Preview capsules of this weekend’s games http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=...

Preview capsules of this weekend's college football games

Published: Friday, September 14, 2012, 12:11 AM Updated: Friday, September 14, 2012, 12:22 AM

Plain Dealer staff and wire reports By

Football Bowl Subdivision

Top 25

No. 12 State vs. California

Kickoff: Noon at , Columbus.

TV/radio: WEWS Channel 5; WKNR AM/850.

Notable: The teams are meeting for the first time in 40 years. The Buckeyes are trying to open 3-0 for the second time in three years. The key to making that happen might be QB Braxton Miller, who ranks fourth in the nation in rushing with 302 yards on 44 carries with four touchdowns. The sophomore has completed 66.7 percent (32-of-48) of his passes for 399 yards with three TDs and an interception. Starting RB Carlos Hyde suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament last week and is expected to miss this game. That View full size John Miller, Associated Press means freshman Bri'onte Dunn and Toledo quarterback Terrance Owens and the Rockets face Mid-American sophomore Rod Smith should see extended Conference rival Bowling Green on Saturday in Toledo. playing time. California (1-1) has one of the poorer run defenses in the nation, allowing 149.5 ypg. The Bears feature WR Keenan Allen, who had two touchdowns -- one on a 69-yard punt return -- in a 50-31 win over Southern Utah last Saturday.

Next for OSU: Sept. 22 vs. Alabama-Birmingham, noon.

-- From staff and wire reports

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Mid-American Conference

Akron vs. Morgan State

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. InfoCision Stadium, Akron.

Radio: WARF AM/1350.

Notable: Akron (0-2) gets to unleash its spread offense (368.0 ypg) on Morgan State (1-1), a Football Championship Subdivision team that just allowed MAC member Buffalo to notch a 56-34 victory. Akron's defense (413.5 ypg) has to get its act together against the Bears to lock down Terry Bowden's first win with the Zips.

Next for Akron: Sept. 22 at Tennessee.

Miami (Ohio) at Boise State

Kickoff: 4 p.m. Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho.

Notable: Miami (1-1) can make a statement with a road win at rebuilding Boise (0-1), but it will take a better defensive effort than what the RedHawks have delivered so far (443.5 ypg allowed). Miami does have the offense to get the job done with Zac Dysert (529 yards, two TDs) and WR Andy Cruze (20 rec., 108 yards, one TD). The Broncos lost their opener at No. 13 Michigan State, 17-13, on Aug. 31.

Next for Miami: Sept. 22 vs. Massachusetts.

Ohio at Marshall

Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. at Edwards Stadium, Huntington, W.Va.

Notable: The Bobcats (2-0) are the lone undefeated MAC team and will put that on the line in this Ohio River rivalry against Marshall (1-1). Marshall has scored 86 points and rolled up 1,160 yards of total offense in its first two games. OU's defense, ranked No. 1 in the MAC (279.0 ypg allowed), will be tested.

Next for OU: Sept. 22 vs. Norfolk State.

Bowling Green at Toledo

Kickoff: 7 p.m. at the , Toledo.

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TV: ESPNU.

Notable: The home opener for Toledo (1-1) will be a quarterback battle with Bowling Green (1-1). The Rockets will unleash 6-4 senior Terrance Owens (434 yards passing, five TDs), while the Falcons will counter with senior Matt Schilz (487 yards passing, one TD). The key could be which defense steps up and slows the opposition.

Next for BG: Sept. 22 at Virginia Tech.

Next for Toledo: Sept. 22 vs. Coastal Carolina.

-- Elton Alexander

Division II

The Cleveland Classic

Morehouse vs. No. 5 Winston-Salem St.

Kickoff: Noon at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland.

Notable: These teams are ranked No. 1 (WSSU) and No. 2 in the Heritage Radio Sports Network Historically Black Colleges and Universities poll. WSSU's Rams (2-0) are coming off of a 30-22 road win over Concord, a Division II playoff team a year ago. Morehouse's Maroon Tigers are 1-1 after handling Edward Waters, 39-18, last week. Rams QB Kameron Smith threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns against Concord and in that game became his school's all-time leading passer with 4,647 yards. His favorite target has been WR Jameze Massey, who had six catches for 173 yards and one touchdown. RB Maurice Lewis ran for 134 yards on 27 carries with two TDs. Morehouse also had a milestone game against Edward Waters, as RB David Carter rushed for 208 yards and three touchdowns. That allowed him to become his school's career rushing leader with 3,848 yards. Don't miss the halftime show, when the marching bands from each school will try to outdo the other.

Lake Erie at No. 19 Wayne State (Mich.)

Kickoff: Noon at Adams Field, Detroit.

Radio: WFUN AM/970.

Notable: Lake Erie (0-2, 0-1 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) lost its GLIAC opener at home last week to Ferris State, 49-21. The Storm forced four turnovers in the loss, including a pair of interceptions by sophomore Stacy Woodford, who also had 10 tackles. Freshman Anthony Bilal (Riverside) rushed for 99 yards on 12 carries; and freshman Anthony Kukwa (Perry) caught two TD passes from Patrick Nicely (Willoughby

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South). Wayne State (0-1, 0-1) lost at Ashland last week, 7-0. Mickey Mohner (Harvey) completed 10-of-19 throws for 86 yards for the Warriors, who were the Division II national runner-up a year ago.

Next for LEC: Sept. 22 vs. Saginaw Valley, 7.

Notre Dame College vs. Northwood (Mich.)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Brush High School's Korb Field, Lyndhurst.

Notable: Notre Dame is 1-1 and is sporting one of the most dangerous offenses in the nation. The Falcons have scored 105 points (sixth NCAA Division II) while rolling up 1,084 total yards (third) over their first two weeks. Running back Pedro Powell leads DII in rushing with 483 yards, and he has already scored seven touchdowns. NDC will be facing a 2-0 Northwood squad that boasts a strong running game and a solid defense.

Next for NDC: Sept. 22 vs. Hillsdale (Mich.), 1.

Division III

No. 15 Baldwin Wallace at John Carroll

Kickoff: 6 p.m. at JCU's Stadium, University Heights.

Notable: BW, ranked 15th, plays crosstown rival JCU (1-0) for the 52nd time overall. This will be the 24th time they play for the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl Trophy. BW leads the all-time series, 24-23-4, and the Gold Bowl series, 12-11, by virtue of its 43-35 win in Berea last season. BW will be led on offense by senior QB Ryan O'Rourke (Avon), who in last week's win over Bluffton completed 12 of 16 passes for 216 yards. Included in those numbers were TD passes of 35 and 20 yards to junior transfer and Offensive Player of the Week Cory Lanterman (Streetsboro). Senior DE and OAC Defensive Player of the Week Joe Fitch (Elyria Catholic) had 21/2 sacks. Junior speedster and OAC Special Teams Player of the Week Kevin Johnson (St. Ignatius) returned a kickoff 94 yards for a TD. JCU is led by sophomore transfer QB Mark Myers (St. Ignatius). In the season-opening win two weeks ago against St. Norbert (Wis.) in Ireland, Myers hit on 30 of 43 passes for a school-record 457 yards and five TDs. Senior WRs Lane Robilotto (Riverside) and junior Alex Kline combined to catch 17 passes for 259 yards with two grabs each. The defense was led by senior LB Ethan Jones and sophomore ILB Jimmy King (Lake Catholic) with eight tackles each. The home team has won the past 10 meetings, and BW hasn't won at JCU since 1998.

Next for BW: Sept. 22 at Muskingum, 1:30.

Next for JCU: Sept. 22 at Otterbein, 2.

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Case Western Reserve vs. Frostburg State

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Case Field, Cleveland.

Notable: CWRU (2-0) opens its home schedule after beating Hiram last week. That win gave the Spartans a 50-6 overall record since the beginning of the 2007 season. CWRU is 9-1 in its past 10 home openers, with seven of the wins coming under coach Greg Debeljak. Senior QB Erik Olson turned in a career effort against Hiram with 473 yards passing and four TDs. Defensively, senior NG Michael Harris (Shaker Heights) has 13 tackles and a pair of sacks; and senior end Adam Watson (Mentor) has 10 tackles, a half-sack and a 38-yard blocked punt return for a score. The Spartans rank 17th in the nation in rush defense (40.5 ypg) and are tied for 20th with eight sacks. Saturday's game will mark the first football meeting between CWRU and Frostburg State (1-1).

Next for CWRU: Sept. 22, at Ohio Wesleyan, 7.

No. 2 Mount Union vs. Muskingum

Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Mount Union Stadium, Alliance.

TV: SportsTime Ohio, delayed (Sunday at 5 a.m.; Monday at noon).

Notable: Mount opens up Ohio Athletic Conference action. The Purple Raiders won their 25th consecutive season opener with a 45-7 win at No. 13 Franklin on Sept. 1. Senior WR Chris Denton returned two punts for touchdowns and had a game-high seven catches for 89 yards; and senior RB T.J. Lattimore (Maple Heights) rushed for two scores on 74 yards rushing. Sophomore Kevin Burke (St. Edward) threw for 243 yards and a score while rushing for 51 yards. Muskingum (0-1) saw Waynesburg (Pa.) score 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and lost its home opener, 34-23, Sept. 1.

Next for Mount: Sept. 22 at Marietta, 6.

-- Compiled using information from the colleges' sports-information departments.

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