The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ohio
Late Surge Falls Short, Football Drops 34-28 Decision to Ohio
October 13 | Football
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ATHENS, Ohio – Despite a 14-point fourth quarter rally, the Akron football team lost 34-28 to Ohio in a Mid-American Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Peden Stadium.
Quarterback Dalton Williams connected with wideout Jerrod Dillard twice for a touchdown in the last period to make the final margin. The first was a six-yard strike with 8:58 to go and the second came from five yards out with 1:55 remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, Akron (1-6, 0-3 MAC) attempted an on-side kick. Zach Paul's attempt went out of bounds after being touched by a UA player.
Williams completed 32-of-53 passes for 298 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Jawon Chisholm helped the Zip offense with 28 carries for a season-high 177 yards. He also had five catches for 55 yards. Dillard ended the day with three receptions for 32 yards and the two TD catches.
Akron pulled to within 20-14 about three minutes into the second half. Williams found Tyler Williams on the end of a 10-yard pass to complete a 75-yard scoring drive in which the UA quarterback converted 6-of-7 passes.
Ohio (7-0, 3-0 MAC) scored twice on long drives late in the third quarter. A two-yard pass by Tyler Tettleton to Troy Hill completed an 11-play, 96-yard drive with 3:26 left, and a five-yard run by Ryan Boykin ended a nine-yard, 56-play run with 37 seconds to go up 34-14.
The Zips found the endzone with 16 seconds left before halftime when Williams completed a four-play, 75-yard drive with a 19-yard pass to L.T. Smith to make the score 20-7.
The Bobcats scored on their first two drives of the day to take a 14-0 lead with 8:36 remaining in the first quarter, and extended the margin to 20-0 on field goals of 44 and 29 yards late in the second quarter.
Kurt Mangum paced the Zips defense with a career-best 16 tackles, while Alfonso Horner followed him with eight stops.
Akron posted 456 yards of total offense compared to Ohio's 441.
UA plays host to MAC West Division opponent Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 20 at Noon ET at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. The game will be telecast by ESPN Plus and ESPN3.
Zips Notebook: Jawon Chisholm has rushed for at least 100 yards in three-straight games and four times this season ... Jamel Turner tallied his first career sack during the second quarter ... Kurt Mangum posted his third double-digit tackle performance of the season and second in as many games.
