Zips Fall To UAB On The Road

Saturday, September 13

Birmingham, AL

8:30 PM

University of Akron

0-3 , 0-0

UAB

2-1 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

UAB

Photo by: KENEMATIC SHOTS

September 14 | Football

Box Score Boxscore (PDF)Photo Gallery

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Akron Zips were unable to overcome a first-half deficit, as they fell 31-28 to the UAB despite holding the Blazers scoreless in the second half at Protective Stadium on Saturday night.

Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) led Akron's passing attack with 282 yards, throwing two touchdowns. Finley tossed a career-long 75-yard strike to Israel Polk (Richmond, Calif) for the Zips' opening score and first touchdown of the season.

Polk led the Zips receiving corps with a career-high 99 yards, a career-high two touchdown catches while setting a career-long 75-yard reception from Finley. Myles Walker (Monaca, Pa.) got in on the action in the passing game as well, hauling in four targets for a career-high 69 yards.

Sean Patrick (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) paced the Zips' rushing attack by accumulating a career-high 81 yards, which included his first collegiate touchdown. Patrick averaged 4.3 yards per carry, while Jordan Gant (Lakeland, Fla.) added 67 total yards and 6.1 yards per carry.

As a unit, the Akron defense recorded 66 tackles, the second consecutive game the Zips have recorded 60 or more tackles (at Nebraska, 66).

Rodrick Hunter (Atlanta, Ga.) led the Zips' defense with a career-high eight tackles. Malcom DeWalt IV (Bremerton, Wash.) and DiMarco Johnson (Irmo, S.C.) followed close behind with seven tackles each. Johnson led Akron with two tackles for loss, while Bruno Dall (Hamburg, Germany) added 1.5 sacks for a loss of nine yards to go with his three tackles . Markus Boswell (Austin, Texas) recorded his team-leading second interception of the year, resulting in a 44-yard return deep into Blazer territory.

Akron neutralized the UAB rushing attack, holding the Blazers to 81 yards on the ground. In part because of that stellar defense, Akron runners out-gained their UAB counterparts 159-81.

The Blazers improved to 2-1 on the season while the Zips dropped to 0-3.

How It Happened

After falling behind 7-0, Akron fired back with a 75-yard touchdown from Finley to Polk with 14:38 remaining in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7. The Zips proceeded to break the 7-7 tie with a five-yard touchdown reception from Finley to Polk, making the score 14-7.

After UAB tied the game at 14-14, Akron scored again with 1:26 left in the first quarter with a 36-yard field goal from Owen Wiley (Avon Lake, Ohio) to retake the lead at 17-14.UAB fought back to take a 24-17 lead, but the Zips got on the scoreboard again to close the gap and make it a 24-20 game on a 23-yard field goal from Wiley.

UAB expanded its lead to 31-20 until Akron got on the scoreboard again to close the gap with 12:38 left in the fourth quarter and make it a 31-28 game on a one-yard rush from Patrick to cap off an 83-yard drive. Neither team scored again in the game.

Game Notes

» Akron outgained UAB 441-422, including a 159-81 advantage on the ground.
» Akron won the turnover battle 1-0 after picking off one pass.
» Boswell recorded his team-leading second interception of the season on a 44-yard return.
» Akron converted 6 of 16 third downs while UAB was successful on 3 of 12.
» Hunter led the Zips with a career-high eight tackles.
» DeWalt IV set a new career-high in tackles with seven.
» Dall set a career-high in sacks with 1.5.
» Finley set a career-high for longest pass with a 75-yard strike.
» Polk set career-highs in touchdown catches (2), receiving yards (99) and longest reception (75).
» Joseph Castle (North Huntingdon, Pa.) punted four times for the Zips with an average of 47.5 yards per punt while pinning the Blazers inside their own 20 one time.

What's Next?
The Zips return to InfoCision Stadium - Summa Health Field on Saturday, September 20, when Duquesne comes to the Rubber City.