Akron Zips Snap Eight-Game Skid Against Bowling Green with 34-23 Win

Saturday, September 30

Bowling Green, OH

6 PM

University of Akron

2-3 , 1-0

Bowling Green

0-5 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

Bowling Green

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Zips Snap Eight-Game Skid Against Bowling Green with 34-23 Win

September 30 | Football

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio– The Akron Zips led all but 2:36 en route to a 34-23 win over Bowling Green in the Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday evening at Doyt Perry Stadium.

With the win, Akron snapped BGSU's eight-game series winning streak while moving to 1-0 in league play and 2-3 overall. Bowling Green fell to 0-1 in the conference standings and 0-5 on the season.

The Zips reached the end zone five times as senior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) led the offense with 168 yards in the air, completing 13-of-24 passes with two touchdowns. He added an 11-yard touchdown run and totaled 24 yards on the ground on eight attempts.

Woodson's main target was senior WR A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) who caught five passes for 42 yards with a touchdown. Senior WR Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio) followed three catches and 68 yards receiving, including a 43-yard long touchdown reception.

On the ground, junior RB Van Edwards, Jr. (Cape Coral, Fla.) carried the load. Edwards gained 70 yards on 14 attempts with a touchdown, while senior RB Manny Morgan (Naples, Fla.) picked up 51 yards on 11 rushing attempts. In addition, senior RB Warren Ball (Columbus, Ohio) left the game with an injury after three carries.

The Akron defense also put points on the scoreboard as junior CB Kyron Brown (Boynton Beach, Fla.) recorded a pick-six for his first career touchdown. The Zips won the turnover battle, 4-3, which included three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) and sophomore LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) led the Zips in tackles. Gilbert recorded 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss and a sack, while Lako registered 10 takedowns.

Junior DB Jordan George (Dayton, Ohio) also had a big game for the defensive unit. George recorded six tackles and an interception, while blocking a field goal attempt and forcing a fumble.

Akron won the coin toss and deferred to the home standing Falcons, which proved to be the right decision. On the second play of the game, senior LB Andrew Hauser (Mason, Ohio) caused a fumble. Sophomore CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) recovered the loose ball and traveled to the BGSU 19-yard line. Six plays later Akron led 7-0 as senior WR Kevin Gladney (Akron, Ohio) caught a 13-yard pass to set up first-and-goal.

On second-and-goal the Zips sealed the drive when Woodson rolled out of the pocket to his right and found Coney in the back of the end zone for the early advantage at 11:44.

BGSU responded with a 50-yard kickoff return that eventually led to a touchdown at the 8:13 mark. The Falcons failed to tie the game as George blocked the extra point attempt, and Akron led 7-6.

On Akron's second drive of the game, Woodson connected with Wolf on the right sideline for a 43-yard touchdown. Akron missed the extra point attempt, ending a 41-consecutive made PAT streak.

BGSU had another 40-plus yard kickoff return to around mid-field. This time, Akron's defense held the Falcons scoreless as Alvin Davis nearly intercepted the third down pass attempt.

At the 13:22 mark in the second quarter, redshirt freshman QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) led the Zips to the red zone. Nelson gained 29 yards on the ground, including a 20-yard run, and sent a 15-yard strike to junior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.), ending at the BGSU 21 yard line. Woodson came back behind center and wasted no time in lengthening the drive with a 17-yard pass to Coney. Edwards finished the scoring drive with a three-yard run for pay dirt. Akron took a 20-6 lead with 9:38 left in the half.

The Falcons narrowed the Zips lead to seven points with 6:10 left in the quarter. BGSU completed 17-yard touchdown pass to the right corner of the end zone, but at the break the Zips continued to lead with a 20-13 advantage.

The Zips opened the second half with the ball, but it was short lived as BGSU caused a fumble in Akron territory. Bowling Green wasted no time as QB James Morgan found Andrew Clair for a 26-yard touchdown pass, tying the game 20-20 with 13:11 showing on the scoreboard.

Six minutes later, BGSU took its first lead of the game with a 25-yard field goal. With 7:02 remaining in the third quarter, the Falcons led 23-20.

The Falcons only held the lead for 2:36 as Woodson marched the Zips down the field in seven plays for 63 yards for the score. Woodson used two big passing plays to Wolf and freshman TE Kobie Booker (Barberton, Ohio) to cover most of the yardage. Wolf caught a 19-yard pass on the right sideline, and Booker was found the middle of the field for an 18-yard reception to setup an 11-yard touchdown run by Woodson. Akron led 27-23 with 4:17 remaining in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Zips extended the lead on defense when Brown jumped in front of a BGSU receiver for an interception. Brown returned the errant pass 38 yards for a touchdown to give Akron a 34-23 advantage.

Akron returns to InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field on Saturday, Oct. 7, to host Ball State during the annual Homecoming game. The 2017 Hall of Fame Class, including the Team of Distinction– the 1986 Men's Soccer Team, will be inducted prior to the game and introduced during the game.