The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Miami (Ohio)
Akron Wins at Miami (Ohio), 37-28, on Stein 50-Yard FG
November 14 | Football
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OXFORD, Ohio-- Akron senior placekicker Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio) nailed a 50-yard field goal with less than three minutes to play to seal the Zips' 37-28 Mid-American Conference victory at Miami (Ohio) at Yager Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Akron improved to 5-5 overall (3-3 MAC), while the RedHawks fell to 2-9 overall (1-6 MAC).
Despite a 27-7 halftime lead, the Zips allowed 21 MU second-half points, including two touchdowns less than a minute apart in the fourth quarter.
Akron racked up 432 yards of total offense, including 211 yards on the ground. Senior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio), playing before a huge hometown crowd, rushed for 110 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) went 13-of-28 for 221 yards. Senior WR Imani Davis (Miami, Fla.) led the receiving corps with seven catches for 64 yards, while sophomore WR Jerome Lane (Akron, Ohio) had four receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior LB Jatavis Brown (Belle Glade, Fla.) had a game-high 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, 4.5 TFL for a loss of 25 yards, two sacks, an interceptions, and a forced fumble.
MU rotated four quarterbacks with Billy Bahl leading the pack with 11-of-25 for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
After a three-and-out by both teams, Akron jumped on the scoreboard first in the opening stanza. Woodson drove the Zips down the field, picking up a first down on a 27-yard reception to Lane, followed by a nine-yard catch by Davis, and a 19-yard rush by Hundley. Facing a fourth-and-six from the 32, the Zips decided to go for it as Woodson connected with Lane in the endzone for a 32-yard touchdown reception. The scoring drive took 10 plays to go 68 yards in 3:14. Stein tacked on the extra point to give the Zips a 7-0 lead.
After another set of three-and-out by both teams, the RedHawks tied the game at 7-7 following a five-play, 84-yard drive as QB Gus Ragland hit WR Chris Hudson with a 16-yard pass.
With 32 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Akron went ahead by seven, 14-7. With first downs following a 34-yard reception to WR Andrew Pratt (North Canton, Ohio), a 14-yard rush by Hundley, and a 22-yard catch by Davis, Hundley rushed right up the middle for nine yards into the endzone.
With 7:43 to go in the second, Miami faced a fourth-and four from the 35 and went for it. QB Billy Bahl threw a long pass, intended for Sam Martin, but was broken up by junior CB DeAndre Scott (Frederick, Md.). The Zips then tore down the field. Woodson picked up 21 yards, running out of bounds at the 44. Then Woodson tossed a 40-yard diving catch to sophomore WR Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio). Senior NT Cody Grice (Akron, Ohio) capped off the five-play, 65-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run, his fourth touchdown of the season. UA led 21-7 with 5:05 remaining in the second quarter.
On Miami's next drive, Brown forced a fumble, recovered by redshirt junior DE Jamal Marcus (Durham, N.C.), giving the Zips the ball on the 16-yard line. Two plays later, Hundley rushed four yards for the touchdown. A bobbled snap foiled the extra point, but the Zips led, 27-7.
With 1:19 remaining in the half, Akron got the ball back on a second MU turnover. After a completed pass from Bahl to Martin, Martin fumbled the ball, and sophomore S Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.) recovered the ball. UA took advantage of the opportunity, marching down to the 25 with four seconds on the clock. Stein attempted a 42-yard field goal which went wide right.
The Zips led 27-7 at intermission.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, Brown intercepted a Bahl pass, the first interception of his collegiate career. Two plays later, Hundley ran the ball nine yards for the score, giving the Zips a 34-7 lead.
Miami scored on the first play its next drive as WR Rokeem Williams had a 78-yard pass from Bahl. UA led, 34-14.
Akron opened the fourth quarter with a huge defensive stop as the RedHawks were left on the four-yard line. UA's next drive was a quick three-and-out, and senior P Zach Paul's (Broadview Heights, Ohio) punt was blocked for the second time on the day, giving UM the ball on the one. After three tries, the RedHawks remained scoreless. An illegal formation penalty pushed them back to the six where Bahl connected with TE Ryan Smith for the touchdown. UA led, 34-21, with 9:23 remaining in the game.
On the Zips' next drive, Taylor picked off Woodson, returning the interception 31 yards for a touchdown, pulling Miami within six, 34-28.
With 2:45 on the clock, Stein came in and nailed a 50-yard field goal on a fourth-and 15 to seal the Zips' win.
On Miami's final drive, the Akron defense stepped up. Following two first downs and the team on the 23-yard line on a second-and-10 with 1:46 to go, Brown sacked QB Drew Kummer for a loss of 12 yards.
Akron returns home to InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field for its final two regular-season games. The Zips host Buffalo on Nov. 21, at 3:30 p.m. The CBS Sports Network will televise the game nationally.
