Offensive Player of the Midseason
– Garrett
Wolfe, RB Northern Illinois
Defensive Player of the Midseason – Joey Card, S Miami
University
Ten best MAC players in the first half of the season
1. Garrett Wolfe, RB Northern Illinois
2. Julian Edelman, QB Kent State
3. Dan LeFevour, QB Central Michigan
4. Nate Davis, QB Ball State
5. Joey Card, S Miami University
6. Ameer Ismail, LB Western Michigan
7. Darius Hill, TE Ball State
8. Bryan Anderson, WR Central Michigan
9. Dan Bazuin, DE Central Michigan
10. Ryne Robinson, WR/KR Miami University
Biggest
Surprise
– Kent State
The Golden Flashes might be the biggest surprise of the season
coming off a brutal 1-10 campaign and with few signs of things
going from the outhouse to the penthouse. Thanks to QB Julian
Edelman and a surprising defense, the Golden Flashes have been
the class of the weak East division.
Biggest
Disappointment –
Miami University, Akron, and Toledo
Considered to be three of the league’s top contenders going into
the season, the were a combined 0-for-6 in MAC play going into
the October 14th games. Toledo was the victim of
tough overtime losses to Iowa State and Kansas and Akron had a
highlight with a win over NC State, but Miami was a big, fat dud
starting 0-6 with no running game and no clutch plays in crunch
time.
The MAC
Champion will be ...
Central Michigan over Kent State
Kent State gets its toughest MAC games at home over the second
half, while it’s going to be a wild shootout for the West title
with Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and Central Michigan
having a shot. The Chippewas should be able to survive a loss to
NIU as long as the Huskies drop another game, and the Western
Michigan game is in Mount Pleasant.
Best Game of
the First Half
Iowa State 45 ... Toledo 43 3OT, Aug. 31
Todd Blythe caught two touchdown passes in overtime and the Iowa
State defense held on stopping a Toledo two-point conversion
attempt to win a wild opener. The two teams traded touchdowns
over each of the overtimes highlighted by Blythe's 25-yard
scoring grab in the third. Jalen Parmele ran for a two-yard
touchdown to get the Rockets within two, but Chris Hopkins
couldn't hang on to the conversion and Iowa State escaped.
Hopkins, who made three scoring grabs, caught a 21-yard
touchdown catch in the third quarter to help spark a Rocket
comeback completed with a Richard Davis three-yard scoring run
and a two-point conversion to force overtime. ISU QB Bret Meyer
ran for three scores. Toledo's new starting quarterback Clint
Cochran threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns.
Second Best Game – Toledo 37 ...
Kansas 31 2OT, Sept. 16
Third Best Game – Akron 20 ... NC
State 17, Sept. 9
Worst Game of
the First Half
Toledo
41 ... McNeese State 7, Sept. 23
Toledo had no problems getting out to a quick 17-0 lead with
short touchdown runs from Brandon Summers and Jalen Parmele
before MSU appeared to take the momentum at the end of the first
half on a 31-yard Quinton Lawrence touchdown catch. But Toledo
was able to get into field goal range allowing Alex Steigerwald
to hit his second field goal in the first half to put the game
away. DaJane Collins ran for two fourth quarter scores.
Coach of the Midseason
–
Doug Martin, Kent State
Last year’s young team quickly turned into a killer with Martin
and his staff getting the JUCO players to boost the ground game
while pulling off some big early shockers to be a contender.
It’s a long way from 1-10 to a possible MAC title.
Player who'll step up in the second half
–
Aaron Opelt, QB Toledo
The Rockets needed a spark in the offense, and it got it in
Opelt, a mutli-talented quarterback who should get far better as
the season goes on. He’s a solid runner with good passing
skills, and once he cuts down on his interceptions, he’ll put up
big numbers and start to lead the team to wins. Eventually.
Best performance so far -
Northern
Illinois RB Garrett Wolfe ran 31 times for 353 yards and three
touchdowns and caught three pass for three yards in the 40-28
win over Ball State.
Top Freshman – Nate Davis, QB Ball State
It takes a lot to be the top freshman in the MAC this year with
Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour, Eastern Michigan QB Andy
Schmitt, Akron WR David Harvy and others playing well, but Davis
led the nation in passing efficiency after six games with 12
touchdowns and only one interception while completing close to
70% of his throws.
Coach who needs to have a big second half – Eastern
Michigan’s Jeff Genyk
Year three of the Genyk era has gone worse than the first two
unable to capitalize and a decent 2005. With Central Michigan
and Western Michigan getting better and better, Eastern Michigan
can’t afford to fall further behind in the battle of directional
Michigan schools.
Player who needs to have a big second half – Bowling
Green QB Anthony Turner
It was the Freddie Barnes show early on, and then Turner took
over and came up with big performances against Buffalo and
Florida International. Despite a rocky start, Bowling Green is
right in the hunt to win the lousy East division, but it needs
Kent State to start losing and Turner to take over the offense.
Best remaining conference game – Central Michigan at
Northern Illinois, Nov. 17
This might not just be for the West, it might be for the whole
shootin’ match. Central Michigan has had some rocky points and
is hardly above getting upset, but it has a one-game lead on NIU
going into the second half of the season and can likely cement a
spot in the title game with a win.
Team Mid-Season MVPs & Predictions
East
Akron – QB Like Getsy
predicted wins: Miami University, Bowling Green, Buffalo
predicted losses: at Toledo, at Ohio, Western Michigan
predicted record: 5-7
Bowling Green – QB Anthony Turner
predicted wins: Eastern Michigan, at Temple, Miami
University
predicted losses: at Central Michigan, at Akron, at
Toledo
predicted record: 6-6
Buffalo – LB Ramon Guzman
predicted wins: None
predicted losses: Miami University, at Ohio, at Boston
College, Kent State, at Akron, at Wisconsin, Central Michigan
predicted record: 1-11
Kent State – QB Julian Edelman
predicted wins: Toledo, Ohio, at Buffalo, Eastern
Michigan, at Ball State
predicted losses: at Virginia Tech
predicted record: 9-3
Miami Univ – S Joey Card
predicted wins: Northern Illinois, at Buffalo, Ball
State, Ohio
predicted losses: at Akron, at Western Michigan, at
Bowling Green
predicted record: 4-8
Ohio – LB Tyler Russ
predicted wins: Buffalo, at Eastern Michigan, Akron
predicted losses: at Illinois, at Kent State, Miami
University
predicted record: 6-6
West
Ball State – QB Nate Davis
predicted wins: None
predicted losses: at Central Michigan, Western Michigan,
at Miami University, at Michigan, at Toledo, Kent State
predicted record: 2-10
Central Michigan – QB Dan LeFevour
predicted wins: Ball State, Bowling Green, at Temple,
Western Michigan, at Buffalo
predicted losses: at Northern Illinois
predicted record: 8-4
Eastern Michigan – QB Andy Schmitt
predicted wins: None
predicted losses: at Bowling Green, Toledo, at Western
Michigan, Ohio, at Navy, at Kent State, Northern Illinois
predicted record: 0-12
Northern Illinois – OT Joe Thomas
predicted wins: Temple, Toledo, Central Michigan, at
Eastern Michigan
predicted losses: at Western Michigan
predicted record: 9-3
Toledo – LB Steve Alston
predicted wins: at Eastern Michigan, Akron, Ball State,
Bowling Green
predicted losses: at Kent State, at Northern Illinois
predicted record: 6-6
Western Michigan – LB Ameer Ismail
predicted wins: Northern Illinois, at Ball State, Eastern
Michigan, Miami University, at Akron
predicted losses: at Central Michigan, at Florida State
predicted record: 8-4
|