Akron Completes MAC Play With 49-28 Loss at Ohio

Friday, November 23

Athens, OH | Peden Stadium

Noon ET

University of Akron

4-7 , 2-6

Ohio

8-4 , 6-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

Ohio

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Completes MAC Play With 49-28 Loss at Ohio

November 23 | Football

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ATHENS, Ohio – In its Mid-American Conference finale, Akron football gave a valiant effort in its 49-28 loss at Ohio on Friday afternoon at Peden Stadium.

The Zips (4-7 overall, 2-6 MAC) accumulated 388 yards of total offense, including four passing touchdowns, against the Bobcats (8-4 overall, 6-2 MAC).

Zips' sophomore QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) had a career day. He threw a career-high 24 completions on a career-high 41 attempts for a career-high 356 yards and a career-best four touchdowns.

Sophomore WR Andre Williams (Orlando, Fla.) led the Zips with seven receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. True freshman WR Jeremiah Knight (Jefferson, Ohio), who made his first appearance in the starting line-up, followed with a career-high 94 yards receiving on four catches. Sophomore WR Jonah Morris (Akron, Ohio) had 61 receiving yards.

Defensively, senior DE Jamal Davis II (Canton, Ohio) led Akron with 11 tackles.

"I was awful proud the way our players fought and the way they fought back," head coach Terry Bowden said. "They have been through a lot of adversity, and I am proud of these football players."

For Ohio, A.J. Ouellette rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns, while Maleek Irons added 126 rushing yards. Junior QB Nathan Rourke rushed for 86 yards and four touchdowns while going 5-of-14 for 87 yards.

The host Bobcats scored on their opening drive. OU went five plays for 80 yards over 2:26 as A.J. Ouellette rushed six yards for a touchdown.

Following a Nelson interception, Ohio took advantage of the turnover. Rourke finished off a six-play, 20-yard drive with a one-yard keeper to give OU a 14-0 lead with 4:26 to go in the first quarter.

The Bobcats scored again in the first quarter. This time Ohio's Kylan Nelson returned a punt 63 yards to give OU a 21-0 edge.

Akron opened the second quarter with a 10-yard pass from Nelson to Edwards. Gasser converted the kick to put UA on the board, 21-7.

The Zips attempted another score with 9:23 to go as Gasser missed a 47-yard field goal which went wide left.

On their next drive, the Bobcats scampered 70 yards on seven plays and ended the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run by Ouellette, who eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing this season.

At halftime, Ohio led, 28-7.

In the third quarter, Akron scored first. Nelson completed a 17-yard touchdown reception to Andre Williams to cap a seven-play, 84-yard drive. The Zips came within 14, 28-14.

Akron's momentum was short-lived as Ohio scored on its next drive. Rourke guided the Bobcats to the red zone and ran the ball in one yard for the touchdown, giving OU a 35-14 advantage to end the third quarter.

But the Zips rebounded on their next drive. Opening the fourth quarter in the red zone, senior TE Brian Reinke (Akron, Ohio) caught his first career touchdown, a six-yard reception, to bring Akron within two scores, 35-21.

Rourke scored his third TD on the day with a five-yard run with 8:21 to go in the game, giving Ohio a 42-21 edge.

UA senior WR Mykel Traylor-Bennett (Columbus, Ohio) had a 12-yard touchdown catch to bring the Zips closer, 42-28.

With five seconds to go, Rourke scored his fourth touchdown of the game, a three-yard run, for the game's final 49-28 tally.

Akron closes out the regular season at South Carolina on Saturday, Dec. 1, for a Noon game. The SEC Network will televise the game.