The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Buffalo
Football Drops a 55-24 Decision at Buffalo
November 11 | Football
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Postgame Notes | Highlights
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Buffalo QB Joe Licata threw four touchdown passes en route to a 55-24 win over Akron in Mid-American Conference play on Tuesday night at UB Stadium.
The Zips dropped their fourth consecutive game and fell to 4-6 overall and 2-4 in MAC play, while the Bulls improved to 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the conference.
Junior QB Kyle Pohl went 15-for-29 for 128 yards on the night. Senior RB Jawon Chisholm led the Akron rushers with 40 yards on 12 carries.
Senior LB Justin March and junior LB Dylan Evans led the Akron defense with seven tackles each.
Licata finished with 193 yards through the air on 16-of-21 passing. RB Anthone Taylor finished with a game-high 178 yards rushing, while RB Jordan Johnson added 104 yards and a touchdown on the ground. WR Ron Willoughby added 95 receiving yards on six catches and a touchdown.
Akron finished the game with 229 yards and two turnovers while Buffalo posted 536 yards of offense and committed two turnovers.
Akron started the ball rolling on the opening drive as UB's second pass was intercepted by sophomore CB DeAndre Scott (Frederick, Md.) for a 37-yard touchdown return. Junior PK Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio) added the extra point to give the Zips a 7-0 lead.
On the Bulls' next possession, junior DL Cody Grice (Akron, Ohio) forced and recovered a fumble, but the Zips would go three-and-out on the following possession.
Buffalo tied the score at 7-7 with 4:55 to go in the first quarter as TE Matt Weiser caught a 33-yard TD pass from Johnson. PK Patrick Clarke tacked on the extra point.
With two seconds remaining in the first quarter, Licata threw a six-yard pass to RB Devin Campbell to put the Bulls ahead. Clarke added the PAT, and the Bulls led, 14-7.
The Bulls score 21 unanswered points, capped off by a 21-yard touchdown run by QB Tony Daniel in the second quarter.
Akron added three points as Stein nailed a 33-yard field goal to come within 11, 21-10, with 5:14 to go in the half.
With 42 seconds to go in the half, junior LB Jatavis Brown (Belle Glade, Fla.) was disqualified from the game following a targeting penalty.
Two plays later, Buffalo added six points on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Licata to WR Jacob Martinez following a six-play, 60-yard drive over 1:58. Clarke's PAT went wide left.
The Bulls led at intermission, 27-10.
On their opening drive of the second half, the Zips utilized Grice on offense. On a third-and-one, Grice gave the Zips a first down. Moments later, he rushed for a one-yard TD, his fourth on the season, to pull UA within 10 points, 27-17.
Buffalo responded with a 42-yard pass from Licata to Willoughby to go ahead, 34-17, with 6:42 to go in the third quarter.
Licata threw his fourth TD pass of the night on a 24-yard haul to Campbell. The Bulls led 41-17.
Buffalo opened the fourth quarter with a six-yard touchdown run by Taylor, giving the Bulls a 31-point advantage, 48-17.
Pohl marched Akron down the field. On a third-and-17, Pohl picked up 16 yards on a keeper, putting the Zips on the one. Chisholm rushed for the score, capped by Stein's extra point. The Zips trailed, 48-24, with 9:41 to go.
Buffalo added a touchdown late in the game for the final 55-24 tally.
Akron continues Tuesday night action on Nov. 18 when the Zips host Massachusetts in the home finale at 8 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. The Senior Class will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
