The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Pittsburgh
Zips Fall to Pittsburgh, 24-7, in Home Opener
September 12 | Football
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BOXSCORE (PDF) | VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY |
HEISMAN STATUE PHOTO GALLERY | POSTGAME NOTES | QUOTES
AKRON, Ohio – Led by the passing of quarterback Nate Peterman, Pittsburgh defeated Akron 24-7 on a rainy Saturday night in the Zips' home opener at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
The Panthers improved to 2-0 overall, while the Zips fell to 0-2.
Senior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio) led the Akron rushing attack with 59 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Senior QB Kyle Pohl (Farmersville, Ohio) completed three of his eight passes for 34 yards, while sophomore QB Tra'Von Chapman went 4- for-14 for 29 yards.
Peterman threw for 148 yards completing 12-of-17 attempts, with one touchdown.
Three different receivers caught Pohl's tosses with junior WR Tyrell Goodman (Yonkers, N.Y.) and senior WR Imani Davis (Miami, Fla.) snagging three catches apiece for 27 yards. Defensively, senior LB Jatavis Brown (Belle Glade, Fla.) posted a team-high and career-high 16 tackles, which included a 2.5 sacks.
Pitt outgained Akron 307-119, while the Zips had five sacks for a total loss of 34 yards. Akron forced two Panther fumbles but were not able to recover either of them.
After Pitt thwarted Akron's first drive of the game, the Panthers pieced together a 13-play drive, which culminated in a Chris Blewitt field goal with 2:55 left in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead.
The next Zips' drive lasted just three plays as senior P Zach Paul (Broadview Heights, Ohio) punted for 50 yards, and redshirt freshman DB Jordan George (Kettering, Ohio) held Pitt's Tyler Boyd to a six-yard loss.
The second quarter started with a Pittsburgh 10-play drive that resulted in a 34-yard missed field goal attempt by Blewitt. Akron collected a first down on its opening play of the quarter before failing to translate a first down thereafter causing a change of possession.
However, the Zips held the Panthers to four plays for a loss of three yards, led by sacks from Brown and senior LB Dylan Evans (Nazareth, Pa.). Akron used the momentum on its next drive as Hundley went 32 yards for the first touchdown of the season to take a 7-3 lead.
With less than three minutes to play until halftime, Pitt reclaimed the lead, 10-7, after Peterman found J.P. Holtz for an 18-yard touchdown.
In the second half, the two teams traded control as neither squad could convert on quality opportunities until Pitt used a 51-yard drive to boost its lead to 17-7. The Panthers took advantage of a pass interference penalty on the Zips as Qadree Ollison ran in for a two-yard touchdown with 5:11 remaining in the third quarter.
Akron made two huge plays to stop Pitt on the last drive to end the third quarter. Evans and freshman DL Brock Boxen (New Galilee, Pa.) sacked Peterman for a three-yard loss, which resulted in a fumble recovered by Pitt. Brown sacked Peterman again, forcing the Panthers to punt.
The Zips had an opportunity to counter after their defense held Pitt to just six yards in its first drive of the fourth. A 13-yard run from Hundley, five yards from Chapman and a Pitt offside penalty put UA on Akron's 48. However, the drive stalled as Akron was unable to convert.
Pittsburgh expanded its lead with a 10-play, 67-yard effort that ended in a five-yard touchdown run by Darrin Hall to cap the scoring in the game.
The Zips return to action on Saturday, Sept. 19, when they host Savannah State at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon on ESPN3.
Tickets for the 2015 Akron football season start at only $60 each (a 40 percent savings over single-game tickets) are available anytime at GoZips.com/Tickets, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays by either calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets).
Special experiences are also available for group outings of 20 or more fans for any home game this season.
