Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect a correction. The game between Central Michigan and Ball State had been incorrectly labeled in the online version only.
Upsets and comebacks highlighted week nine of Mid-American Conference as teams start to eye postseason football.
Northern Illinois 31, Buffalo 30
Two weeks after defeating Ohio by one point, the Bulls found themselves in another nail-biter. This time, they didn’t have luck on their side.
Buffalo trailed 31-10 heading into the fourth quarter when their defense took control. The Bulls did not allow the Huskies a first down during the last fifteen minutes of play, allowing their offense a chance to close the gap. Chazz Anderson threw for three touchdowns on the Bulls’ final four drives.
With 14 seconds remaining, Buffalo needed an extra point to send the game into overtime. Buffalo kicker Peter Fardon, who made a 31-yard field goal earlier in the game, could not pull through under pressure and missed the extra point.
“When you see the statistics, it’s a heartbreaker,” Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn said. “This wasn’t a physical loss, it was a mental one.”
Northern Illinois tiptoed away with the victory. They will have a few extra days to prepare to play Toledo Nov. 1 in a mid-week challenge.
Buffalo, still seeking its first road win, will travel to Miami for its next game.
Bowling Green 13, Temple 10
After three quarters of football, the Owls and the Falcons had each managed only one field goal and had combined for ten punts. With 11:40 to play, Bernard Pierce broke the monotony when he scored on a two-yard run to give Temple their first lead of the game.
Down by four points, Bowling Green quarterback Matt Schilz completed a picturesque fade pass on fourth-and-nine to Shaun Joplin to regain the lead. The Falcons fended off three more Temple drives to secure the upset.
“I really felt that penalties took us off schedule,” said Temple coach Steve Addazio, whose team was flagged 12 times.
Bowling Green will carry their momentum to Kent State next Saturday for a MAC East showdown against the Golden Flashes.
Ball State 31, Central Michigan 27
Early in the third quarter, the Chippewas led by 17 points. Late in the third, they trailed by four.
In a matter of minutes, Ball State, led by their sophomore quarterback Keith Wenning, stole the lead from Central Michigan and set up an exciting finish.
“It’s hard to imagine that we won the ball game, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt as shaken up … after a win as I did on Saturday,” Ball State coach Pete Lembo said.
The Chippewas regained the lead briefly in the fourth quarter, but the Cardinals quickly responded when Wenning connected with Jamill Smith for a 34-yard touchdown pass. Ball State’s defense forced two turnovers late in the game to seal their victory.
Wenning finished the game with a career high 325 yards and three touchdowns.
The Cardinals will square off against Western Michigan next weekend in search of their fourth conference victory of the season.
mm938910@ohiou.edu
