahoma used 2:31 to run nine plays for 93 yards to extend its lead to 38-3 with a two-yard rush by Mayfield at the 2:36 mark of the third quarter.

The Sooners bettered the Zips in the stanza in total yards, 234-51, to enter the final period holding a 38-3 advantage.

A 41-yard field goal from Siebert extended Oklahoma's lead to 41-3 at the 10:29 mark of the fourth quarter and capped the scoring in the game.

The Sooners were driving when junior CB DeAndre Scott (Frederick, Md.) intercepted Trevor Scott pass in the end zone with 4:23 remaining in the game.

The Zips open their home campaign on Saturday, Sept. 12, as Akron welcomes Pittsburgh to InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field for a 6 p.m. game.


NIU 38, UNLV 30  
Box Score 
Postgame Notes

DeKALB, Ill. – NIU junior quarterback Drew Hare threw for a career-high 360 yards on 21-of-26 passing and two touchdowns as NIU erased a 14-point second quarter deficit to defeat UNLV, 38-30, in the season opener on Saturday night at Huskie Stadium.