Akron Ends Season With 28-3 Loss at South Carolina

Saturday, December 1

Columbia, SC | Williams-Brice Stadium

Noon

University of Akron

4-8

South Carolina

7-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

South Carolina

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Ends Season With 28-3 Loss at South Carolina

December 01 | Football

Box Score

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COLUMBIA, S.C.– Akron football closed out the 2018 season with a 28-3 loss at South Carolina on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Zips (4-8 overall) won the turnover battle and held the Gamecocks (7-5 overall) scoreless in the second half.

Zips' sophomore QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) went 19-for-39 for 178 yards. Freshman RB Keyondre White (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led the UA rushers with 56 yards on 13 carries. In his final game, senior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.) was the top receiver with 69 yards on six receptions.

Defensively, sophomore DB Zaire Jacobs (Miami Gardens, Fla.) and junior LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) led the Zips with eight tackles each. Jacobs also had two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble, all in the second half.

For USC, QB Jake Bentley went 14-of-27 for 199 yards and three touchdowns. Mon Denson was the top rusher with 110 yards on 17 carries, while Bryan Edwards was the top receiver with five catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.

USC jumped on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Following a three-play, 28-yard drive, Bentley tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel to go ahead 7-0.

On its next drive, Akron drove the field, completing a 12-play 47-yard drive with a 45-yard field goal by senior Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) to pull UA within four, 7-3.

The Gamecocks responded swiftly. With just three plays, USC's Bentley nailed Bryan Edwards with a 70-yard receiving touchdown to go ahead 14-3.

As the first quarter ended, Gasser attempted a 52-yard field goal which went wide right.

In the second quarter, UA fumbled the ball, and USC wasted little time taking advantage of the turnover. Bentley marched his team to the redzone, but senior DB Denzel Butler (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) intercepted a pass on the goal line, preventing another score.

Akron could not score on its next drive. On the ensuing punt which was fumbled, USC's Samul recovered the fumble in the endzone for another touchdown, giving the Gamecocks a 21-3 edge.

With 1:33 to go in the first half, USC's Bentley tossed another pass to Samuel who scored from five yards out. South Carolina led at intermission, 28-3.

In the third quarter, senior DB Darian Dailey's (Sarasota, Fla.) intercepted a Bentley pass in the redzone, one again preventing a USC score.

South Carolina's turnover woes continued with two fumbles, the first forced and recovered by sophomore DB Zaire Jacobs (Miami Gardens, Fla.), and the second forced by senior LB Brian Bell (Valdosta, Ga.) and recovered by Jacobs.

Neither team could capitalize on the turnovers and neither scored in the third quarter.

To open the fourth quarter, Akron's redshirt senior DE Walter Brady (Florence, Ala.) made a stop on a 4^th-and-1 on the 20, forcing a turnover to Akron on downs.

Akron held South Carolina scoreless in the second half for the final 28-3 score.