CATCHING UP WITH THE MAC PART 2

For reference for this article, refer to our part one article below: https://cfbweekly.net/articles/catching-up-with-the-mac-pt-1

Tied with the Rockets at 3-1 in MAC play, behind unbeaten Ohio, are the Buffalo Bulls.

Buffalo (5-3)

Buffalo is 5-3 overall and has won three straight, including a 23-8 win at Toledo on Oct. 10. So far the Bulls have scored 22.6 points per game and have given up 25.4 points per game. In the passing game, the Bulls have accrued 1,237 yards through the air on 51.6% completion on 246 attempts, with 10 TDs and only 4 INTs.

On the ground, the Bulls have gained 1,405 yards on 332 attempts, roughly 4.2 yards per carry, and 10 TDs. On the defensive side, the Bulls have 526 combined tackles with 35.0 TFLs, 12 of those being sacks, and 4 INTs. A notable game for the Bulls this season was on Oct. 17, when they beat UMass 25-18 in OT. UMass led 18-15 late, but kicker Oliver Hautanen drilled a 29-yard field goal with two seconds left to force overtime. Hautanen scored 11 points on the day, going 3-for-3 on field goals (longest from 33 yards) and 2-for-2 on extra points, and the Bulls also picked up a safety.

The offense ran 44 times for 217 yards, and J. Wright found C. Walker for a 15-yard touchdown in overtime before the Bulls’ defense clamped down to secure the home win. Most recently, Buffalo beat Bowling Green 31-24 on Oct. 24, with running back Messiah Burch scoring three rushing touchdowns, including a 73-yarder, as the Bulls ran for 251 yards and intercepted two passes. Next up is a Tuesday night trip to Miami (OH) on Nov. 3, a matchup of two 3-1 teams.

Miami Ohio (5-3)

The RedHawks are 5-3 overall and have won three straight. They have scored 27.0 points per game, while letting up just 25.8 to opponents. Through the air, they’ve gained 1,736 yards on 206 attempts with a 58.7% completion, with 10 TDs to 5 INTs. QB Caleb Heavner has not been elite for the Redhawks by any means.

On the ground, the offense has been less productive, accruing 1,129 yards on 256 attempts, 4.4 yards per carry, and 13 TDs as a team. Lead RB Rodney Nelson has been elite for this offense, but has not received much help. Circle Nelson has a potential portal entry this offseason.

On defense, the RedHawks have 498 combined tackles with 31.0 TFLs, 16 of which are sacks, and 5 INTs. A notable performance for the RedHawks was a 34-14 victory over the Akron Zips on Oct. 17. The RedHawks dominated on the ground, rushing for 324 yards compared to Akron’s 81, with Rodney Nelson scoring touchdowns of 9 and 58 yards, and the defense picked off four passes and returned one for a touchdown. The Redhawks have relied heavily on turnovers throughout the year.

Most recently, Miami won 28-27 at Central Michigan on Oct. 24, with quarterback C. Heavner scrambling 27 yards for a score and D. Jones punching in a 2-yard touchdown run late to give the RedHawks the lead. The RedHawks host Buffalo on Nov. 3 and Ohio on Nov. 10, and one more win would make them bowl eligible.

Bowling Green (2-6)

The Falcons have scored 18.8 points per game, while giving up 29.8. On offense, the Falcons have passed for 1,438 yards and 10 TDs to 6 INTs. On the ground, they’ve rushed for 864 yards on 265 attempts for 3.3 per carry, and 7 TDs. On defense, the Falcons have 534 combined tackles and 40.0 TFLs, 19 of which are sacks, with 2 INTs.

A notable performance for the Falcons was their overtime thriller on Oct. 17 that they’d end up losing to Ball State 32-31. Bowling Green struck back in regulation with a 77-yard touchdown reception and led 24-17 late after a fumble-return touchdown, but Ball State tied it on a touchdown pass with five seconds left. In overtime, the Falcons scored first, but the Cardinals answered with a 1-yard touchdown run and a successful two-point conversion to win it.

Bowling Green fell again on Oct. 24, losing 31-24 at Buffalo despite three touchdown passes. The Falcons play at Western Michigan on Oct. 31 and need to win out to reach six wins.

Central Michigan (3-5)

The Chippawas are 3-5 overall and have dropped three straight conference games by 17, 7 and 1 points respectively. Despite the terrible record, this is a team that has truly competed.

The Chippewas have scored 17.9 points per game and given up 25.9 points per game. Through the air, the Chippewas have gained 978 yards on 174 attempts for a 58.0% completion and 4 TDs to 5 INTs. On the ground, the Chippewas have gained roughly 1,354 yards at about 4.1 yards per attempt and 14 TDs.

On defense, they have 587 combined tackles, 26.0 TFLs, 15 of those being sacks, and 8 INTs. A notable game this season for the Chippewas was on Oct. 17, when they played rivals Western Michigan at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, MI, with the Victory Cannon Trophy on the line. Unfortunately for the Chippewas, they came up short 21-14.

Western Michigan led 21-0 after three quarters and ran 45 times for 224 yards, and Central Michigan rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the last a 2-yard run by quarterback Jadyn Glasser with 49 seconds left, but could not get any closer.

Western Michigan’s defense also stopped the Chippewas on four fourth downs. Most recently, Central Michigan lost 28-27 at home to Miami (OH) on Oct. 24, despite a 46-yard interception return touchdown by J. Taylor. The Chippewas play at Eastern Michigan on Nov. 4 and need three wins in their last four games to reach six.