MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL | Saturday’s games

Ball State 52, Kent State 24

MUNCIE, IND.

Riley Neal passed for 402 yards and four touchdowns — two in the first quarter — and ran for another score as Ball State walloped Kent State in a Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. His 402 yards was a career-best in a single game for Neal and the seventh 400-yard passing game in the program’s history, first since 2013. After faking a handoff left, Neal bolted through the line over right guard and sprinted 31 yards untouched for the game’s final score. Kent State had allowed only 10 first-half points in its first three games, but Ball State scored three touchdowns on its first four possessions, leading 21-0 with 3:47 left in the opening quarter, and posted 35 points by halftime. Woody Barrett completed 30 of 44 passes for 314 yards and a score. Isaiah McKoy caught 10 passes — the first time since 2016 a Golden Flashes receiver had that many receptions in a game.

Ohio 58, Massachusetts 42

ATHENS

Ohio scored 58 points to set a Peden Stadium record and the Bobcats defeated Massachusetts. The Bobcats (2-2) set a program record with 664 yards of total offense. Bobcats quarterback Nathan Rourke finished the game with a career-high 23 completions for 270 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Rourke recorded a career-high 189 rushing yards with one touchdown. Maleek Irons finished the game with 13 carries for a career-high 140 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Ouellette finished with 70 yards on 12 carriers and one touchdown, while Papi White finished with six catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Andy Isabella caught 12 passes for 198 yards and three TDs for the MInutemen (2-4).

Army 42, Buffalo 13

AMHERST, N.Y.

Army mixed in a few big scoring plays with its ground-control offense to defeat previously unbeaten Buffalo. The Black Knights’ triple-option offense gained 281 yards and scored four touchdowns on the ground while running up 37:34 in time of possession. They had four touchdown drives of at least 10 plays and 74 yards. Having led the nation in rushing last season, Army (3-2) came into the game ranked fourth at 314.8 yards per game while leading the country in time of possession at 40:53.

Georgia Tech 63, Bowling Green 17

ATLANTA

Georgia Tech rushed for touchdowns the first seven times it had the ball with TaQuon Marshall, Jordan Mason and Tobias Oliver scoring twice each as the Yellow Jackets dominated Bowling Green. Marshall completed 5 of 6 passes for 160 yards. The Jackets finished with 372 rushing yards. Falcons quarterback Jarret Doege completed 27 of 44 for 305 yards and a score. He was intercepted twice, though, once by David Curry in the end zone and when Anree Saint-Amour returned a deflected pass three yards for a Tech touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Western Michigan 40, Miami (Ohio) 39

OXFORD

Jon Wassink plowed through a wall of goal-line defenders late in the game to give Western Michigan a win over Miami (Ohio). The Broncos trailed 39-34 late in the fourth quarter when Wassink led a 73-yard drive and scored on a keeper from 2 yards out for a 40-39 lead with 2:53 to play. The two-point conversion failed, however, and the RedHawks (1-4, 1-1) came right back into scoring position on their next drive but Samuel Sloman missed a 50-yard field goal try with 23 seconds remaining.

Associated Press