Saturday's state football: Eastern Michigan rallies past UMass
Ypsilanti – Austin Smith threw two touchdown passes and Mark Lee Jr. had an interception in the fourth quarter as Eastern Michigan held off UMass on Saturday, 20-13.
Trailing 13-0 early in the third quarter, the Eagles (3-2) put together an extended drive – 11 plays, 75 yards – and a quick drive – 3 plays, 65 yards – to grab the lead.
Smith, a sophomore in just his second start, capped the first one with an 8-yard pass to Darius Lassiter and the second with a 39-yard strike to Tanner Knue for a 14-13 lead.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Eagles put together a nine-play, 65-yard drive and stretched the lead to 20-13 on an 8-yard run up the middle by Darius Boone.
The Minutemen (1-4) had their only turnover on their next possession then had 49 yards on their last possession before losing the ball on downs at the EMU 31 with 1:41 to play.
Samson Evans ran for 122 yards for Eastern Michigan while Smith was 13 of 24 for 122 yards but was intercepted twice.
Gino Campiotti ran for 118 yards for UMass but was just 8 of 18 for 87 yards passing.
More Saturday games
▶(At) Toledo 38, Central Michigan 17: Dequan Finn threw two touchdown passes as Toledo scored 31 straight to end the first half in its Mid-America Conference opener. After the Chippewas converted a 42-yard Marshall Meeder field goal to take a 3-0 lead five minutes into the game, the Rockets blew the game open with touchdowns less than two minutes apart to start the second quarter and added two more before halftime to take a 31-3 lead.
Finn lobbed a short pass to Jamal Turner on second-and-goal from the 1 on the first play of the second quarter, and after the Rockets stripped Central Michigan quarterback Daniel Richardson at his own 7, Micah Kelly scored from the 2 to make it 17-3.
After a Central Michigan punt, Finn hit DeMeer Blankumsee with an 11-yard pass, and Jacquez Stuart capped the quarter with a four-yard run.
Toledo recovered two second half fumbles by the Chippewas and receiver Thomas Zsiros fell on the ball in the end zone after Finn ran 38 yards and fumbled at the goal line for the game’s final touchdown.
Stuart had 122 yards rushing on 16 carries to lead Toledo (3-2, 1-0).
Richardson was 25-of-46 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns to lead Central Michigan (1-4, 0-1).
▶(At) Western Michigan 44, New Hampshire 7: Jack Salopek threw for three touchdowns and Western Michigan pulled away early. Western Michigan (2-3) scored on four of its first five possessions in taking a 28-7 halftime lead.
Two first-quarter scores came on pass plays of 75 and 76 yards, the first to a wide-open Corey Crooms from Salopek off a flea ficker on the Broncos’ first play, and the second on a screen to Sean Tyler.
Salopek finished 13-of-23 passing for 252 yards with an interception. Crooms had 109 yards on five catches. La’Darius Jefferson and Tyler added rushing touchdowns. Joshua Burgett had a 3-yard reception for a score.
Western Michigan’s Delano Ware returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown for the game’s final points. The Broncos had four takeaways, 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Max Brosmer threw for 161 yards for UNH (3-2), including a 26-yard score to Dylan Laube.
▶Northern Michigan 37, (at) Wayne State 30: Wayne State (1-4, 0-1 GLIAC) led three times but when Zach Keen threw a 12-yard TD pass to Wyatt Davis with 1:13 left in the third quarter Northern (3-2, 1-1) had the lead for keeps. Keen completed 23 of 29 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns, Brenden Sersaw caught nine passes for 146 yards and Tyshon King carried 16 times for 102 yards and a touchdown for Northern. Josh Kulka completed 13 of 23 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown for Wayne State.
More scores
MAC
Ball St. 44, N. Illinois 38, 2OT
Bowling Green 31, Akron 28
Buffalo 24, Miami (Ohio) 20
Kent St. 31, Ohio 24, OT
MIAA
Alma 40, Trine 21
Albion 48, Kalamazoo 6
Adrian 22, Hope 10
GLIAC
Davenport 52, Michigan Tech 38
Ferris St. 38, Findlay 7
Grand Valley St. 29, Saginaw Valley St. 10