Akron Football Drops Final Road Game at Miami, 24-14

Tuesday, November 7

Oxford, OH

7:30 PM

University of Akron

5-5 , 4-2

Miami (Ohio)

4-6 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

Miami

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Football Drops Final Road Game at Miami, 24-14

November 07 | Football

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OXFORD, Ohio – In their final road game of the regular season, the Akron Zips dropped a 24-14 decision at Miami (Ohio) in Mid-American Conference action on Tuesday night at Yager Stadium.

Akron fell to 5-5 overall and 4-2 in MAC play, while Miami improved to 4-6 overall and 3-3 in MAC play.

Making his first start at quarterback, redshirt freshman Kato Nelson (Hollywood Fla.) went 19-of-38 for 218 yards and a touchdown.

Junior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.) led the receivers with a career-high six receptions for 69 yards. Senior RB Manny Morgan (Naples, Fla.) was the top rusher with 41 yards on 10 carries.

Defensively, sophomore CB Alvin Davis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led Akron with nine tackles.

For the RedHawks, QB Gus Ragland went 19-32 for 244 yards and three touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. Kenny Young rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries ad had 98 receiving yards and a touchdown on nine catches.

Akron held Miami scoreless on the opening drive. The Zips responded with an eight-play, 45-yard drive that resulted in a missed 31-yard field goal by junior PK Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio).

MU's next drive was cut short on the third play as junior DB Shawn Featherstone (Pittsburgh, Pa.) made his first career interception and returned it 41 yards to the Miami 35. Nelson drove the Zips to the endzone, ending the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run, putting Akron on the board, 7-0.

Akron's lead was short-lived as Miami tied the game on its next drive. Ragland connected with Sam Martin on a 19-yard touchdown reception, tying the game at 7-7 to end the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Zips intercepted the ball again. This time it was junior CB Jordan George (Dayton, Ohio) interrupted Miami's drive on the Akron 30. UA went for it on a 4^th-and-2 on 42 but turned the ball over on downs.

On its final drive of the first half, Miami drove to the redzone. On a fourth-and-one from the 11, PK Sam Sloman kicked a 28-yard field goal to give the RedHawks a 10-7 advantage at intermission.

In the third quarter, Miami utilized a six-ply, 72-yard drive for a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Young, giving the RedHawks a 17-7 edge. On their next drive, the RedHawks added another score- a 19-yard pass to James Gardner. MU held a 24-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Zips scored their second touchdown to open the fourth quarter. Nelson connected with senior WR Tra'Von Chapman (Cincinnati, Ohio) on a 30-yard reception in the endzone. Gasser added the extra point. UA came within 10 points, 24-14.

Akron closes out the regular season with two home Tuesday night games. The Zips host Ohio on Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field in a battle for the MAC East title.