The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
4-7 , 3-4
Kent State
4-6 , 3-3
Zips Rally to Force Overtime - Falls in Wagon Wheel Game
November 11 | Football
AKRON, Ohio - Trailing 35-17 in the fourth quarter, the Akron football team scored 18 unanswered points to force overtime, but ultimately fell to Kent State at InfoCision Stadum-Summa Health Field Tuesday night.
Ben Finley threw a career-high 424 yards (32-59-1) while dishing out three touchdowns, his third 3 TD performance of the season, against the Golden Flashes. This was the first 400+ yard performance from an Akron quarterback since DJ Irons threw for 420 yards at Kent State (Oct. 22, 2022).Â
Marcel Williams set career-highs in receiving yards (206), receptions (14) and touchdowns (2). M. Williams has recorded 100+ yards in back-to-back games after recording 104 yards against UMass last week. He recorded the first 200-yard performance from a receiver since Alex Adams had 200 at Kent State (Oct. 22, 2022). He also added a 2-pt conversion throw to Finley while recovering an onside kick. Israel Polk caught the other TD from Finley while recording 67 yards on four catches (16.8 yards per catch). Jean Louis III added 56 yards on four catches while Kyan Mason added 46 yards on three catches.
Jordan Gant lead the running game with 96 yards on 22 carries (4.4 per rush) while running in a TD.
Akron had an outstanding day offensively, racking up 530 total yards, 106 on the ground and 424 through the air, while averaging 5.6 yards per play and out-gaining Kent State 530-374.
The Zips forced one turnover in Tuesday's contest, with Akron turning that takeaway into eight points. Akron's defense was tough against the run, limiting Kent State to only 57 yards on the ground.Â
Malcom DeWalt IV led the Zips' defense with five tackles and added 0.5 tfl and a forced fumble. That fumble would lead to the game tying drive with 2:04 left in the fourth quarter. Elijah Reed, Justin Anderson, Gage Summers and Julien Laventure all recorded four tackles. Ronald Hull notched the Zips' lone sack of the night and recovered the forced fumble from DeWalt.
The Golden Flashes improved to 4-6 on the year and 3-3 in Mid-American Conference play, while the Zips fell to 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the MAC.
Akron took a 3-0 lead over Kent State after scoring the game's first points with 8:43 left in the first quarter on a 29-yard field goal from Matthew Schramm. Kent State responded and went ahead 7-3 before the Zips scored again on a four-yard rushing TD from Gant to jump back ahead 10-7.
Kent State then grabbed a 14-10 lead, but Akron got on the scoreboard again at the :10 left mark in the second quarter with a 30-yard touchdown reception from Finley to Williams to jump back ahead 17-14.Kent State fought back to take a 35-17 lead, but the Zips scored again to cut into the lead and make it a 35-24 game on a 12-yard pass from Finley to Williams.
Akron scored again, as Schramm hit a 20-yard field goal with 7:12 left in the fourth quarter, but remained behind 35-27.The Zips kept the Golden Flashes off the scoreboard long enough for Akron to rally and tie it at 35-35 after scoring on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Finley to Polk. Akron didn't score again and Kent State added seven more points to finish off the game in overtime.
Game Notes» Akron outgained Kent State 530-374, including a 424-317 advantage through the air.
» Finley set a career-high in passing yards (424).
» Finley  produced the first 400+ yard performance from an Akron quarterback since DJ Irons threw for 420 yards at Kent State (Oct. 22, 2022).Â
» Finley has thrown at least one touchdown over his past eight starts, while throwing two TDs in four games and three TDs in three.
» M. Williams set career-highs in receiving yards (206), receptions (14) and touchdowns (2).
» M. Williams recorded the first 200-yard performance from a receiver since Alex Adams had 200 at Kent State (Oct. 22, 2022).
» M. Williams has recorded 100+ receiving yards in back-to-back games.
» M. Williams added a 2-pt conversion throw to Finley while recovering an onside kick.
» Akron had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth period, when they put up 18 points.
» Akron converted 7 of 19 third downs while Kent State was successful on 3 of 9.
» Akron went 2-for-4 on fourth down, converting on 50 percent of attempts.
» Akron won the time of possession battle 38:40 to 21:20.
What's Next?
Akron travels to Bowling Green for the regular season finale on a midweek #MACtion game on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Doyt Perry Stadium at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
KSU 0, AKR 3
AKR - Schramm,Matthew 29 yd field goal 9 plays, 63 yards, TOP 04:43
KSU 7, AKR 3
KSU - Garcia,Gavin 3 yd run (Hryszko,Will kick), 2 plays, 9 yards, TOP 00:26
KSU 7, AKR 10
AKR - Gant,Jordan 4 yd run (Schramm,Matthew kick), 8 plays, 90 yards, TOP 04:11
KSU 14, AKR 10
KSU - Clark,Da'Realyst 89 yd pass from DeShields,Dru (Hryszko,Will kick) 1 plays, 89 yards, TOP 00:11
KSU 14, AKR 17
AKR - Williams,Marcel 30 yd pass from Finley,Ben (Schramm,Matthew kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:40
KSU 21, AKR 17
KSU - Wolford,Cade 43 yd pass from DeShields,Dru (Hryszko,Will kick) 7 plays, 77 yards, TOP 02:38
KSU 28, AKR 17
KSU - Mulder,Terik 7 yd pass from DeShields,Dru (Hryszko,Will kick) 3 plays, 12 yards, TOP 01:12
KSU 35, AKR 17
KSU - Martin,DaShawn 27 yd pass from DeShields,Dru (Hryszko,Will kick) 2 plays, 31 yards, TOP 00:41
KSU 35, AKR 24
AKR - Williams,Marcel 12 yd pass from Finley,Ben (Schramm,Matthew kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:11
KSU 35, AKR 27
AKR - Schramm,Matthew 20 yd field goal 8 plays, 37 yards, TOP 03:41
KSU 35, AKR 35
AKR - Polk,Israel 13 yd pass from Finley,Ben (Finley,Ben pass) 9 plays, 58 yards, TOP 03:11
KSU 42, AKR 35
KSU - Banks,Ardell 25 yd pass from DeShields,Dru (Hryszko,Will kick) 1 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
