Saturday's MAC Football Results
Toledo 28, BYU 21
Miami 34, Buffalo 20
Western Michigan 31, Central Michigan 15
Vanderbilt 24, NIU 18
UMass 37, Akron 29
Game stories courtesy of MAC Athletic Communication Departments
Toledo 28, BYU 21
Box Score
TOLEDO, Ohio -- Toledo senior safety Kahlil Robinson set up the game-winning touchdown with an interception with less than a minute remaining to give Toledo a wild 28-21 victory over BYU at the Glass Bowl Saturday afternoon.
With the score tied, 21-21, Toledo was driving for the go-ahead touchdown when BYU recovered a fumble with 1:09 left in the game. However, on the very next play Robinson picked off BYU quarterback Zach Wilson at the BYU 42-yard line and returned it to the two. Junior running back Shakif Seymour scored on the next play, giving Toledo its first lead since a 3-0 edge in the first quarter.
BYU had one last chance to tie the game but on the game's final play, backup QB Jaren Hall's pass attempt deep in Toledo territory fell incomplete.
"We're obviously very proud of our football team, and the effort that it took to win that game," said head coach Jason Candle. "It was a really strong second half, with a lot of tremendous individuals. Many times in that second half that we could've folded and we didn't. We've stayed together, just like we've preached and talked about. I think that once you set the mantra of what your program needs to be in January, you hope that these words that are all over these walls come off the walls and they start to become actions. For that 30 minutes, I thought that our guys did a really good job of staying together. For that, I'm very proud of our team."
Trailing 7-3 at halftime, Toledo tied the game at 14-14 late in the third quarter on an 18-yard TD reception by Seymour and a two-point conversion. BYU took a 21-14 lead moments later, but the Rockets tied it up on a Bryant Koback one-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, setting up the game's dramatic finish.
Seymour finished with a season-high 96 yards rushing to go with his two scores. Koback chipped in with 88 yards as the Rockets ran for 242 yards as a team. Senior quarterback Mitchell Guadagni had another strong outing, completing 17-of-28 passes for 206 yards and one TD. He also rushed for 54 yards on 12 carries.
Toledo's defense came through with numerous big plays. In addition to Robinson's interception, the Rockets broke up nine passes and had two sacks.
Miami 34, Buffalo 20
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio -- After falling behind 14-3, the Miami football team's defense turned in a dominant performance in a 34-20 victory over Buffalo on Saturday afternoon. The RedHawks' (2-3, 1-0 MAC) picked up four turnovers, returning one for a score, to win their MAC opener for the third-straight season.
After forcing a Bulls' opening drive punt, the RedHawks got past midfield on their opening possession as Jaylon Bester set the tone with a 14 yards on his first two carries. Miame faced 4th-and-inches at UB's 43 and went for it. While its play was stopped short and there was a fumble recovered by Buffalo in plus territory, video review found 12 Bulls on the field and the penalty kept the RedHawks' drive alive. Facing 4th-and-7 at the UB 35, Miami tried to go for it but was stopped with a sack.
Buffalo's offense surged with that fourth down stop and found the end zone three plays later as Matt Myers lofted a pass to Antonio Nunn 20 yards to the back corner of the end zone to draw first blood on the day with 7:19 left in the opening quarter.
After a pair of punts, Maurice Thomas flipped the field with a 22-yard return into Buffalo territory. The RedHawks got a first down, but stalled at the 35. Nonetheless, Sam Sloman put points on the board by drilling a career-long 53-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter to cut the gap to 7-3.
Miami forced a punt and got the ball near midfield, but was stopped on a 3rd-and-1 rush and ultimately punted. Buffalo scored two plays later as Jaret Patterson took a handoff 82 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-3 with 11:51 remaining in the first half.
The teams traded punts and a personal foul on Buffalo's punt allowed Miami to start in favorable field position at UB's 46. Bester picked up a first down to move Miami into field goal range where it appeared it would settle for a 43-yard kick by Sloman, but a personal foul on the play kept the RedHawks new life at the Bulls' 12. Bester picked up another first down to the one and Gabbert eventually snuck it in from there to pull the Red & White within 14-10 with 6:50 left in the half.
Defensively, Miami was revved up by the score as pressure on the quarterback led to a Mike Brown interception at the Bulls' 47. The Red & White were unable to capitalize and ultimately punted to pin UB at its five. Three players later, Ryan McWood forced and recovered a fumble and set up Miami at the UB three with a shot to take the lead. While three-straight rushes produced no yards, Sloman connected on a 21-yard field goal to make it a 14-13 game at halftime.
Miami opened the first half with a punt, but the defense took matters into its own hands three plays later. Tremendous pressure by a blitzing McWood forced a quick Myers throw that went right to Brown, who took it 25 yards to the house to put Miami on top for the first time, 20-14 with 11:46 left in the third. It marked three-straight non-kneel down possessions that Miami forced a turnover.
The Red & White scored on their next two possessions, utilizing a short field to end up scoring on a Gabbert 13-yard connection to Jalen Walker. On the next drive, Gabbert hit James Maye for 52-yards down field to set up a four-yard touchdown rush by Bester to make it a 34-14 Miami lead with 2:14 remaining.
Buffalo got a touchdown back on the following possession, cutting the gap to 34-20 on a Kevin Marks 39-yard touchdown rush. UB stopped Miami's next drive and threatened to pull even closer. The Bulls reached the RedHawks' 13, but were unable to find the end zone on a fourth down throw with 6:38 remaining, leaving it a two-score game.
Following another Miami punt, Buffalo had one more chance to drive closer, but Lonnie Phelps got around the corner to strip Kyle Vantrease in the midst of a sack with Josh Maize recovering the fumble to seal the game.
Miami's defense ultimately forced four turnovers on the day to help the team prevail despite Buffalo's 398-265 advantage in total yardage. Bester paced the RedHawks on the ground with a career-best 24 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. McWood paced the defense with nine tackles, a pair of quarterback hurries and a forced and recovered fumble.
Western Michigan 31, Central Michigan 15
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- For the seventh time in the last nine years, the Victory Cannon will stay in Kalamazoo as Western Michigan defeated in-state rival Central Michigan, 31-15, on Saturday afternoon inside Waldo Stadium.
The Broncos amassed 432 yards of total offense, gaining 244 through the air and 188 on the ground. WMU's defense held CMU to 107 rushing yards and just 15 points, all coming in the fourth quarter.
Junior linebacker Treshaun Hayward led the Broncos defensively with a game-high 11 tackles (7 solo) and a fumble recovery, followed by fellow junior A.J. Thomas with 10 tackles (6 solo). WMU forced three turnovers against the Chippewas with sophomore Patrick Lupro and senior Justin Tranquill earning interceptions. It was Tranquill's third career interception and second against the Chippewas.
Senior LeVante Bellamy was the workhorse for the Bronco offense, rushing 25 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. It's the third-straight game Bellamy has went over 100 yards. Senior Jon Wassink also added a rushing touchdown along with a game-high 41-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter to set up WMU's final touchdown of the game.
Wassink on the day was 18-for-29 for 244 yards and two total touchdowns. Wassink's 43-yard touchdown pass to senior Giovanni Ricci midway through the second quarter marked the fifth-straight game with at least one TD pass for Wassink, who has now completed one pass of 40 or more yards in each game this season.
Seven different receivers earned a reception against CMU with fifth year senior Keith Mixon Jr. leading the way with a career-high six receptions for 62 yards. Ricci was the lone Bronco to have a receiving score, his Mid-American Conference fifth of the year. Ricci finished with three receptions for 65 yards.
Central Michigan received the ball to start the game and had the it on its own 49 yard-line before Lupro picked off CMU quarterback David Moore at the Broncos' 41. Two quick passes to freshman Skyy Moore moved the ball down to CMU's 10-yard line before a short loss and then an 11-yard touchdown run by Bellamy to open the scoring, 7-0 after junior Thiago Kapps nailed the extra point.
On the ensuing drive, the Chippewas marched deep into Western Michigan territory, but WMU's defense shut the drive down after Central's Kobe Lewis was stopped for no gain by Thomas and Drake Spears on a fourth-and-three from the WMU nine yard-line. WMU scooted down the field in response and capped off an 11-play, 83-yard drive with a 25-yard field goal from Kapps to push the lead to 10-0.
Later in the second quarter, WMU pushed its lead to 17-0 on a quick scoring drive. The Bronco defense had pinned the Chippewas deep in their own territory, forcing a punt that gave Western Michigan the ball on CMU's 43. After a penalty on each team, Wassink found Ricci over the middle and the tight end broke two tackles before going the full 43-yards for the touchdown.
WMU took a 17-0 lead into the half and stalled on the opening drive of the third quarter. CMU pushed the ball into Western Michigan territory before Anton Curtis forced a fumble on the WMU 39, popping the ball out of Lewis' hands. Hayward pounced on it to gain possession. The Broncos slowly moved down the field and took advantage of Chippewa penalties. Western Michigan faced a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line and Wassink ran it in to push the lead to 24-0.
After Central Michigan got on the scoreboard with a one-yard run from Lewis and Ryan Tice 29-yard field goal, freshman Sean Tyler scored in his third consecutive game with an 11-yard run to make it a 31-9 Bronco advantage.
The Chippewas scored one more time as Moore connected with Jacorey Sullivan for a 34-yard touchdown with 3:29 to play.
Vanderbilt 24, NIU 18
Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A few plays were the difference between the Northern Illinois University Huskies coming away with their first victory over a SEC team since 2003 and a 24-18 loss to Vanderbilt Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium.
After spotting the Commodores a 14-0 lead on just nine plays in the first 6:03 of the game, NIU outgained and outscored Vanderbilt the rest of the way before a fourth-quarter comeback was thwarted by one of those key plays.
At first and 10 on the Vanderbilt 46-yard line, NIU quarterback Ross Bowers couldn't handle the snap and then attempted to pitch to wide receiver Michael Love, who was dropped for seven more yards. The play put the Huskies in a second-and-26 hole. The Commodores got the ball back with 3:10 to play and were able to run out the clock to pick up their first win of the season.
NIU fell to 1-3 after its third straight loss to a Autonomous conference opponent, while Vanderbilt improved to 1-3.
"Obviously it was a tough game," said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. "I thought our players responded and came out in the second half and fought and scratched to put us in the game. We spotted them 14 points on things that were easily avoidable, simple plays that we have to execute. It starts with alignment and assignment. Vanderbilt made enough plays to win the football game."
NIU totaled 388 yards to the Commodores' 373 and collected 20 first downs to Vandy's 16. Bowers completed 17-of-32 passes for 280 yards with Spencer Tears gaining 100 on his three catches.
The Huskies closed the gap to 24-18 with a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive after Vanderbilt had taken a 24-10 lead on a 28-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter. Cole Tucker caught a 28-yard pass on third-and-15 to the Vandy 34-yard line and one play later, Spencer Tears went down the sideline for a 33-yard grab to the one-yard line. Marcus Jones scored on the next play and Bowers' two-point conversion pass to Mitchell Brinkman was good as NIU crept within six with 11:44 to play.
NIU scored 10 the first 10 points of the third quarter to turn a 14-0 deficit into a four-point game. Kicker John Richardson put NIU on the board with a 39-yard field goal to cap a five-play, 52-yard drive that was set up by a 44-yard Bowers to Tears completion on the first play of the half
A penalty contributed to a Vanderbilt punt and the Huskies drove from their 17-yard line to the Vanderbilt 38. On second down, Bowers hit Brinkman, who broke a tackle at the 25-yard line and outran everyone to the end zone to record his first touchdown since 2017, and the Huskies' first since the first half of the Utah game.
The Commodores responded, driving 75 yards in just four plays to paydirt. One play after Antwain Walker forced a fumble that NIU was unable to recover, Vandy QB Riley Neal hit Kalija Lipscomb for a 38-yard touchdown pass off the flea flicker to give the 'Dores a 21-10 edge.
Vanderbilt started quickly, taking just four plays to get on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Keyon Brooks scored on a 61-yard run to give the Commodores a 7-0 lead just 1:35 into the contest.
The Commodores doubled their advantage on their next drive, after a 22-yard punt return by Justice Shelton-Mosley put Vanderbilt on the Huskie 31-yard line. Five plays later, Ke'Shawn Vaughn scored on a one-yard run and the PAT made the score 14-0 with 8:57 to play in the first quarter.
The teams traded punts through the rest of the first quarter, with the Huskie highlight a season-long 34-yard rush by Jordan Nettles to put NIU in Vanderbilt territory for the first time in the game.
The Huskie offense moved the ball in the second quarter, recording eight first downs and holding the ball for more than 11 minutes, but could not translate that success into points. Penalties and sacks were the primary culprits in stalling Huskie drives. Meanwhile, the NIU defense gave up just a pair of first downs and limited Vanderbilt to nine plays in the period.
Although neither team turned the ball over, each team was whistled for nine penalties in the contest. Mykelti Williams totaled eight tackles to lead the NIU defense, which also got sacks from freshman Cam Mattox and senior Marcus Kelly.
UMass, 37, Akron 29
Box Score
AMHERST, Mass. – True freshman QB Zach Gibson completed his first five passes and went 12-of-16 for 173 yards in limited action as the Akron Zips football team fell to Massachusetts 37-29 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday.
The Zips used three quarterbacks on Saturday, but it was Gibson who provided a much-needed spark at the end of the third quarter. With the Zips trailing 34-14 with 4:43 remaining in the third frame, Gibson was behind center for the first time in his collegiate career.
He drove the Zips down the field to cut the Minutemen lead to 34-21 after a seven-play, 80-yard drive that lasted 2:55. He went 4-of-4 passing during that span. Gibson completed his first two passes, one for seven yards to sophomore RB Brandon Lee and the other for 29 yards to redshirt sophomore WR Jeremiah Knight.
Freshman RB Michiah Burton followed with a pair of three-yard rushes and Gibson continued hurl the ball around the field. Gibson found freshman WR Michael Mathison for eight yards and sophomore WR Timothy Scippio for 28 yards, taking the Zips to the UMass two yardline. Burton finished the drive with a two-yard run. Gibson threw for 72 yards of the 80-yard touchdown drive.
He followed with another scoring drive in the fourth quarter, taking the Zips 98 yards in 11 plays and 3:15. Junior WR Nate Stewart was the first big target, collecting an 11-yard chunk from a Gibson pass. He found Stewart again for 14 yards and completed his longest pass of the day, a 33-yarder, to Knight. Gibson followed with a 10-yard strike to Burton and a 17-yard touchdown pass to Stewart. The Zips went for the two-point conversion and Gibson was the target, receiving the pass from Stewart. Gibson went 5-of-5 before his first incompletion.
Redshirt junior Kato Nelson started the game, but left after the first half with an injury. He went 13-of-17 for 141 yards and two touchdowns and a 47-yard long pass to Mathison.
Knight led the receiving corps with 100 yards on five receptions and the 33-yard long pass while Mathison gained 72 yards on six receptions and the 47-yard pass. Junior WR Dustin Burkhart and redshirt sophomore WR Julian Hicks added touchdown catches. The touchdown snag for Hicks marked first career score at Akron.
Akron had 406 yards of total offense.
Defensively, senior LB John Lako led Akron with 13 tackles including two for loss. Sophomore LB Bubba Arslanian and senior DB Alvin Davis, Jr. followed with nine and six, respectively.
The Minutemen received the opening kickoff and had the first chance to get on the scoreboard, but the takeaway pencil rewrote the first drive as Akron redshirt junior LB DeMarkus Glover intercepted the ball at the Akron 35-yard line.
The Zips capitalized on the UMass miscue as Nelson hit Mathison with a 47-yard pass to take the Zips into Minutemen territory. Next, Sands picked-up five rushing yards and Nelson completed the 7-play, 61-yard drive with a three-yard strike to the back of the endzone to Hicks.
UMass retaliated with a touchdown to even the score at 7-7 with 6:57 left in the first quarter. Back-to-back 20-plus yard pickups fueled the five-play, 75-yard scoring drive as UMass QB Michael Curtis scampered for 20 yards and followed with a 21-yard pass to WR Jessie Britt to setup the touchdown. The Minutemen completed the drive and tied the game with six-yard pass to WR Samuel Emilus.
In the second frame, Akron was moving the chains and marched into Minutemen territory behind a pair of rushes from Lee, but an interception stalled the Zips charge to the endzone. UMass CB Isaiah Rodgers stepped in front of the Zips intended receiver and returned the ball 58 yards for six points. The extra point attempt was good, and with 13:12 left to play in the half, UMass held a 14-7 advantage. Four minutes later, the Minutemen added three points to make it a 10-point spread, 17-7, with 8:22 left to play in the half.
The 10-point lead didn't last long as Akron marched down the field for a score. The drive ate 6:20 off the clock and consisted of 13 plays for 75 yards. Nelson opened the drive with a 19-yard pass to Burkhart to take the ball to the Akron 44 yard line. After a short loss and a short gain, freshman RB Michiah Burton gained 10 yards on third down to keep the drive alive and the Zips moving forward. Nelson rushed for nine yards and completed two passes for another 10 yards before finding Burkart for a three-yard touchdown pass. It was Burkhart's first career touchdown as a Zip.
The Minutemen ended the half with a 39-yard field goal and took a 20-14 advantage into the locker room. The Zips surged at the end of the game, but UMass was able to run out the clock to avoid the Akron comeback.
