MAC – POW- Schedule- News Tidbits
Coaching Pressers
MAC Football Players of the Week- Week 4
MAC Football Co-Offensive Players of the Week
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green, TE
Junior, Canton, Ohio (McKinley)
Harold Fannin had an outstanding performance this weekend leading all MAC receivers with 145 yards. He recorded eight receptions, including a 65-yard touchdown reception on BGSU’s first play from scrimmage in the second half. The TD was the longest offensive score allowed by Texas A&M’s defense since October 2022. Notably, 97 of his 145 receiving yards came after the catch. This game marked his third career 100-yard receiving game (and second this season). Of the six instances in BGSU history where a tight end has surpassed 100 yards receiving in a game, he owns three, with two of his top performances this year coming against then-No. 8 Penn State and then-No. 25 Texas A&M.
B.J. Harris, Central Michigan, RB
Senior, Chattanooga, Tenn. (McCallie School)
B.J. Harris rushed for a career-high 151 yards on eight carries, including a 71-yard run, 41-yard run and 25-yard run to setup the game-winning touchdown pass. Averaged 18.9 yards per carry. Also caught two passes for five years. Led the Chippewas in all-purpose yards with a career-high 156 yards.
MAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Shaun Dolac, Buffalo, LB
Graduate, West Seneca, NY (West Seneca East)
Shaun Dolac had a career-high 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a game-changing interception in Buffalo’s 23-20 win over Northern Illinois. Of his 19 tackles, 15 were solo. With the game tied, 17-17, in the fourth quarter and the Huskies driving, Dolac picked off Ethan Hampton’s pass and returned it 53 yards to the NIU 20-yard line, setting up the go ahead field goal.
MAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Jesús Gómez, Eastern Michigan, K
Senior, Puebla, Mexico (Prepa Tec Puebla)
Jesús Gómez continued his outstanding form as the lefty kicker accounted for 12 points with three field goals and three extra points recorded on the day. Gómez, who was good from 49, 40, and 37-yards, has now scored at least eight points in all four games this year after scoring eight at UMass (Aug. 31), nine at Washington (Sept. 7), 13 against Jacksonville State (Sept. 14), and 12 against SFU. He has connected on multiple field goals in all four games, including three makes in each of the last three games for the Eagles with his 11 makes rank him one of just two players nationally to have made 10+ field goals already this season. Overall, Gómez leads the MAC with 42 points scored this year with the next closest player having scored 30.
Saturday, September 28
Northern Illinois at NC State, 12 pm ET (The CW)
Buffalo at UConn, 12 pm ET (CBSSN)
Ball State at James Madison, 1:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
*Akron at Ohio, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
*Eastern Michigan at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Western Michigan at Marshall, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
San Diego State at Central Michigan, 3:30 pm ET (CBSSN)
UMass at Miami, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Old Dominion at Bowling Green, 5 pm ET (ESPN+)
Two Minute Drill
• Buffalo went on the road and defeated 23rd-ranked Northern Illinois, 23-20, in overtime on Saturday afternoon to open Mid-American Conference play. It was the Bulls’ second win over a ranked opponent in program history. Led by linebacker Shaun Dolac, the defense kept the Bulls in the game early until the offense got its footing. Dolac had one of the greatest games in program history, finishing with a career-high 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a game-changing interception. In overtime, Marquis Cooper blocked a NIU field goal attempt before Upton Bellenfant connected on a 37-yard field goal to secure the walk-off win for the Bulls. Overall, Buffalo improved to 3-1 for the first time since 2020 and just the third time in their FBS era.
• Joe Labas found Chris Parker for a 20-yard touchdown pass with just 16 seconds remaining to lift Central Michigan to a 37-34 win over Ball State on Saturday. This marked the second-straight season the Chippewas opened MAC play with a victory. Bert Emanuel was responsible for three touchdowns (two rushing and one passing) while B.J. Harris rushed for a career-high 151 yards on eight carries, including a 71-yard run, 41-yard run and 25-yard run to set up the game-winning touchdown pass.
• Eastern Michigan defeated Saint Francis, 36-0, in its non-conference finale on Saturday. The Eagles improved to 3-1 on the season and closed their non-conference slate with their first shutout victory since 2008 as EMU scored one touchdown each on the ground, through the air, on a defensive fumble return and on a blocked punt.
• Heading into Week 5 action, the MAC has defeated seven non-conference FBS opponents this year. The MAC has now defeated at least seven non-conference FBS opponents in the same season 23 times since 2000 and is currently on a 19-year streak with at least seven victories against FBS foes (minus 2020 due to COVID).
• The MAC has established a new football scheduling model that will go into effect starting this season. The new scheduling model will eliminate the MAC East and West Divisions. The top two teams based on conference winning percentage will compete in the MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
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