MAC Week 12 Highlights and Coaching Pressers
MAC 13 POW
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday, November 18
*Western Michigan at Northern Illinois, 7 PM ET (ESPN2 | Live Stats)
*UMass at Ohio, 7 PM ET (CBSSN | Live Stats)
*Akron at Bowling Green, 7 PM ET (ESPNU | Live Stats)
Wednesday, November 19
*Miami at Buffalo, 7 PM ET (ESPN2 | Live Stats)
*Central Michigan at Kent State, 7 PM ET (ESPNU | Live Stats)
Saturday, November 22
*Ball State at Toledo, 2 PM ET (ESPN+ | Live Stats)
*Conference Game
Two-Minute Drill
• Kent State outlasted rival Akron 42-35 in overtime Tuesday night to reclaim the Wagon Wheel for the first time since 2022. Dru DeShields threw for 317 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner – a 25-yard strike to Ardell Banks on the first play of overtime.
• Western Michigan secured bowl eligibility after a 17-13 win over Ohio at Stafford-Smith Field at Waldo Stadium on Tuesday night. After being held to just three points in the first half, the Broncos rallied from a four-point deficit to score a touchdown in the third quarter and the fourth quarter, marking their third win this season when trailing at the half.
• Tucker Gleason threw for two touchdown passes and the Toledo defense continued its dominating play to lead the Rockets to a critical 24-3 victory over Miami. The victory moved Toledo into a five-way tie for second place in the Mid-American Conference and made the Rockets bowl-eligible for the 16th consecutive season, the sixth-longest streak in the nation.
• Central Michigan’s defense forced a season-high five turnovers and Joe Labas threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns as the Chippewas downed Buffalo, 38-19. The win made the Chippewas bowl eligible for the first time since 2021.
• Northern Illinois scored a season-high 45 points and rushed for 318 yards in a 45-3 victory at UMass on Wednesday night. Jalen Macon made his first start at NIU and accounted for four touchdowns.
• Eastern Michigan defeated Ball State, 24-9, as the Eagles handed host Ball State its first home loss of the year. Jamarien Wheeler had a career day as the wide receiver pulled in 131 yards on six grabs with one touchdown.
MAC Wk. 12 POW
MAC Football Offensive Player of the Week
Dru DeShields, Kent State, Quarterback
R-Sophomore, Beloit, OH (West Branch)
Dru DeShields had a career game, throwing for a career-high 317 yards and five touchdowns in Kent State’s 42-35 overtime win at Akron. DeShields’ five touchdown passes were the most by a Golden Flashes quarterback since Josh Cribbs at UCF in 2004.
DeShields completed 17 of 25 passes (68%) with zero interceptions, finding five different receivers for touchdowns. DeShields found Da’Realyst Clark on an 89-yard touchdown in the second quarter, giving the Flashes a 14-10 lead. After trailing 17-14 at halftime, DeShields would find Cade Wolford for 43 yards, Terik Mulder for 7 yards, and Da’Shawn Martin for 27 yards all in the third quarter to give the Flashes a 35-17 lead after three. After Akron came back to tie the game, DeShields would connect with Ardell Banks for the game-winning 25-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime.
MAC Football Co-Defensive Players of the Week
Michael Heldman, Central Michigan, Defensive Lineman
Senior, Romeo, Mich. (Romeo H.S.)
In Central Michigan’s 38-19 victory over Buffalo, defensive lineman Michael Heldman had a monster game with four tackles (2 sacks for 11 yards, 2 TFL’s), two pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. He registered his third pass breakup of the season in the first quarter when he tipped a pass which landed in the arms of Jordan Kwiatkowski, who returned it 48 yards for a touchdown and 7-3 lead. Heldman was disruptive all night long and played a role in virtually every big play for CMU’s defense, which recorded a season-high five turnovers (three fumble recoveries/two interceptions).
Mason Woods, Kent State, Linebacker
R-Senior, Woodbridge, Va.
Woods was all over the field, leading the Golden Flashes with 13 total tackles. Woods also made two tackles for loss and a sack in the 42-35 overtime win at Akron. One of Woods’ tackles for loss came on 1st and goal at the one, tackling Gant for a loss of one, where the Flashes would have a crucial goalline stand, holding the Zips to a field goal. Woods also had a tackle for loss on Gant on the first play of the Zips’ overtime possession, putting them in a difficult 2nd and 14, where they would not be able to pick up a first down, giving the Flashes a 42-35 win over the Zips, bringing the Wagon Wheel back to Kent.
MAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Charlie Durkin, Kent State, Punter
Senior, Akron, OH (Archbishop Hoban)
Charlie Durkin had a phenomenal game punting the ball six times for 245 yards (40.8) with three punts being pinned inside the 20. Durkin had one of the best punts in college football when he punted it to Akron’s eight and had backspin on the punt, where it would bounce into Akron’s Malcom DeWalt IV, and long snapper Gus Goodell would recover it for the Flashes at the nine. The Flashes’ offense took advantage of the turnover, scoring a three-yard touchdown two plays later. Durkin would also have two punts that pinned Akron at their own 10.
