The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
1-0
Saint Francis (Pa.)
0-1
Interception Secures Overtime Win in Season Opener Against Saint Francis
September 01 | Football
AKRON, Ohio – The Joe Moorhead era for Akron Zips football opened with a 30-23 overtime win over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Thursday evening at InfoCision Stadium as junior QB DJ Irons threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns.
Irons posted a 137.3 quarterback rating, completing 24-of-39 passes with a 41-yard long TD pass to senior WR Shocky Jacques-Louis. Jacques-Louis caught eight passes for 102 yards for a 12.8 average. On the ground, sophomore RB Cam Wiley ran for 85 yards on 21 attempts with two touchdowns, including a pair of go-ahead scores and the Zips' final touchdown of the game. Akron finished the evening with 370 total yards of offense.
Senior LB Bubba Arslanian and senior DL Victor Jones paced the Zips' defense with eight tackles apiece, both with six solo stops. In addition, sophomore CB Tyson Durant recorded Akron's lone takeaway on the final play of the game to secure the win with an interception in overtime.
How it Happened
Zips scored on the first drive of the season as senior PK Cory Smigel split the uprights from 25 yards for a 3-0 advantage. Drive: 12 plays, 68 yards in 4:17
SFU tied the game with 7:02 showing on the clock in the first quarter on a 35-yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards in 3:30.
At the end of the first quarter game was tied 3-3, SFU opened the second quarter with a one-yard TD run 10-3. Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards in 2:13
Zips tied the game, 10-10, at the 10:28 mark as QB Irons found TE Brank for a nine yard TD reception setup by a 17-yard pass from QB Irons to WR Jacques-Louis. Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards in 3:34.
SFU took the lead again, 13-10, with another 35-yard field goal and held on until the break. Drive: 5 plays, 39 yards in 2:25
SFU added to the lead with a 38-yard field goal for a 16-10 advantage. Drive: 11 plays, 42 yards in 4:43.
Zips QB Irons found WR Jacques-Louis for a 41-yard TD pass to take a 17-16 advantage into the fourth quarter. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards in 3:03
With 5:42 left in the game, RB Cam Wiley extended the Zips lead to 23-16 with a seven-yard run into the endzone. Wiley had the final 38 yards of the Drive: 8 plays 70 yards in 2:52.
SFU tied the game 23-23 to force overtime capped by a seven-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 5 plays, 81 yards in 2:08.
In overtime, Akron WR Jacques-Louis snagged a 28-yard pass from QB Irons to setup a back-to-back rushes for six yards and the game winning touchdown by RB Wiley. Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards.
Akron CB Durant intercepted a fourth down pass to end the game, 30-23.
Team Stats
SFU 0, ZIPS 3
ZIPS - Smigel,Cory 25 yd field goal 11 plays, 78 yards, TOP 4:17
SFU 3, ZIPS 3
SFU - Schmoke,Alex 36 yd field goal 8 plays, 61 yards, TOP 3:30
SFU 10, ZIPS 3
SFU - Horton,Damon 1 yd run (Schmoke,Alex kick), 7 plays, 54 yards, TOP 2:13
SFU 10, ZIPS 10
ZIPS - Brank,Tristian 9 yd pass from Irons,DJ (Smigel,Cory kick) 10 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:34
SFU 13, ZIPS 10
SFU - Schmoke,Alex 35 yd field goal 5 plays, 39 yards, TOP 2:25
SFU 16, ZIPS 10
SFU - Schmoke,Alex 38 yd field goal 11 plays, 42 yards, TOP 4:43
SFU 16, ZIPS 17
ZIPS - Jacques-Louis,S 41 yd pass from Irons,DJ (Smigel,Cory kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:03
SFU 16, ZIPS 23
ZIPS - Wiley,Cam 7 yd run (Smigel,Cory kickblocked), 7 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:52
SFU 23, ZIPS 23
SFU - Scott,Deondre 7 yd run (Schmoke,Alex kick), 5 plays, 81 yards, TOP 2:08
SFU 23, ZIPS 30
ZIPS - Wiley,Cam 1 yd run (Smigel,Cory kick), 4 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
