Akron Falls to Toledo in MAC Championship, 45-28

Saturday, December 2

Ford Field | Detroit, MI

Noon

University of Akron

7-6 , 6-2

Toledo

11-2 , 7-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

Toledo

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Falls to Toledo in MAC Championship, 45-28

December 02 | Football

Box Score

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DETROIT – The University of Akron football team could not overcome a 28-0 halftime deficit and fell to Toledo, 45-28, in the 2017 Mid-American Conference championship game before 16,225 fans on Saturday at Ford Field.

Akron fell to 7-6 overall, while the Rockets improved to 11-2 overall. Both teams now await bowl berths which will be announced on Sunday afternoon.

Akron started the game with the ball but was forced to punt. Toledo went three-and-out on its opening drive.

On its second drive, Toledo jumped on the scoreboard first. UT's Danzel McKinley-Lewis returned a punt 48 yards to the 17. On the next play, Diontae Johnson caught a 27-yard pass from QB Logan Woodside, the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, to go ahead 7-0.

Redshirt senior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) replaced starter Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) for a series in the first quarter, his first action since the win over Buffalo (Oct. 28). He took over under center on last drive of the first quarter.

With 1:54 to go, the Rockets' Jameson Vest missed a 33-yard field goal attempt. UT led after the first quarter, 7-0.

In the second quarter, junior LB Brian Bell (Valdosta, Ga.) recovered a fumble on the 37. The recovery set up a field goal attempt for the Zips, but Nick Gasser's 42-yard attempt was blocked by Childress, who returned the ball 36 yards to the 34.

Toledo took advantage of the turnover with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Terry Swanson to take a 14-0 lead.

The Rockets went ahead 21-0 as Johnson scored again, this time on a five-yard reception.

With 2:41 to go in the first half, first-team All-MAC LB Ulysees Gilbert (Ocala, Fla.) intercepted a Woodside pass and returned it 25 yards. The Zips could not get into the red zone and were forced to punt.

On their final drive of the half, the Rockets began its drive on the three and marched the ball 97 yards to the end zone as Jon'Vea Johnson caught a 27-yard touchdown with eight seconds on the clock. Toledo led at intermission, 28-0.

In the third quarter, Vest converted a 47-yard field goal to give UT a 31-0 edge.

Akron finally got on the scoreboard with 30 seconds to go in the quarter. RB Manny Morgan took a direct snap and marched seven yards into the endzone.

The Zips opened the fourth quarter with an interception by junior DB Jordan George (Dayton, Ohio). UA scored on the next play as Woodson hit senior WR Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio) with a 29-yard touchdown reception. UT led 38-14 with 14:38 remaining in the game.

On Toledo's next drive, senior DL Ibrahima Camara (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) forced a fumble, recovered by junior DB Darian Dailey (Bradenton, Fla.), and the Zips took over on the 42. Nelson fumbled the ball on the next play, returning the ball to Toledo.

The Rockets scored on the next play with a 54-yard pass to Swanson to go ahead 45-14.

Akron finished the game with two more score. Nelson connected with junior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.) on a 44-yard touchdown pass with 6:09 to go.

On the final drive, junior QB Robbie Kelley (Springfield, Ill.) threw a five-yard touchdown to freshman TE Kobie Booker (Barberton, Ohio).

For the Zips, Nelson went 8-of-18 for 177 yards and two touchdowns, while Woodson was 5-of-14 for 35 yards. Smith led the receivers with 114 yards and a touchdown on three receptions, while Morgan led the rushing efforts with 51 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Gilbert and George led Akron with 10 tackles apiece.

For the Rockets, Woodside, the Player of the Game, went 23-of-37 for 307 yards and four touchdowns.

Bowl berths will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 3. Stay tuned to GoZips.com to see where the Zips are headed next.