Johnson runs for Buffalo-record 282 yards, Bulls beat Akron

 Jordan Johnson ran for a Buffalo-record 282 yards in the Bulls' 41-20 victory over Akron on Thursday night.

Tatum Slack sacked Akron's Thomas Woodson on a fourth-and-7 play to preserve the Bulls' 34-20 lead with 5:44 left.

Johnson put it out of reach 54 seconds later with a 39-yard scoring run. On that play, Johnson passed Alan Bell's previous single-game rushing mark of 266 yards set against Duquesne in 1991.

Johnson covered all 63 yards on Buffalo's final scoring drive and 50 of the Bulls' 64 yards on the drive that made it 34-20 with 9:34 left.

Tyree Jackson threw a touchdown pass and ran for two more scores for Buffalo (2-6, 1-3 Mid-American).

Johnson had a 61-yard TD run to make it 17-3 in the second quarter. He has 24 carries.

JoJo Natson scored on a 79-yard punt return and a 33-yard reception for the Zips (5-4, 3-2).

Zips rally past Ball State 35-25 with 4 TDs after halftime

 Thomas Woodson passed for 338 yards and ended a crucial late-game drive with three straight completions, including an insurance touchdown, as Akron rallied past Ball State 35-25 on Saturday, scoring 28 points after halftime.

The win keeps the Zips (5-3, 3-1 Mid-American) tied with Ohio atop the East Division as they rebounded from a crushing shutout loss to No. 23 Western Michigan a week earlier.

After losing to Western Michigan 41-0, Akron fell behind Ball State (4-4, 1-3) 10-0 before kicking into gear. Van Edwards broke the scoring drought with a 45-yard TD run early in the second quarter, and JoJo Natson put the Zips ahead for good at 21-17 late in the third when he hauled in a 23-yard pass from Woodson.

Akron's Jordan George sealed the win when he intercepted Neal Riley for the game's only turnover. Riley passed for 187 yards with a touchdown and ran for another.

No. 24 Western Michigan shuts out Zips 41-0

Javarion Franklin and Zach Terrell made sure one of the biggest weeks in the 100-year history of the Western Michigan football ended on a high note.

Franklin, a junior running back, rushed for a school-record 281 yards and quarterback Terrell threw for two touchdowns 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.

Corey Davis caught two touchdown passes to add to his career school record, finishing with eight catches for 63 yards. The Broncos (7-0, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) had 585 yards of offense.

"It was an incredible credit to our players," Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck said. "They played possessed. They executed the game plan perfectly."

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 was 21 for 31 for 207 yards.

"By the time the fourth quarter started, I really had no idea I had a lot of yards," Franklin said. "Jamauri (Bogan) kept saying something about 200 but I thought he was lying, so I'm like, `hey, whatever.' I just go out there and move the chains."

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

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

THE TAKEAWAY

Western Michigan: The strong season continues for the Broncos. They looked efficient on most of their offensive drives and shut down the Zips. Every win makes coach P.J. Fleck more attractive to the Power Five teams expected to have coaching vacancies after the season.

Akron: The Zips suffered their first MAC loss, but they're still likely to compete for the East Division crown. That means they could see WMU again in the conference championship game.

"Every now and then, you just get beat," Akron coach Terry Bowden said. "Tonight, we just got beat on offense and on defense. Western Michigan just took it to us, and we didn't have any answers."

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Not many people saw Western Michigan roll over the Zips. But the score was decisive enough for the Broncos to hold their No. 24 spot or even move up.

GIVING IT UP

Western Michigan became the last FBS team in the nation to commit a turnover when Akron defensive endDaumantas Venckus recovered a Davon Tucker fumble at the Akron 14 in the second quarter. WMU's Terrell had thrown an interception deep in Akron territory in the first quarter, but a defensive holding call nullified the play. Akron intercepted Terrell for real in the fourth quarter.

WORKING ON A DREAM

Western Michigan is 7-0 for the first time since 1941, when it finished the season 8-0. The Broncos haven't won the conference since 1988, when they went 7-1 in the MAC and 9-3 overall. They were 1-13 in 2013 - Fleck's first season - before going 8-5 the past two years.

THAT'S NOT VERY NICE

A motivating technique for the Akron players Saturday was a pregame burning of an oar - designed to make light of Fleck's "Row the Boat" mantra, which is supposed to symbolize a group of people working in unison for a common goal. Fleck, who came up with the mantra after losing an infant son shortly after birth a few years ago, didn't like it.

"It's not very classy, in my opinion," Fleck said after the game. "We're not into revenge. I do believe in righteousness....Very simple, I think it's just two different cultures."

ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM

One of the biggest cheers from the sparse crowd at InfoCision Stadium came in the second quarter when the PA announcer informed the crowd that the Cleveland Indians had taken the lead in the American League Championship Series being played about 40 miles away at Progressive Field. The Indians took a 2-0 lead over Toronto.

UP NEXT

Western Michigan: The Broncos return home to play Eastern Michigan.

Akron: The Zips travel to face Ball State.

Chapman passes, runs Akron past Miami (Ohio) 35-13

Tra'Von Chapman threw three touchdowns passes and ran 70 yards for another to lead Akron to a 35-13 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.

Noah Wezensky threw a 6-yard pass TD to Ryan Smith to get the Redhawks (0-6, 0-2 Mid-American) within 21-13, but his fumble late in the third quarter and interception early in the fourth led to two touchdowns for the Zips (4-2, 2-0).

Chapman scored on a 70-yard keeper and threw TD passes to Austin Wolf and JoJo Natson for a 21-3 halftime lead. After Wezensky fumbled at the Miami 16, Mykel Traylor-Bennett scored from the 1 and Chapman added another TD pass to Natson after Wezensky was intercepted at the Redhawks 32.

Chapman made his second straight start in place of injured Thomas Woodson.

This was Wezensky's first career start after the Redhawks lost three quarterbacks to injuries in spring and fall camps and in last week's loss to Ohio.

Chapman rallies Akron to 31-27 win over Kent State

 Tra'Von Chapman passed for two touchdowns, Mykel Traylor-Bennett ran for two scores and Akron rallied to beat Kent State 31-27 on Saturday to retain possession of the Wagon Wheel trophy.

Trailing 27-24, Chapman led the Zips (3-2, 1-0 Mid-American) on a four-play, 57-yard drive and Taylor-Bennett ran in a 3-yard game-winner with 20 seconds left.

Nick Holley passed for two touchdowns for Kent State (1-4, 0-1), including 9-yarder to Justin Rankin to put the Golden Flashes up 27-24 with 1:02 remaining. Holley was 19 of 35 for 285 yards passing, with a TD strike to Ernest Calhoun. Holley gained 117 yards on 34 carries, including a 13-yard scoring run.

Chapman hit Van Edwards Jr. on a 27-yard TD pass to tie it at 17. On the next possession, Chapman capped a seven-play, 76-yard drive with a 23-yard pass to Austin Wolf.

Chapman was 11 of 28 for 237 yards passing with two interceptions.

Moore's 257 yard day leads Appalachian St over Akron 45-38

Jalin Moore ran for a career-high 257 yards and two touchdowns and Appalachian State hung on to beat Akron in a 45-38 shootout on Saturday.

The teams combined for 1,073 yards of total offense and 60 first downs.

Taylor Lamb threw for 280 yards and three scores for the Mountaineers (2-2), including strikes of 36 and 37-yards to Levi Duffield and Zy Letman.

Thomas Woodson found A.J. Coney on a 23-yard TD pass to give the Zips (2-2) a 14-10 lead midway through the second. But Lamb hit Duffield on the ensuing drive to spark a 21-0 scoring stretch for Appalachian State and a 31-14 halftime lead.

The Mountaineers never trailed the rest of the way, but a Mykel Traylor-Bennett 1-yard run for Akron cut it to 45-38 with 5:55 left. The Zips had a final drive to tie it, but turned it over on downs.

Woodson had 353 yards passing and three scores for Akron.

Woodson, defense carry Akron to 65-38 win over Marshall

Thomas Woodson threw two of his four touchdown passes in the second quarter and Akron rolled to a 65-38 victory over Marshall on Saturday.

The Zips (2-1) also returned a fumble and a blocked punt for touchdowns in the 34-point second quarter that produced a 41-21 halftime lead.

Marshall (1-1) led 21-7 after one quarter on the strength of three touchdown passes by Chase Litton. Litton finished 32 of 57 for 413 yards and four touchdowns but had three interceptions, the last one returned 31-yards for a touchdown by DeMarcus Lloyd to close the scoring.

Woodson completed 21 of 32 for 379 yards with JoJo Natson having career highs of seven receptions for 134 yards. Manny Morgan ran for a career-high 130 yards on 18 carries as Akron piled up 524 yards.

Marshall finished with 560 yards, 31 first downs and a 13 1/2 minute advantage in time of possession but had four turnovers.

Clement scores twice, No. 10 Wisconsin stuffs Akron 54-10

Corey Clement is proving he can carry a full workload for No. 10 Wisconsin.

The passing game is starting to round into form, too, which might turn into a key development if Clement's ankle injury becomes a nagging issue.

Clement ran for two scores before rolling his left ankle on his last carry, and Wisconsin stuffed Akron's spread offense in a 54-10 win on Saturday.

The Badgers (2-0) didn't slack off in their 2016 debut at Camp Randall Stadium, a week after outmuscling SEC power LSU 16-14 in the season opener.

"We want to do that every week no matter (where) we're ranked," Clement said. "We have to approach every game as if we're not in the rankings at all."

Bart Houston was 15 of 22 for 231 yards, showing chemistry with Jazz Peavy against the porous Zips (1-1). Peavy finished with seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Wisconsin had 294 yards rushing and 292 yards through the air. It was its first game with more than 290 in each category since at least 1996.

On defense, Wisconsin had a safety, and the secondary accounted for two second-quarter turnovers. The Badgers led 30-10 at halftime.

"We had a plan and it would have taken a few other things for us being able to do," Akron coach Terry Bowden said. "But they were dominant enough in the trenches on both sides of the ball and we couldn't quite get it done.

Clement's injury was one of the only blemishes for Wisconsin. The senior rushed for 111 yards on 21 carries before departing late in the second quarter.

Clement said he could have returned if he was needed.

"We were able to be a little overprotective maybe," Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said.

Akron's only touchdown came on JoJo Natson's 55-yard punt return in the second.

THE TAKEAWAY

AKRON: The Zips had a few moments, dictating tempo for parts of a couple drives in the second quarter with their fast-paced offense. But any momentum was negated by mistakes. Most notably, Akron drove from its own 11 to the 30 on four straight rushes by Warren Ball before the running back fumbled on third-and-2 on what would have been a 38-yard gain. Wisconsin scored nine plays later to go up 23-0.

At best, it was a learning experience against the bigger, quicker Badgers. With 15 new starters this season, Akron hopes to contend in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.

"Our offense couldn't keep their offense off the field and our defense couldn't keep them off the field," Bowden said.

WISCONSIN: Clement tested his ankle on the sideline after getting it wrapped, but never returned. Then again, the Badgers were well on their way to a victory by then.

"It really didn't feel like 21 carries at all," Clement said. "I felt like I could have gone for 41 if I had played the whole game."

Otherwise, the Badgers followed through on their collective promise to build on the momentum of the win over LSU at Lambeau Field. Houston, making his second career start, shook off a couple questionable throws for near picks to show off his strong arm. Backups got valuable playing time late in the game, including freshman Bradrick Shaw. The running back had nine carries for 74 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown run.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Wisconsin could move up in the next AP Top 25 poll on Sunday with No. 9 Georgia escaping with a 26-24 victory over Nicholls State. Chryst's team looked prepared and routed its mid-major opponent, as is usually expected for a Big Ten team.

SPECIAL RETURN

Natson's punt return for a score, the first for Akron since 2004, was one of the Zips' few bright spots.

"It gave us a little momentum but it was a tough game for our offense and defense," Natson said.

QUOTABLE

"I think anybody in the secondary would tell you that our play is a product of the great front seven we have ... We really just kind of reap the benefits." - Wisconsin safety Leo Musso, who had an interception against Akron.

UP NEXT

Akron: The Zips stay on the road to face Marshall on Sept. 17.

Wisconsin: The Badgers look to extend their home winning streak against non-conference foes to 37 when they host Georgia State on Sept. 17.

Woodson throws for 6 TDs, Akron beats VMI 47-24

 Thomas Woodson threw for a career-high six touchdown passes including two in the fourth quarter as Akron pulled away from VMI for a 47-24 victory on Saturday.

Woodson completed 23 of 32 passes for 407 yards, another career high for the junior, with three going to JoJo Natson, two to Jerome Lane and another to Austin Wolf. Lane caught 10 passes for 196 yards, both career highs.

Ryan Swingle's second touchdown pass to Al Cobb got VMI within 26-24 in the final seconds of the third quarter before Woodson responded with scoring throws of 34 yards to Wolf and 19 to Natson. Warren Ball added a 5-yard scoring run.

VMI's Quan Myers scored from a yard out to go up 7-0 but the lead wouldn't last through the first quarter with Woodson throwing for three scores in giving the Zips a 19-10 halftime lead.

Cobb went 25 of 32 for 258 yards and two touchdowns with Myers making eight catches for 123 yards.