Akron Football Upsets Defending MAC Champion Western Michigan, 14-13

Sunday, October 15

Kalamazoo, MI

1 PM

University of Akron

4-3 , 3-0

Western Michigan

4-3 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

Western Michigan

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Football Upsets Defending MAC Champion Western Michigan, 14-13

October 15 | Football

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Rain and flooding postponed the game, but didn't deter the teams, as Akron and Western Michigan took the football field for Mid-American Conference action on Sunday at Waldo Stadium. On a chilly and rainy afternoon, Akron upset the defending MAC champions, 14-13.

Akron, the only undefeated team in the MAC East, improved to 4-3 overall and 3-0 in MAC play, while WMU fell to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the MAC.

Senior RB Manny Morgan (Naples, Fla.) led the Zips' rushing efforts with 12 carries for 53 yards.

Senior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) went 13-of-24 for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Senior captain WR A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) led the receivers with three receptions for 38 yards.

Defensively, sophomore CB Alvin Davis II (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led the Zips with 12 tackles, while junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) had 10 tackles and a sack that sealed the win with 12 seconds remaining.

Jarvion Franklin led WMU with 130 yards rushing on 31 carries. QB Jon Wassink was 17-of-29 for 182 yards and a touchdown. WR D'Way Eskrdige had seven catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.

On Western Michigan's opening drive, CB Kyron Brown (Boynton Beach, Fla.) intercepted the ball on the 24 yardline and returned the ball 70 yards to WMU 24. Two plays later, Woodson hit freshman TE Kobie Booker (Barberton, Ohio) with a 13-yard touchdown pass. O'Leary tacked on the extra point to give UA an early 7-0 lead.

To open the second quarter, the Broncos couldn't convert in the red zone. Held to a 25-yard field goal attempt by the UA defense, the kick went wide left. Akron took advantage of the opportunity, driving to the one. One back-to-back direct snaps to RB Manny Morgan, Morgan ran the ball into the end zone for a one-yard score, giving the Zips a 14-0 edge with 10:07 to go in the half.

After a Zips' three-and-out to start the third quarter, the UA defense held once again. The Broncos, who started their drive on the 23, drove to the red zone. Going for it on a fourth-and three, the Zips' defense prevented a score, and UA took over on downs on the 10. Neither team scored in the third quarter.

Akron opened the fourth quarter with the ball. On the 32, Woodson threw an interception. The Broncos took advantage of UA's first turnover. Six plays later, Jon Wassink threw a long bomb to D-Way Eskridge for a 50-yard touchdown. The extra point brought WMU within four, 14-10, with 10:38 to go in the game.

One WMU's net possession, Akron kept the Broncos out of the end zone again with a three-yard tackle for loss by junior DE Jamal Davis (Canton, Ohio), forcing WMU to kick a field goal. With 5:15 to go, Josh Grant made a 35-yard field goal to pull WMU within one, 14-13.

But that's as close as the Broncos would get. On the final drive, WMU began on its own 29 yard line with 45 seconds to go. Wassink guided his team to the Akron 39 with 12 seconds to go. On a 3^rd-and-10, Gilbert sacked Wassink on the game's final play to seal the Zips' win.

Akron continues its MAC road swing with a Noon contest at Toledo on Saturday, Oct. 21. ESPN3 will carry the game.