Quick kicks

Last second heroics

Andre Jones and Alphonso Owen combined on an 89-yard kick return on the game’s final play, giving Akron a 39-38 victory over Western Michigan.

Western Michigan led 38-31 with 15 seconds left when Jamarko Simmons ran out of the end zone on a fourth-down designed safety, cutting the Broncos’ lead to 38-33.

On the ensuing free kick, Owen grabbed the ball, headed toward the left sideline, then tossed it to Jones near the 25-yard line. Jones, who plays mostly at defensive back, followed a blocking wedge to the end zone for the winning score and his first career TD.

Better to receive

Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree set the NCAA record for touchdown receptions by a freshman with a 32-yard scoring catch against Iowa State.

It was his 15th touchdown of the season. The Red Raiders’ receiver overtook the 14 TD catches by freshmen Jabar Gaffney (Florida, 2000); Mike Williams (Southern California, 2002) and Davone Bess, (Hawaii 2005).

Coming into the game, Crabtree leads the nation in in receptions (60), receiving yards (920) and touchdowns (14).

Record-breakers

Kareem Moore and Ladarius Webb each had two touchdowns and 114 yards on interception returns in the first half to tie an NCAA record and lead Nicholls State to a 58-0 victory over Northwestern State.

The Colonels’ four touchdowns on interception returns tied a record set by Houston in 1987 against Texas.

Flying high

Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes and Boston College overwhelmed Bowling Green 55-24 to get off to its best start in 65 years. The No. 7 Eagles, entering the game with their highest ranking in 23 years, have won 16 straight home games.

The Eagles began the 1942 season with eight straight wins and finished at 8-2. They’ve gone unbeaten three times, the last in 1940 when they went 11-0 and won the Sugar Bowl. In 1984, they were ranked as high as fifth when Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie led them to a 10-2 record and a Cotton Bowl win.

Snapped

Jake Brownell’s third field goal of the game, with nine seconds left, gave Temple a 16-15 victory over Northern Illinois. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Owls, who had lost 27 of their last 28 games.

It was the Owls’ first victory since the team’s 28-14 homecoming win over Bowling Green on October 28, 2006.