The University of Akron Athletics
Ohio Pulls Out 49-42 Victory in Final Minute Over Akron
November 23 | Football
Akron's Dennis Kennedy scored his career-high fourth
rushing touchdown with 2:12 left to tie the game at 42-42. However,
Ohio's Boo Jackson marched his Bobcats (3-8, 2-5 MAC) 74 yards in
1:40 to score the game winner – a one-yard TD pass with 32
seconds left – to spoil another record-setting performance by
Kennedy with a 49-42 decision at Peden Stadium Saturday
afternoon.
With his career-high fourth rushing TD in the game, Kennedy has now
scored 110 points this season, an Akron record while his 17 rushing
TDs for 2008 is an Akron record as well. (Kennedy also scored four
TDs last week versus Buffalo, but he had three rushing and one
receiving.) Kennedy also eclipsed the 100-yard plateau for the
fifth-straight game, getting 123 on 34 carries.
While Kennedy shined, Ohio's Jackson also had a superb game,
completing 20-of-28 passes for 222 yards and five touchdowns.
Taylor Price caught eight passes for 100 yards and three scores,
while David Carter had two TD receptions.
The Zips (5-6, 3-4 MAC) took the opening kickoff and converted
three third downs, including an 11-yard completion from Chris
Jacquemain to Jeremy Bruce to the Ohio three. Two plays later,
Kennedy pounded his way through the left side of the line for a
three-yard score. The 13-play, 65-yard drive consumed 6:59, the
Zips' longest touchdown drive in terms of time and second-longest
drive of the season. (Akron had a 7:39 drive to start the Army
game, ending in a 25-yard field goal.)
Jacquemain finished by completing 21-of-36 passes for 235 yards and
a touchdown – a 60-yard strike to Deryn
Bowser.
On the Zips' second possession, which ended in a punt, Ohio's LaVon
Brazill took the punt and returned it 66 yards for a touchdown,
tying the game at 7-7. Akron had only allowed 58 punt return yards
total for the 2008 season prior to that and ranked eighth in the
NCAA. Allowing just 3.9 yards per return this season.
Ohio drove on its next possession 65 yards on 11 plays to take a
14-7 lead as the second quarter began. Jackson found Taylor Price
for a four-yard TD on third and goal for take the seven-point
advantage.
Akron answered back. Again, it was a key third-down conversion
– a 19-yard pass to Bruce to the OU 13. On third and six from
the Bobcat nine, Jacquemain ran a quarterback draw for his first
career rushing touchdown.
The Bobcats regained the momentum, as Jackson faked the option left
and pulled up, hitting tight end David Carter back to the right for
a 23-yard TD and 21-14 lead. Three plays after the ensuing kickoff,
facing third and 11, Jacquemain hit Bowser for the 60-yard score
– the longest pass play for UA this season.
Ohio's Chris Garrett returned the following kickoff 63 yards to the
Akron 19. On the next play, Jackson found Carter once again for a
TD and a 28-21 lead. The Zips tried to answer with a score as the
first half expired, but the 47-yard field goal sailed wide
left.
After the teams traded punts to start the third, the Bobcats took
14-point lead thanks to a 23 yard Jackson-to-Price strike in the
left corner of the endzone.
The Zips momentarily cut its deficit to seven as Kennedy scored a
one-yard touchdown. However, Garrett returned the ensuing kickoff
97 yards for a 42-28 Bobcat lead.
Akron was opportunistic on a punt as the ball hit Ohio's Terrence
McRae and UA senior snapper Brian
Flaherty was there for a recovery. Kennedy, on the following
drive, trimmed the UA deficit to seven once again, 42-35, with a
two-yard TD run.
After Ohio's special teams had been responsible to big plays
earlier, Akron's came through a second time on the ensuing kickoff.
On Branko Rogovic's pooch kick was fielded by Chad
Clemens and UA's Aaron Williams caused and recovered a fumble on
the Ohio 34. Akron's Kennedy converted two fourth-down conversions,
including a one-yard TD run to tie the game at 42-42 with 2:12 left
in the contest.
Undaunted. Ohio drove 74 yards in 10 plays and 1:40 to regain the
seven-point lead, 49-42. Jackson, on first and inches from the goal
after a 23-yard pass on a busted play, faked the run and hit Carter
in the endzone for what proved to be the game-winning score.
