Mid-American Conference Football Weekly Release November 18, 2019 Football Contact: Ken Mather, Associate Commissioner for Media & Public Relations ([email protected]) Mid-American Conference, 24 Public Square, 15th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, 216-566-4622, GetSomeMACtion.com Become a fan of the Mid-American Conference on Facebook (GetSomeMACtion). Follow the MAC On Twitter @MACSports, Snapchat (MACSports) and Instagram (MACSports) MAC Standings MAC Storylines Conference Overall • Week 13 features five games -- on Tuesday, Nov. 19 will feature WEST DIVISION W L Pct. Stk H A W L Pct. Stk H A N Eastern Michigan at NIU at 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (ESPN2) and Western Michigan 5 2 .714 W3 4-0 1-2 7 4 .636 W3 6-0 1-4 - Ohio at Bowling Green at 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU). On Wednesday, Central Michigan 5 2 .714 W2 3-0 2-2 7 4 .636 W2 5-0 2-4 - Nov. 20 will witness Akron at Miami at 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU) and Toledo 3 3 .500 L1 3-1 0-2 6 4 .600 L1 5-1 1-3 - Toledo at Buffalo at 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2). On Saturday, Nov. 23 Ball State 3 3 .500 L3 1-2 2-1 4 6 .400 L3 2-3 2-2 0-1 Ball State heads to Kent State at Noon ET (ESPN+). Northern Illinois 3 3 .500 W1 1-1 2-2 4 6 .400 W1 2-1 2-5 - Eastern Michigan 2 4 .333 W1 1-2 1-2 5 5 .500 W1 2-2 3-3 - • The Wild MAC West! Currently there are two, three, four and Conference Overall five-way tie scenarios still possible in the MAC West Division. Western Michigan and Central Michigan lead with 5-2 records, EAST DIVISION W L Pct. Stk H A W L Pct. Stk H A N while Toledo, Ball State and NIU all sit with 3-3 league records. #Miami 5 1 .833 W4 3-0 2-1 6 4 .600 W4 4-0 2-4 - Buffalo 3 3 .500 L1 1-1 2-2 5 5 .500 L1 3-1 2-4 - • The MAC has four teams bowl eligible -- Central Michigan Ohio 3 3 .500 L2 1-3 2-0 4 6 .400 L2 2-4 2-2 - (7-4), Western Michigan (7-4), Toledo (6-4) and Miami (6-4). Kent State 3 3 .500 W1 2-1 1-2 4 6 .400 W1 3-1 1-5 - Both Buffalo (5-5) and Eastern Michigan (5-5) need one more Bowling Green 2 4 .333 L1 2-1 0-3 3 7 .300 L1 3-2 0-5 - victory for bowl eligibility. Akron 0 6 .000 L6 0-3 0-3 0 10 .000 L10 0-5 0-5 - # - East Champion • Midweek MACtion continues! The MAC will play 14 games on national television with games on Tuesday (8 games), Wednesday (5 games) and Thursday (1 game) during the final four weeks of the MAC WEEKLY NOTES regular season in November on national television with ESPN2, • Miami clinched the MAC East Division after a 44-3 win at Bowling Green on ESPNU, ESPN+ and CBS Sports Network providing coverage. Nov. 13 and Buffalo’s 30-27 loss at Kent State on Nov. 14. Miami will be making The MAC began midweek football in 1999 and this year marks its first trip to the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game since 2010. Miami the 21st season of MAC midweek football. quarterback Brett Gabbert threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns and running back Jaylin Bester added 85 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the victory. • Ohio head coach Frank Solich needs one more win to become the MAC’s all-time winningest head coach in league history. So- • Trailing 27-6 midway through the fourth quarter, Kent State completed a historic lich moved into a tie for first place on the MAC’s all-time career comeback and a 30-27 victory as kicker Matthew Trickett’s 44-yard field goal as head coaching wins list with a 34-21 win at Ball State on Oct. 26. time expired lifted Kent State to victory. Flashes running back Xavier Williams Solich has 110 career wins and needs one win to become the scored a seven-yard touchdown run and following a successful recovered onside all-time winningest coach in MAC history (110, Herb Deromedi, kick added a 41-yard scoring pass from Dustin Crum with both scores coming Central Michigan, 1978-93). Solich and the Bobcats will travel to in under 30 seconds. Kent State blocked Buffalo’s ensuing punt after a three-and- Bowling Green on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 pm ET on ESPNU. out series and Mike Carrigan’s five-yard touchdown pass from Crum tied the This Week’s MAC Schedule game, 27-27. Trickett’s game-winner was his second walk-off winner this season. Tuesday, November 19 *Eastern Michigan at NIU, 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT (ESPN2) • Northern Illinois posted a 21-point second half lead and held on for a 31-28 win *Ohio at Bowling Green, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU) at Toledo on Nov. 13. Huskies running back Tre Harbison rushed for a season- high 168 yards on 32 carries and one touchdown. NIU freshman kicker John Wednesday, November 20 Richardson nailed a 25-yard field goal with 41 seconds left in regulation for his *Akron at Miami, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU) second game winning field goal of the season. *Toledo at Buffalo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2) Saturday, November 23 • Western Michigan won its first road game of the year with a 37-34 overtime *Ball State at Kent State, Noon ET (ESPN+) win at Ohio on Nov. 12. Western Michigan wide receiver Skyy Moore led with a career-high 162 yards receiving and one touchdown, while running back LeVante Next Week’s MAC Schedule Bellamy’s four-yard rushing touchdown in overtime was the game-winner. West- Tuesday, November 26 ern Michigan quarterback Jon Wassink threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns, *Ohio at Akron, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+) while tight end Giovanni Ricci added two touchdown receptions. *Western Michigan at NIU, 7:00 pm ET/6:00 pm CT (ESPNU) • Central Michigan overcame three separate 17-point deficits in a thrilling 45-44 Friday, November 29 come-from-behind victory at Ball State on Nov. 16. Central Michigan running *Bowling Green at Buffalo, Noon ET (ESPN+) back Jonathan Ward rushed for 105 yards and four touchdowns, while quarter- *Kent State at Eastern Michigan, Noon ET (ESPN+) back Tommy Lazzaro rushed for two touchdowns, including the game-winner *Miami at Ball State, Noon ET (CBS Sports Network) with 1:01 left in regulation. Central Michigan quarterback Quinten Dormady *Toledo at Central Michigan, Noon ET (ESPNU) was 27-38 passing for 356 yards. Last Week’s MAC Games *Eastern Michigan 42, Akron 14 • Eastern Michigan exploded for 498 yards of offense and six rushing touchdowns *Western Michigan 37, Ohio 34 (OT) in a 42-14 win at Akron on Nov. 12. Eastern Michigan running back Shaq Vann *Miami 44, Bowling Green 3 had 28 carries for 142 yards rushing and four touchdowns, becoming the first *NIU 31, Toledo 28 Eagle running back with four rushing touchdowns since 2012. Eastern Michigan *Kent State 30, Buffalo 27 quarterback Mike Glass III was an efficient 20-25 passing for 246 yards in ex- *Central Michigan 45, Ball State 44 tremely cold and windy conditions in the win at Akron. *Mid-American Conference contest Mid-American Conference Football NOVEMBER 18, 2019 MAC DONATES $25,000 TO BAHAMAS RED CROSS MAC Players of the Week MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher presented a check for $25,000 to the Bahamas Red Cross Society to assist with disaster relief efforts in the East Division recent wake of Hurricane Dorian during a ceremony at Pompey Square in downtown Nassau, Bahamas on Oct. 30, 2019. Xavier Williams, Offensive Player of the Week Kent State, Sophomore, Running Back Steinbrecher, representing the entire 12-member MAC membership, joined representatives from ESPN Events, the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, Con- Kent State sophomore running back Xavier Wil- ference USA, the Capital One Orange Bowl and members of the Bahamian liams (Forestville, Md.) had his first two touch- government in presenting philanthropic donations to the Bahamas Red Cross down game of his career, helping spark a 30-27 Society. comeback win over Buffalo on Nov. 14. Williams had 98 total yards, including nine rushes for 47 “Through our participation in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, our member- yards rushing and one touchdown, and two catches for 56 yards and one score. He scored twice in un- ship has developed friendships and relationships with many in The Bahamas. der 30 seconds, running in from seven yards out, The tragedy of Hurricane Dorian left us mourning for the lives lost and the then took a pass 41 yards for the score. devastation to this beautiful country. The Mid-American Conference is humbly contributing to the Bahamian relief efforts to support and provide assistance Travion Banks, Defensive Player of the Week; to those in need,” said MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher. Miami, Senior, Defensive Back Miami senior defensive back Travion Banks (Evan- Previously, the MAC generously donated $50,000 to the Bahamas Red Cross ston, Ill.) had two interceptions and one tackle in a in October of 2016 during relief efforts due to Hurricane Matthew to show 44-3 win over Bowling Green on Nov.