Central Michigan tops Kent State

Associated Press

KENT

Jahray Hayes ran for two touchdowns and Cooper Rush threw for a third as Central Michigan kept its chances for a bowl invitation alive with a 27-14 win over Kent State Wednesday night.

Faced with the need to win their final two games to secure a winning season and a shot at the postseason, the Chippewas (6-5, 5-2 Mid-American) got halfway there on the strength of a 17-point first quarter.

Brian Eavey kicked a 23-yard field goal to open the scoring and Hayes punched in from the 2-yard line for a 10-0 lead. Rush found Ben McCord with an 11-yard touchdown pass to stretch the lead to 17-0.

Trayion Durham got the Golden Flashes (3-8, 2-5) on the board when he ran in from 3 yards out, and after Eavey kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it 20-7, Poland High product Colin Reardon found Johnny Woods with a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 20-14.

Northern Illinois 27, Western Michigan 19

DEKALB, Ill.

Jordan Huff ran for 159 yards on eight carries, including an 87-yard touchdown run, and Northern Illinois beat Western Michigan 27-19 Wednesday night.

Northern Illinois (8-3, 6-1) moved into a first-place tie in the Mid-American West with Toledo.

Huff’s score put the Huskies on top 14-3 early in the second quarter. Western Michigan pulled to 14-10 when Zach Terrell led an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with 35-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Braverman.

Western Michigan scored 10 straight points in the third. Andrew Halderman made a short field goal and Terrell threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Corey Davis to put the Broncos up 19-14.

The Huskies regained the lead early in the fourth when Joel Bouagnon ran it in from 12 yards out. Ryan Graham’s 53-yard strike to Kenny Golladay gave Northern Illinois an eight-point lead with 8:15 left. Western Michigan turned it over on downs on its final two drives.