B1G/MAC Football

MSU, Michigan, EMU Pressers- Week 4

MAC Week 4 Football Notes

Saturday, September 16
Tulsa at NIU, 12:00 pm ET (CBSSN)
*Western Michigan at Toledo, 1:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Georgia Southern at Ball State, 2:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
*Ohio at Bowling Green, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Delaware State at Miami, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Central Michigan at South Alabama, 5:00 pm ET (TBD)
Eastern Michigan at Jacksonville State, 5:00 pm ET (TBD)
Akron at Indiana, 7:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Buffalo at Louisiana, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Kent State at Fresno State, 10:30 pm ET (CBS Sports Network)
Two Minute Drill
• For the second-straight week, six MAC squads posted victories last weekend: Ohio over Iowa State, Miami over Cincinnati (OT), Kent State over Central Connecticut State, Eastern Michigan over UMass, Toledo over San Jose State and Ball State over Indiana State.
• Ohio posted a 10-7 win over Big 12 opponent Iowa State for its first Power Five win since 2017 and its eighth-straight home victory since the dedication of Frank Solich Field. Kurtis Rourke finished with 135 passing yards and a touchdown, while Bryce Houston led the Bobcat defense with a career-high tying 15 tackles to earn MAC East Division Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• Miami also knocked off a Big 12 opponent as the RedHawks downed Cincinnati in overtime. Joe Wilkins Jr.’s eight-yard touchdown catch in OT and Yahsyn McKee’s game-sealing interception helped Miami claim the Victory Bell for the first time since 2005 and its first-ever
overtime win. Brett Gabbert threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns to lead the RedHawks’ offense and earn MAC West Divison Offensive Player of the Week honors.
• Kenni Burns posted his first win as head coach at Kent State with a dominant 38-10 victory over Central Connecticut State. The Golden Flashes scored the game’s first 38 points and were paced by a career day for running back Gavin Garcia. The sophomore racked up 125 yards and two touchdowns, leading a rushing attack that rolled up nearly 300 yards on Saturday.
• A clutch five-play, 77-yard drive, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown reception from Austin Smith to Hamze El-Zayat with just over a minute remaining helped Eastern Michigan post its second win of the season, defeating UMass, 19-17, at home.

West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Peny Boone, Toledo, RB
Jr., Detroit, Mich. (King)
Peny Boone rushed for a career-high 123 rushing yards with 97 coming in the second half of Toledo's come-from-behind 21-17 victory over San Jose State. He also caught two passes for 19 yards.

MAC Football West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Bennett Walker, Eastern Michigan, DB
JR, San Diego, Calif. (Patrick Henry)
Bennett Walker showed out for the Eastern Michigan defense in Saturday’s 19-17 win over UMass, recording two interceptions as EMU forced four turnovers for the first time since 2019. Walker’s first interception came when UMass was at the EMU 42 as he picked a deep pass down the right sideline just four yards outside of the endzone. Walker’s second interception came in the end zone to help the Eagles retain a 13-10 lead with 7:13 to go in the fourth quarter as UMass was on the verge of tying or taking the lead. Walker is the first Eagle to record two interceptions in a game since Brody Hoying at Northern Illinois, Nov. 19, 2019, and is the first player in the MAC this season with two interceptions in one game. Nationally, Walker is tied for the FBS lead with three picks and is averaging an NCAA-best 1.0 interceptions per game. He also is one of just six players nationally to record multiple picks in a single game so far this year.

MAC Football West Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan, P
JR, Columbus, Ohio
Junior punter Mitchell Tomasek punted seven times with a robust 45.9 yards per punt in Eastern Michigan’s 19-17 win on Saturday over UMass. With momentum swinging toward the Minutemen with less than five minutes remaining, EMU was clinging to a 13-10 lead and forced to punt from its own 15-yard line where Tomasek blasted a 61-yard punt to flip the field and ultimately forcing a block-in-the-back for net of 70 yards in field position. The 61-yard punt, his fifth of at least 60 yards for EMU, is the fourth-longest of his career for Tomasek, who placed three punts inside the 20 on the day. Overall, the Eagle currently ranks 13th in the nation with a 45.4 punting average.Week 3 Players of the Week

AP Top 25 Week 4

Georgia (57)
Michigan (2)
Texas (3)
Florida State (1)
USC
Ohio State
Penn State
Washington
Notre Dame
Oregon
Utah
LSU
Alabama
Oregon State
Ole Miss
Oklahoma
North Carolina
Duke
Colorado
Miami
Washington State
UCLA
Tennessee
Iowa
Florida

Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota and Rutgers Earn Weekly Football Honors
Hawkeyes’ Castro, Spartans’ Kim, Gophers’ Taylor and Scarlet Knights’ Patel garner accolades

Following Week 2 contests, the Big Ten Conference Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Players of the Week, and the Freshman of the Week were announced this morning. Below are this week's honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week
Noah Kim, Michigan State
QB – Jr. – Centreville, Va. – Westfield

Went 18-for-22, passing for 292 yards and three touchdowns in the 45-14 win over Richmond, completing 15-straight passes to close out the game
The 292 yards marked a career-high for the second week in a row, topping last week's 279 yards in his starting debut vs. Central Michigan, while the 18 completions matches last week's 18-for-31 passing
Kim is now 36-for-53 for 571 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions through the first two games of the season
The Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns his first career Offensive Player of the Week award
Last Michigan State Offensive Player of the Week: Kenneth Walker III (Nov. 1, 2021)

Defensive Player of the Week
Sebastian Castro, Iowa
DB – Sr. – Oak Lawn, Ill. – Richards

Recorded a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter that gave the Hawkeyes a 17-0 lead in an eventual 20-13 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series win at Iowa State
Castro's interception was the first of his career and it was his second career touchdown
Finished the game with four tackles and a key fourth quarter pass breakup that helped Iowa prevail in Ames for the sixth consecutive time and give head coach Kirk Ferentz his 200th career victory
Earns the first Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career
Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: Jack Campbell (Nov. 20, 2022)

Special Teams Player of the Week
Jai Patel, Rutgers
K – So. – Monmouth Junction, N.J. – South Brunswick

Went 3-for-3 on field goals in the Scarlet Knights’ 36-7 win over Temple
Connected on a career-long 51-yard field goal, tied for the seventh-longest make in program history, and added successful attempts from 43 and 23 yards out
Contributed three extra points in as many attempts
Garners the first Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career
Last Rutgers Special Teams Player of the Week: Adam Korsak (Nov. 1, 2021)

Freshman of the Week
Darius Taylor, Minnesota
RB – Detroit, Mich. – Walled Lake Western

Rushed 33 times for 193 yards and one touchdown in a 25-6 win against Eastern Michigan
His 193 yards were second most in school history for a true freshman, behind Darrell Thompson who rushed for 205 yards against Bowling Green in 1986
Added 13 receiving yards to finish with 206 all-purpose yards
Earns the first Freshman of the Week honor of his career
Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Athan Kaliakmanis (Nov. 28, 2022)

TOLEDO SCORES ITS MOST POINTS IN 72 YEARS IN 71-3 VICTORY OVER TEXAS SOUTHERN

EMU's Tanner Knue Selected to Wear 'The Deuce' in 2023

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Every year, changes take place during football season. And while the leaves on Midwest trees might be the first thing that comes to mind, another is equally as significant: changing jersey numbers. There are numerous reasons for a player to request certain numbers, each as unique as the player making the selection.

Then, there is 'The Deuce'. This jersey is special. It cannot be selected by a player through conventional means, such as requesting it through the equipment staff. Rather, the selection is made by a player through his actions on the field and off. He earns 'The Deuce' by demonstrating he possesses the integrity, character, and selflessness of EMU's football student-athletes and representatives strive to build within themselves.

For Eastern football, 'The Deuce', must be earned in remembrance of wide receiver Demarius Reed, who passed away on Oct. 18, 2013. Put back into circulation in 2017 with the blessing of Reed's family and former teammates, his number once again graces the field at Rynearson Stadium on the back of the squad's best senior pass catcher.

Following the team's final practice of fall camp, Aug. 31, inside Rynearson Stadium, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced graduate student Tanner Knue (Mason, Ohio/Mason) had earned the honor to don the No. 2 jersey. Knue, who previously wore No. 24, will have 'The Deuce' on his back Friday, Sept. 1, when the Eagles play host to the Bison of Howard University at 6:30 p.m. at Rynearson Stadium

Knue is coming off a strong 2022 campaign in which the All-Mid-American Conference Third Team honoree pulled down 45 catches for 632 yards and nine touchdowns, the third-most receiving scores in a single season in program history. Also named All-MAC Fourth Team by Phil Steele, Knue posted a 100-yard receiving performance against the University at Buffalo, Sept. 24, and twice pulled down multiple touchdowns in a game, including two in the opener against Eastern Kentucky University, Sept. 2, and two at Kent State University, Nov. 16.

Affectionately known as 'D. Reed' by his teammates, Reed was a natural-born leader that made friends easily. He excelled both athletically and academically throughout his life, and quickly became a leader both on and off the field at EMU. Known as the "locker room joker", Reed impacted everyone he met.

"When former teammates and Demarius' father both thought that this new tradition was a great way to honor his memory, we knew we got it right," added Creighton. "I truly believe that wearing 'The Deuce' will forever be a special honor in this program."

EMU has continued to recognize Reed's influence on the football program since his passing. His jersey is buried at midfield under the Block E logo inside Rynearson Stadium, while a plaque now memorializes his accomplishments inside the locker room at the Student-Athlete Performance Center.

Indiana, Ohio State and Penn State Earn Weekly Football Honors
Hoosiers’ Campbell, Buckeyes’ Stroud, along with Nittany Lions’ Brown and Singleton garner accolades

Following Week 3 contests, the Big Ten Conference Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Players of the Week, and the Freshman of the Week were announced this morning. Below are this week's honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
QB – So. – Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. – Rancho Cucamonga

Completed 18 of 20 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone, finishing with 367 yards passing and five touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ 77-21 win over Toledo
Recorded a completion percentage of more than 80 percent for the fourth time, while his 256.8 passing efficiency was the second highest of his career
Leads the nation with 11 touchdown passes, ranks second in passing efficiency (208.6) and ranks among the top 10 quarterbacks in five different categories: yards per pass attempt (4th, 11.07), points responsible for (7th, 66), points responsible for per game (7th, 22.0), completion percentage (8th, .729), passing yards per game (9th, 313.7)
Earns his third career Offensive Player of the Week award and his 10th career weekly honor
Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: C.J. Stroud (Nov. 22, 2021)

Defensive Player of the Week
Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State
S – Sr. – Trenton, N.J. – Trenton Central

Tallied five tackles (four solo), a sack, a forced fumble and an interception to help Penn State defeat Auburn 41-12 and become the first Big Ten school to sweep a home-and-home series against an SEC opponent since 2012
Recorded a strip-sack in the third quarter, his first career sack and second career forced fumble, before adding his seventh career interception in the third and returning it for 27 yards
The Nittany Lions’ 41 points marked the most allowed by Auburn to a non-conference opponent at home since 2001 (41 vs. Louisiana Tech in a 48-41 overtime win)
Earns the second Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career and his first of the season
Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Ji’Ayir Brown (Nov. 8, 2021)

Special Teams Player of the Week
Charles Campbell, Indiana
PK – Jr. – Jackson, Tenn. – University School of Jackson

Notched his second career four-field goal game to tie the program single-game record in Indiana’s 33-30 overtime victory over Western Kentucky
Recorded a 51-yard field goal to win the game, his fourth career make from 50-plus yards and Indiana’s first walk-off field goal since 2016
His four field goals tied for the most in the FBS in Week Three and he was one of four place kickers to convert a 50-plus yard field goal
The Academic All-Big Ten honoree garners the second Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career and his first since Nov. 2, 2020
Last Indiana Special Teams Player of the Week: Haydon Whitehead (Dec. 7, 2020)

Freshman of the Week
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
RB – Shillington, Pa. – Governor Mifflin

Finished with 10 rushes for 124 yards and two touchdowns in Penn State’s 41-12 win at Auburn, becoming the first PSU true freshman running back with back-to-back 100-yard games since Noah Cain in 2019
With runs of 54 and 53 yards, Singleton now has five runs of 40+ yards this season and three over 50 yards to lead the country
His 334 yards are the most rushing yards by a Penn State freshman through first three games of a season, passing Saquon Barkley’s mark of 311 in 2015
Earns the second Freshman of the Week honor of his career and second in as many weeks
Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Nicholas Singleton (Sept. 12, 2022)

Game Four Previews
• Week 4 of the 2023 Big Ten season features nine games, highlighted by five conference matchups. Purdue will host divisional foe Wisconsin on Friday, while Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and Penn State welcome Rutgers, Maryland, Minnesota and Iowa, respectively. The complete schedule appears to the right.

• Four Big Ten teams appear in the AP Poll this week. Michigan leads the conference at No. 2, followed by No. 6 Ohio State, No. 7 Penn State and No. 24 Iowa. Maryland and Wisconsin are both receiving votes.

• Six Big Ten teams remain undefeated on the season, as Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers are all 3-0.

• Ohio State and Penn State currently rank among the top 20 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Buckeyes rank second nationally in scoring defense, allowing an average of 6.7 points per game, while ranking No. 20 in scoring offense (40.3 points per game). The Nittany Lions rank No. 13 nationally in scoring defense (11.7 points per game), while ranking 14th in scoring offense (43.7 points per game).

• Four additional Big Ten teams rank in the top 25 in terms of scoring defense: Michigan (1st, 5.3 points per game), Rutgers (7th, 10.0 points per game), Iowa (18th, 12.3 points per game) and Maryland (21st, 13.3 points per game).

• The Nittany Lions are set to hold their 15th full-stadium Penn State White Out on Saturday against Iowa. The tradition stretches back to a student section White Out in 2004. Penn State’s first full-stadium White Out was against Notre Dame in 2007. Penn State meets Iowa for the 32nd time in the series. Penn State holds a 17-14 advantage in the series. However, the teams are tied 11-11 as Big Ten foes.

• Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. hauled in the 100th reception of his career in Saturday’s 63-10 victory against Western Kentucky. He entered the game with 97 career catches and finished with five catches for 126 yards and one touchdown. His 75-yard touchdown reception was the longest of his career, surpassing a 71-yard catch against Youngstown State last week. Additionally, junior running back TreVeyon Henderson became the 28th Buckeye to join the Ohio State career 2,000-yard rushing club after rushing for 88 on Saturday.

• Wisconsin’s Hunter Wohler led the Badgers defensively last weekend, picking off two passes in a 35-14 win over Georgia Southern. The junior made a team-high 10 tackles, including a sack, to become the first Badger to pick off two passes in a game since John Torchio vs. Purdue on Oct. 22, 2022. Wohler is just the second player in the country and first in the Big Ten this season to record two interceptions and a sack in the same game.

• Michigan is building on an 18-game home winning streak dating back to 2021. It is the longest home winning streak under Harbaugh and the program’s best since a 21-game streak from 1998-2001 under coach Lloyd Carr. This weekend against Rutgers, the Wolverines have a chance to build on a 14-game Big Ten win streak, the program’s longest since a 16-game conference streak spanning 1996-98.

• Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai rushed for 143 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 16 carries (8.9 yards per carry) in the Scarlet Knights’ 35-16 win against Virginia Tech, marking the first time a Scarlet Knight topped 100 rushing yards in consecutive games since 2016. The junior ripped off a 55-yard touchdown in a one-score game in the fourth quarter, his longest career carry and longest by a Scarlet Knight since 2020.

• The 2023 campaign will feature 99 All-Big Ten honorees (first-, second-, third-team or honorable mention) selected by either the coaches or the media last season, with Ohio State leading the way with 16 all-conference returnees. The East Division welcomes back 56 all-conference players, while the West returns 43. Illinois is the only West team with double-digit all-conference returnees with 10, while each team has at least one All-Big Ten performer returning.

• The Big Ten finished last season with three teams ranked in the AP Top 25, tying for the third-most of any conference. All three teams finished in the Top 10, marking the second straight year that the conference had three top 10 teams at the end of the season. The 2023 AP Preseason Poll also featured five Big Ten teams in No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Penn State, No. 19 Wisconsin, and No. 25 Iowa, while Illinois and Minnesota are both receiving votes.

• Last season, the Big Ten posted the fifth-highest single-season attendance total in conference history with 6,333,196 fans attending home games. Excluding 2020, this marked the ninth consecutive season and 10th time in 11 seasons that more than six million fans have attended Big Ten home football games.

• This season’s Playoff Semifinals will take place Monday, January 1, 2024, at the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Rose Bowl. Houston will host the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 8, 2024, at NRG Stadium. The College Football Playoff matches the No. 1 ranked team vs. No. 4, and No. 2 vs. No. 3 in semifinal games that rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl Game.

B1G Football Players of the Week 3

Maryland, Minnesota, Rutgers and Wisconsin Earn Weekly Football Honors
Terrapins’ Wisloski, Gophers’ Taylor, Scarlet Knights’ Monangai and Badgers’ Wohler garner accolades

Following Week 3 contests, the Big Ten Conference Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Players of the Week, and the Freshman of the Week were announced this morning. Below are this week's honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week
Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
RB – Jr. – Roseland, N.J. – Don Bosco Prep

Rushed for 143 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 16 carries (8.9 yards per carry) in the Scarlet Knights’ 35-16 win against Virginia Tech, marking the first time a Scarlet Knight topped 100 rushing yards in consecutive games since 2016
Ripped off a 55-yard touchdown in a one-score game in the fourth quarter, his longest career carry and longest by a Scarlet Knight since 2020
The three rushing scores were the most by a Rutgers player in a game since 2019 and his 357 yards this season leads the Big Ten through three weeks
The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns his first career Offensive Player of the Week award
Last Rutgers Offensive Player of the Week: Gary Nova (Dec. 1, 2014)

Defensive Player of the Week
Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
S – Jr. – Muskego, Wis. – Muskego

Picked off two passes in Wisconsin's 35-14 win over Georgia Southern and made a team-high 10 tackles, including a sack, to become the first Badger to pick off two passes in a game since John Torchio vs. Purdue on Oct. 22, 2022
Recorded 10 tackles to improve his streak of 10+ tackles per game to three straight games, becoming the first Badger to do so since Leo Chenal in 2021
Just the second player in the country and first in the Big Ten this season to record two interceptions and a sack in the same game
The Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns the first Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career
Last Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week: John Torchio (Oct. 24, 2022)

Special Teams Player of the Week
Braedan Wisloski, Maryland
WR – Fr. – Elysburg, Pa. – Southern Columbia Area

Jumpstarted Maryland to scoring 42 consecutive points by taking a kickoff return 98 yards for a touchdown in Maryland's win over Virginia
It was Wisloski's first career touchdown and it marked the first time a Terp returned a kickoff for a touchdown since Javon Leake had a 97-yard score against Michigan on Nov. 2, 2019
Marked the longest kickoff return for a Maryland player since Leake equaled a school record with a 100-yard return at Rutgers on Oct. 5, 2019
Garners the first Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career
Last Maryland Special Teams Player of the Week: Chad Ryland (Nov. 28, 2022)

Freshman of the Week
Darius Taylor, Minnesota
RB – Detroit, Mich. – Walled Lake Western

Made his first career start at running back for the Gophers at North Carolina, finishing the game with 22 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown, while adding a 25-yard reception
After running for 193 yards last week against Eastern Michigan, Taylor became the first Gopher true freshman to run for 100+ yards in consecutive weeks since Laurence Maroney did so in November of 2003
His two-yard touchdown run with 0:30 left in the first half at North Carolina was his second in as many games
Earns the second Freshman of the Week honor of his career
Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Darius Taylor (Sept. 11, 2023)

ROCKETS OPEN MAC SEASON WITH HOME CONTEST VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN THIS SATURDAY

TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo Rockets open their 2023 conference season with a full head of steam coming off victories over Texas Southern and San Jose State.

Toledo (2-1, 0-0 MAC) hosts Western Michigan at the Glass Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 23 (1:30 p.m./ESPN+) in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. It is the third of four straight home games for the Rockets.

Toledo scored 14 unanswered points and shut out San Jose State in the fourth quarter to come away with a 21-17 victory at the Glass Bowl on Sept. 16. The Rockets trailed the Spartans 17-7 midway through the third quarter when junior quarterback Dequan Finn scampered for an 18-yard touchdown to put the Rockets within three, 17-14. Five minutes later, senior cornerback Chris McDonald returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown that proved to be the game-winner.

The Rockets' defense took control in the fourth quarter, holding San Jose State to just 43 yards of offense in the final 15 minutes to seal the victory.

The close victory over San Jose State comes on the heels of a 71-3 blowout of Texas Southern on Sept. 9.

Western Michigan (1-2, 0-0 MAC) is coming off a 41-10 loss at Iowa. The Broncos opened the season with a 35-17 win over St. Francis before falling at Syracuse, 48-7. Saturday's game will be the third consecutive road contest for WMU. The Broncos are led by redshirt freshman running back Jalen Buckley, who leads the MAC in rushing with 311 yards.

Toledo vs. Western Michigan
Saturday, Sept. 23 - 1:30 p.m.
The Glass Bowl

EMU gives UMass the Boot in final minutes

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University put together a five-play, 77-yard drive, culminating in a 50-yard touchdown reception from Austin Smith (Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove) to Hamze El-Zayat (Dearborn, Mich./Fordson/Fordham) with 1:20 left in the ballgame to give the Eagles a 19-17 win over the University of Massachusetts Minutemen Saturday, Sept. 16, at 'The Factory' inside Rynearson Stadium. The triumph, the Eagles' 11th-consecutive at home against non-conference opponents, improved Eastern Michigan's record to 2-1 on the season while the Minutemen fell to 1-3

Samson Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge/Iowa) paced the Eagles rushing attack by accumulating 89 yards over the course of the game, averaging 11.1 yards per carry, a career-high clip for the graduate student. Jaylon Jackson (Burleson, Tex./Centennial/Lamar) also added 83 yards and one touchdown on the ground, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Bennett Walker (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry/San Diego Mesa) showed out for the Eastern Michigan defense, collecting two interceptions, the first for an EMU player since 2019. Quentavius Scandrett (Hampton, Ga./Lovejoy) added one interception and Chase Kline (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon/Michigan State) had 11 tackles, 3.0 TFLs including 2.0 sacks, and one forced fumble in the win.

The Eagles won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing four turnovers for the first time since the 2019 season, turning those takeaways into 10 points. Eastern put together a stellar showing on the ground, logging 214 rushing yards while averaging 8.2 yards per carry and out-rushing UMass by 90 yards, all of which are season-highs. Defensively, Eastern Michigan stood firm against the UMass rushing attack, holding the Minutemen to 124 yards on the ground. The Eagles' defense disrupted the UMass passing attack on the way to recording three interceptions and breaking up seven Minutemen passes.

How It Happened
Eastern Michigan grabbed a 3-0 lead over UMass after scoring the game's first points with 2:31 left in the first quarter. The Eagles then extended the lead to 10-0 with another score by Jackson.

UMass temporarily took control of the lead, building a 17-13 advantage late in the game before the Eagles scored again with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Smith to El-Zayat, putting EMU back in front, 19-17. After a last-minute attack in their final drive of the game, the Minutemen would hand the Eagles back possession for the EMU offense to assume victory formation, taking consecutive knees to run out the clock, resulting in a 19-17 Eastern Michigan win.

MAC Football Players of the Week -4

MAC Football East Division Offensive Player of the Week
Gage Larvadain, Miami, WR
Junior, Donaldsonville, La. (Riverside Academy)
Gage Larvadain finished Saturday's contest with eight catches for 273 yards and three touchdowns, helping the RedHawks to a 41-28 win at Massachusetts. The 273 yards, which ranks second all-time in program history, was highlighted by a 99-yard touchdown pass from Brett Gabbert.

MAC Football East Division Defensive Player of the Week
CJ Nunnally, Akron, DL
Junior, Douglasville, Ga. (South Paulding)
CJ Nunnally provided a spark on the defensive line for Akron, helping them to a 24-21 win over Morgan State in their home opener at InfoCision Stadium on Saturday. With less than a minute to play, Nunnally forced a fumble to setup the game-winning touchdown. He forced the fumble at the Morgan State 13-yardline, stripping the Bears QB J.J. Davis of the ball, allowing teammate LB Bryan McCoy to recover the loose ball and score the game-winning touchdown. In addition, Nunnally opened the game with back-to-back sacks, recording two of the Zips four sacks on the game. His sacks totaled 10-yards of loss and posted a third tackle for an eight-yard loss. In all, Nunnally registered four tackles, three solo and one assisted, with three tackles for losses.

MAC Football East Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Graham Nicholson, Miami, Kicker
Junior, Cincinnati, Ohio (Summit Country Day)
Graham Nicholson was perfect in Saturday's 41-28 win at UMass. The junior drilled a pair of field goals (44 and 33 yards) and was 4-of-4 on extra points. He also had five touchbacks on eight attempts.
MAC Football West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Bert Emanuel, Jr., Central Michigan, Quarterback
Redshirt Freshman, Houston, Texas (Ridge Point H.S.)
Responsible for a career-best four touchdowns (two rushing, two passes) and finished with 294 total yards. 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 his second career 100-yard rushing performance. Emanuel Jr.’s two rushing touchdowns came on a 66-yard touchdown on his second carry of the game and a 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The 66-yard TD run marked his fourth career run of 60 yards or more and his eighth career rushing touchdown. Emanuel, Jr.’s threw touchdown passes of 31 yards to Tyson Davis in the second quarter and 32 yards to Jesse Prewitt III in the fourth quarter. His long pass covered 56 yards to Chris Parker, the longest pass of his career.

MAC Football West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Judge Culpepper, Toledo, Defensive Tackle
Senior, Tampa, Fla. (Plant)
Senior defensive tackle Judge Culpepper had a career-high two sacks among his four tackles in Toledo's 71-3 win over Texas Southern. Culpepper added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
MAC Football West Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Marion Lukes, Central Michigan, Kickoff Returner/Running Back
Junior, Charlestown, Ind. (Charlestown H.S.)
Registered his second career kickoff return for touchdown on an 86-yarder in the second quarter. He also returned a kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown vs. Eastern Michigan on Nov. 26, 2021. That was the last time CMU scored on a kickoff return. Led Central Michigan in all-purpose yards with 171 (9 rushing, 5 receiving, 157 kickoff returns). Finished with four kickoff returns for 157 yards and also rushed for nine yards on five carries.