The University of Akron Athletics
Football Suffers 38-21 Setback to Hoosiers
September 19 | Football
AKRON, Ohio - Akron trailed by three, 17-14, at halftime, but could not overcome four second-half turnovers as Indiana handed the Zips a 38-21 setback Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.
The Hoosiers, the first Big Ten opponent to come to Akron for a football game, took a 7-0 lead 15 seconds into the game as Ray Fisher returned the opening kickoff 71 yards for a touchdown. Indiana pushed its advantage to 10-0 on its first offensive series with a 13-play, 61-yard drive capped with a 25-yard Nick Freeland field goal.
Akron struck right back. On its first play from scrimmage after the IU field goal, Matt Rodgers hit Deryn Bowser on a long pass, which only counted for a 28-yard reception after a UA penalty. However, two plays later, the duo hooked up again for 49-yard scoring play to make the score 10-7. The pass was Rodgers' first career TD pass and Bowser's fifth TD in three games.
Indiana looked to regain the momentum, methodically driving, until Akron senior Wayne Cobham intercepted an IU pass on the Akron three. The pick was the first of Cobham's career.
The teams traded punts over the next four drives. On that fourth punt, Jalil Carter blocked a Chris Hagerup punt on approximately the IU 28, which rolled into the endzone and recovered by Aaron Williams for a Zips' touchdown and 14-10 lead. The last time UA blocked a punt and scored was six games ago when Carter blocked a punt that was recovered by Williams in a 47-30 win over Toledo, also an ESPNU national telecast.
The Hoosiers immediately took the lead back, marching 77 yards in 12 plays. Quarterback Ben Chappell was 5-of-5 on the drive, including a 10-yard strike to Mitchell Evans for the score with 33 seconds left before the break.
Early in the third quarter, Akron's Tyler Campbell forced a fumble, which Brian Wagner recovered. However, three plays later, Rodgers was intercepted by Austin Thomas, who returned the ball 31 yards to the Akron 18. Chappell took advantage of the short field and would hit Max Dedmond for a three-yard TD pass for a 24-14 lead. Indiana tried to take advantage of a pick on the Zips' ensuing drive, but Almondo Sewell blocked a 38-yard IU field goal attempt.
Indiana would get an interception on a third straight drive and
get inside the UA 20. This time the Hoosiers would capitalize as
Trea Burgess scored from five yards out for a 31-14 cushion. The
Hoosiers put the game out of reach with an 11-play, 67-yard scoring
drive with Darius Willis getting the final two yards to go up
38-14.
Rogers provided the game's final margin with a 9-yard scamper late
in the fourth quarter.
The Zips return to action next Saturday at preseason MAC favorite Central Michigan. The game is set to begin at 3:30 pm and can be seen on FSN Ohio and part of the ESPN Plus package.
