Zips Fall to Temple in Home Opener, 45-24

Saturday, September 11

Akron, Ohio

3:30 PM

University of Akron

Temple

September 11 | Football

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Zips Fall to Temple in Home Opener, 45-24
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron football team held an early 14-0 lead, but could not overcome 38 unanswered points from Temple at Saturday's home opener at InfoCision-Stadium-Summa Field, as the Zips fell 45-24.

Senior QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) started behind center and completed 7-of-12 passes and threw for 82 yards and a touchdown before exiting the game. Nelson found sophomore WR Michael Mathison (Covington, Ga) for a team-best 32-yard reception and freshman WR Tony Grimes, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was the target for a 17-yard touchdown pass – Akron's second touchdown of the game. Nelson carried the ball 10 times for 32 rushing yards, including a 15-yard long run.

Mathison led the receiving corps with a career-high eight receptions for a career-best 101 yards, while Grimes caught two passes for 33 yards and his first touchdown as a Zip. Freshman WR Konata Mumpfield (Houston, Texas) recorded the Zips' final touchdown with 2:47 left to play in the game.

Junior QB DJ Irons (Lawrenceville, Ga.) finished the game calling the plays, posting a 12-of-22 performance for 109 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception. Irons scored Akron's initial touchdown of the game, and his first as a Zip, on a nine-yard run and collected 27 of the Zips' 171 yards on the ground. Freshman RB Jonzell Norrils (Toledo, Ohio) led the ground attack with 66 yards on 15 carries for 4.4 yards per touch.

On the defensive side of the ball, junior LB Bubba Arslanian (Aurora, Ohio) registered a game-high 17 tackles, including eight solo stops. Junior CB Jalen Hooks (Warren, Ohio) followed with six tackles and four solo stops, while sophomore S A.J. Watts (Columbus, Ohio) recorded a tackle for 10 yards of loss. Akron recorded four tackles for a loss, totaling 16 yards.

The Zips scored on the first drive of the game, traveling 77 yds in 12 plays capped by a nine-yard TD run by Irons. With a 7-0 advantage Akron put seven additional points on the scoreboard with an 80-yard drive that ended with Nelson completing a 17-yard pass to Grimes, who was wide-open in the back corner of the endzone, 14-0. Temple retaliated with a 70-yard touchdown pass to cut Akron's lead in half before the first quarter ended.

Akron opened the second quarter with a 39-yard field goal off the foot on sophomore PK Cory Smigel (North Royalton, Ohio). Akron led 17-7, but two costly turnovers by Akron allowed Temple to take a 21-17 advantage by the 5:12 mark of the second frame. Temple returned a fumble for 38 yards and issued a pick-six for the lead. Temple added a 26-yard field goal before the half expired, taking a 24-17 advantage into the break. Temple added 14 points in the third quarter and seven points in the fourth before Akron found paydirt for the final time in the game.

Akron will be back in action at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field Saturday, Sept. 18 against Bryant. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Fans can follow the action live on ESPN3 or via live stats on GoZips.com.