Football Drops Homecoming Heartbreaker, 25-23

Saturday, October 10

Akron, Ohio

3:30 PM

University of Akron

1-5 , 0-2

Eastern Michigan

4-3 , 3-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Eastern Mich.	3	10	3	9	25
Akron	7	7	3	6	23

Jordan Gant Running vs. Eastern Michigan

October 10 | Football

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Gant rushes for 117 yards, Roggow throws three touchdowns as Zips fall on late field goal

AKRON, Ohio — The University of Akron football team put together a determined fourth-quarter comeback and received standout individual performances on both sides of the ball, but Eastern Michigan connected on a late field goal to escape with a 25-23 victory Saturday (Oct. 10) in Mid-American Conference action on Homecoming at InfoCision Stadium — Summa Health Field.

Sophomore running back Jordan Gant recorded his second consecutive 100-yard rushing performance, finishing with 117 yards on 22 carries, while quarterback Brayden Roggow threw three touchdown passes as the Zips (1-5, 0-2 MAC) battled the Eagles (4-3, 3-0 MAC) throughout the afternoon.

Akron reclaimed the lead with 6:27 remaining in the fourth quarter when Roggow connected with Marquese Williams on a 27-yard touchdown pass, capping a nine-play, 92-yard drive that gave the Zips a 23-22 advantage.

Eastern Michigan responded with an 11-play, 42-yard possession, setting up Rudy Kessinger's 48-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining to put the Eagles back in front.

The Zips mounted one final drive, moving 46 yards in nine plays to reach the Eastern Michigan 29-yard line. Matthew Schramm's potential game-winning 47-yard field goal attempt missed with 19 seconds remaining.

Roggow completed 17 of 24 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Marcel Williams led Akron's receiving corps with five catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring receptions of 15 and 40 yards in the first half.

Defensively, Akron received career-best performances from Donelius Johnson and Mehki Flowers. Johnson registered a game-high 16 tackles, including nine solo stops, while Flowers collected 15 tackles, nine solo, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

The Zips also forced two Eastern Michigan turnovers, including an interception by Tairan Davis, and finished the afternoon without committing a turnover.

Eastern Michigan opened the scoring with a 23-yard Kessinger field goal, but Akron answered with an 11-play, 83-yard touchdown drive. Roggow found Marcel Williams for a 15-yard score with 4:10 remaining in the opening quarter to give the Zips a 7-3 lead.

After the Eagles regained the advantage on a 1-yard touchdown run by Noah Kim early in the second quarter, Akron responded quickly. Roggow connected with Williams on a 40-yard touchdown strike, completing a five-play, 75-yard march that put the Zips ahead 14-10.

Kessinger's 22-yard field goal with 4:37 remaining in the half trimmed Akron's advantage to 14-13 at intermission.

The Zips extended their lead to 17-13 on their opening possession of the second half as Schramm converted a 40-yard field goal following a nine-play, 53-yard drive.

Eastern Michigan answered with a 33-yard Kessinger field goal late in the third quarter before moving ahead 22-17 on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Kim to Harold Mack with 14:53 remaining in regulation. The Eagles' two-point conversion attempt failed.

Trailing by five, Akron responded with its longest scoring drive of the afternoon. Beginning at its own 8-yard line, the Zips marched 92 yards in nine plays, culminating in Roggow's 27-yard scoring pass to Marquese Williams. Akron's two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Zips ahead by one.

Eastern Michigan's ensuing possession produced the decisive field goal.

Akron finished with 372 yards of total offense, including 143 rushing yards, and averaged 6.4 yards per play. Eastern Michigan totaled 413 yards and held a 35:35-24:25 advantage in time of possession.

Kim completed 26 of 46 passes for 277 yards and one touchdown with one interception for the Eagles. Joshua Long led Eastern Michigan with nine receptions for 114 yards.