CFB-FBS: Mid-American Conference Week 3 Release

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 16
Iowa State at Ohio ………………………………………………………….Noon ET (ESPNU)

Liberty at Buffalo……………………………………….Noon ET (CBS Sports Network)

Central Connecticut at Kent State…………………………………..Noon ET (ESPN+)

Indiana State at Ball State………………………………………………..2 pm ET (ESPN+)

UMass at Eastern Michigan……………………………………………..2 pm ET (ESPN+)

Central Michigan at Notre Dame……………………………..2:30 pm ET (Peacock)

Western Michigan at Iowa…………………………..3:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)

NIU at Nebraska……………………………………………………………………7 pm ET (FS1)

Miami at Cincinnati………………………………………………………….7 pm ET (ESPN+)

San Jose State at Toledo………………………………………………….7 pm ET (ESPN+)

Akron at Kentucky………………………………………………………7:30 pm ET (ESPNU)

Bowling Green at Michigan………………………..7:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)

2 MINUTE DRILL

• Six MAC squad posted Week 2 victories: Central Michigan over New Hampshire, Bowling Green over Eastern Illinois, Toledo over Texas Southern, Miami over UMass, Akron over Morgan State and Ohio over Florida Atlantic.
• A Tristan Mattson 47-yard field goal as time expired gave Central Michigan its first win of the season as the Chippewas defeated New Hampshire, 45-42. Bert Emanuel, Jr. was responsible for a career-best four touchdowns (two rushing, two passes) and finished with 294 total yards, which earned him MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week. Marion Lukes also reeled in weekly MAC honors as the running back registered a 86-yard kickoff return touchdown and a team-best 171 all-purpose yards in the victory.
• Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn completed 16-of-17 passes for 232 yards and two scores, and running back Peny Boone rushed for three touchdowns as Toledo scored in all seven of its possessions in the first half on its way to a 71-3 Week 2 victory over Texas Southern at the Glass Bowl.
• Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert threw for 302 yards and receiver Gage Larvadain finished with eight catches for 273 yards and three touchdowns as the RedHawks downed the University of Massachusetts 41-28. Larvadain received MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week accolades for his performance.
• The Akron football team defeated Morgan State 24-21 in its home opener thanks to a fumble recovered for a touchdown in the final minute of regulation as CJ Nunnally forced the Bears fumble and Bryan McCoy scooped and scored to give the Zips a late three-point lead.

MAC NOTES

• Six MAC Squads Post Week 2 Wins Six MAC teams posted victories during the Week 2 slate:
• Central Michgian 45, New Hampshire 42
• Bowling Green 38, Eastern Illinois 15
• Toledo 71, Texas Southern 3
• Akron 24, Morgan State 21
• Ohio 17, Florida Atlantic 10
• Miami 41, UMass 28
• Central Michigan Walks Off New Hampshire
  A Tristan Mattson 47-yard field goal as time expired gave Central Michigan its first win of the season as the Chippewas defeated New Hampshire, 45-42. Bert Emanuel, Jr. was responsible for a career-best four touchdowns (two rushing, two passes) and finished with 294 total yards, which earned him MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week. On the day, he ran for two touchdowns and 101 yards on 21 carries and threw for a career-high 193 yards while completing seven of 19 passes. It marked the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career. Marion Lukes also reeled in a weekly MAC honor as the running back registered a 86-yard kickoff return touchdown, the second of his career, and a team-best 171 all-purpose yards in the home win. Lukes also returned a kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown vs. Eastern Michigan on Nov. 26, 2021, which was the last time CMU scored on a kickoff return.
• Offensive Eruption Gives Toledo First Win of 2023
  Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn completed 16-of-17 passes for 232 yards and two scores, and running back Peny Boone rushed for three touchdowns as Toledo scored in all seven of its possessions in the first half on its way to a 71-3 Week 2 victory over Texas Southern at the Glass Bowl. The 71 points scored were the most by a Rocket team in 72 years and the third-most in a game in school history, trailing only the 88 points scored vs. Davis & Elkins in 1951 and 87 points vs. Findlay in 1923. Toledo turned in the highest-scoring performance by a MAC team in regulation since 2000 when Northern Illinois scored 73 points vs. Buffalo. Additionally, Finn completed 94.1 percent of his passes in the opening 30 minutes to help Toledo set a school record for points in a half (50).
• Larvadain Shines in RedHawks Victory
  Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert threw for 302 yards and receiver Gage Larvadain finished with eight catches for 273 yards and three touchdowns as the RedHawks downed the University of Massachusetts 41-28. Larvadain received MAC East Division Player of the Week accolades for his performance. After a lengthy weather delay, Gabbert connected with Larvadain for a 99-yard touchdown pass, the longest in school history. Larvadain’s 273 receiving yards rank second in school history while Gabbert ecplised 300 passing yards for the first time since 2021 and moved up into fourth on Miami’s all-time passing list. Larvadain heads into Week 3 as the Nation’s leader in receiving yards (353), 38 more yards than the next closest receiver. Additionally, the junior is tied for the most all-purpose yards in the nation with 385.
• Evans Moves Up EMU Record Books
  Samson Evans posted a 2-yard run on EMU’s opening drive of the 2023 season to record the 30th touchdown of his career, leaving him one shy of tying Gary Patton, who found pay dirt 31 times from 1984-87. The Crystal Lake, Ill., native scored his 27th career rushing touchdown against Central Michigan (Nov. 25) to move into first place in Eastern Michigan program history in the category during a 2022 season which saw him rush for 100+ yards in four contests, a career-best mark.
• Hiliare Keeps Catch Streak Alive
  Bowling Green wide receiver Odieu Hiliare caught four passes for 38 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ 38-15 win over Eastern Illinois this past week. Hiliare has now caught a pass in 37-straight games, the fifth longest active streak in the country:

1. Zakhari Franklin, WR, Ole Miss 46
   Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona 46
2. Joshua Cephus, WR, UTSA 41
3. Jo’quavious Marks, RB, Mississippi State 38
4. Odieu Hiliare, WR, Bowling Green 37