MID-AMERICAN

Ranking celebrated with spanking

Western Michigan running back Jarvion Franklin carries the ball in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Akron, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Akron, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Western Michigan running back Jarvion Franklin carries the ball in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Akron, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Akron, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

AKRON, Ohio -- Jarvion Franklin rushed for a school-record 281 yards and Zach Terrell threw for two scores and ran for two more as No. 24 Western Michigan -- ranked in the Top 25 this week for the first time in school history -- shut out Akron 41-0 on Saturday.

Wide receiver Corey Davis caught 2 touchdown passes to add to his career school record, finishing with 8 catches for 63 yards. The Broncos amassed 585 yards of offense.

Franklin, whose previous career-high rushing game was 211 yards against Idaho two seasons ago, ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Terrell completed 21 of 31 passes for 207 yards.

Western Michigan (7-0, 2-0 Mid-American) held Akron (4-3, 2-1) to 283 yards of offense and snuffed out its biggest threat in the second quarter when quarterback Tra'Von Chapman was intercepted by Broncos linebacker Casey Carson at the WMU 3.

Chapman, subbing for injured starter Thomas Woodson for the third consecutive game, was 13 for 31 for 153 yards and was intercepted twice.

In other games involving Mid-American Conference teams, James Gilbert ran for 264 yards and two touchdowns, including a tie-breaking 80-yarder, to lead Ball State (4-3, 1-2) to a 31-21 victory over host Buffalo (1-5, 0-2). Gilbert carried the ball 34 times on his way to the second-best day in Cardinals’ history, just behind the 301 yards of MiQuale Lewis in 2009. … Gus Ragland connected with Kenny Young for a 55-yard touchdown pass and Deondre Daniels got a key interception four plays later to lift Miami (Ohio) (1-6, 1-2) to its first victory of the season with an 18-14 victory over Kent State (2-5, 1-2) in Oxford, Ohio. … Brogan Roback threw for a career-high 347 yards and three touchdowns to lead Eastern Michigan (5-2, 2-1) to a 27-20 victory over Ohio (4-3, 2-1) in Athens, Ohio. Two of the touchdowns in the fourth quarter allowed the Eagles to beat the Bobcats for the first time since 1999, and the first time on the road since 1994. EMU has won three in a row on the road for the first time since 1967. … Cooper Rush connected with Tyler Conklin for a 25-yard touchdown pass on the first play of triple overtime, sending Central Michigan (5-2, 2-1) to a 34-28 victory over Northern Illinois (1-6, 1-2) in DeKalb, Ill. Northern Illinois had the first possession in triple overtime, but Christian Hagan’s 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked. On the next play, Conklin released up the seam and used his outstretched arms to haul in the game-winning grab. Central Michigan had a chance to win it in regulation, but Brian Eavey’s 33-yard field goal attempt with 16 seconds remaining missed wide left. Rush’s 25-yard pass to Corey Willis put CMU up 28-21 in double overtime. NIU answered with a 13-yard strike from Anthony Maddie to Joel Bouagnon one play after converting on fourth down. … Kareem Hunt scored from the 3 with 18 seconds left to play as Toledo (5-1, 2-0 MAC) snapped a late tie and rallied past visiting Bowling Green (1-6, 0-3) 42-35.

Sports on 10/16/2016

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