The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ohio
Zips Drop Homecoming/MAC Opener to Ohio, 14-12
October 03 | Football
Follow Akron Football on Facebook and Twitter | Buy Tickets
BOXSCORE | BOXSCORE (PDF) | VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY |
POSTGAME NOTES | POSTGAME QUOTES
AKRON, Ohio– Akron's kicker Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio) made a career-high four field goals, but it is not enough to overcome Ohio's two early touchdowns as Akron fell to Ohio, 14-12, in the Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
The Zips dropped to 2-3 overall (0-1 MAC), while Ohio improved to 4-1 (1-0 MAC).
Stein scored all 12 of the Zips' points. Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) threw for 231 yards, completing 18 of his 38 pass attempts and had 11 yards rushing. Senior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio) ran for a team-high 66 yards on 18 cariess to lead the ground game.
Ohio's starting QB Derrius Vick was 18-for-26 for 179 yards in the air with a 24-yard touchdown strike. Papi White had a team-high 29 yards for the Bobcats. Daz'mond Patterson scored Ohio's rushing touchdown from four-yards out.
Defensively, Zips seniors LB Darryl Monroe (Orlando, Fla.) and CB Kris Givens (Ridgeland, Miss.) made eight tackles apiece with six solo stops. Redshirt junior DE Jamal Marcus (Durham, N.C.) also made six tackles during the contest with four for loss. Junior CB DeAndre Scott (Frederick, Md.) picked off Ohio QB Greg Windham in his only drive of the game.
Akron outgained Ohio, 319-227. The Zips picked up 20 first downs but converted just 5-of-17 third down attempts. Ohio was more efficient in that category, converting on 47 percent of third downs (7-for-15).
Akron drove down the field in the opening drive, but the offense halted at the 20-yard line. Stein connected on a 40-yard field goal to give Akron an early 3-0 lead. Woodson completed two passes for 14 yards, and Hundley had four attempts for nine yards.
On the Bobcats second possession, Ohio's Vick completed a 24-yard pass to Keith Heitzman for their first touchdown of the afternoon. The Bobcats went 70 yards down the field on eight plays.
Ohio extended its lead to 14-3 with a four-yard touchdown by the Patterson. Akron was called for three penalties inside the 20-yard line, giving Ohio new life allowing the Bobcats to find the end zone.
Facing a third-and six, the Bobcats ran the ball up the middle and were stopped one yard short of the first down by the Zips' CB Jordan George (Kettering, Ohio). The Bobcats' offense lined up at the line of scrimmage facing a fourth-and-one, but the line jumped early forcing Ohio to punt.
Akron took over possession with 2:10 on the clock in the second half, trailing by 11. The Zips picked up two first downs on the drive, and Stein ended the drive by splitting the uprights for his second field goal with three ticks on the clock to trim Ohio's lead to 14-6 right before halftime.
Stein attempted his longest field goal try of the game with 16 second to play in the third quarter. From 41 yards out, Stein nailed his third field goal to cut Ohio's lead to 14-9. The field goal was the end result of a 13-play, 76-yard drive by the Zips' offense.
The Zips faced a 4th-and-six and picked up a big first down and put the ball in the red zone. Akron then went three-and-out, setting up Stein's fourth field goal. Once again, he connected on a 30 yarder to bring the Zips within two points, 14-12.
With two minutes to play, Akron took possession of the ball for one more drive. On 4th-and-four, Woodson dropped back and tried to hit WR Andrew Pratt, cutting across the field. But an Ohio defender broke it up, and the Zips turned the ball over on downs to end the game.
Akron hits the road for its next two MAC games. The first stop is Eastern Michigan on Oct. 10. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN3.
