The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Bowling Green
Football Slowed in Second Half, Falls 24-10 to Bowling Green
October 06 | Football
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AKRON, Ohio – Bowling Green scored 24 second-half points to rally from a 10-0 halftime deficit to defeat Akron 24-10 in a Mid-American Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
Jawon Chisholm led Akron (1-5, 0-2 MAC) with 100 yards rushing on 16 carries and Dalton Williams passed for 228 yards and one touchdown. It was the third 100-yard rushing game of the season for Chisholm and second in as many contests.
Bowling Green (3-3, 1-1 MAC) was able to control the second half with its running game, grinding out 226 yards on the ground while the Falcons' defense held Akron to 22 yards of total offense after the break.
Kurt Mangum led the Akron defense with 13 tackles, one pass break-up and one tackle for loss. Troy Gilmer added eight stops for the Zips.
Akron caught a break early in the final quarter as kicker Stephen Stein struck the right upright on a 24-yard field goal attempt that would have extended the BGSU lead to 20-10.
However, the Falcons stopped Akron for a three-and-out, then moved down the field in eight plays to set up the second touchdown pass of the game from Matt Schilz to tight end Alex Bayer.
After Akron controlled the first half, Bowling Green seized the reins in the second half with 17 third-quarter points, capped with a 60-yard touchdown pass on a well-executed screen from Schilz to Bayer. The strike ended a 91-yard drive and gave the Falcons their first lead of the day.
The touchdown came after BGSU began its comeback with a touchdown on the first drive of the second half. Sophomore tailback Anthon Samuel battled his way into the endzone from four yards out to top off a seven-play drive that saw the Falcons run the ball on six plays after starting at their own 22.
They were able to control the clock for much of the quarter and tied the game moments later with a 26-yard field goal by Stein.
The Zips and Falcons found themselves locked in a defensive battle in the early going. A scoreless first quarter marred by seven combined penalties yielded no points, but did produce 90 offensive plays between the two squads as a quick pace of play prevailed.
Akron finally broke the scoreboard stalemate with 9:47 left in the second quarter when Williams found Tyrell Goodman on a skinny post pattern down the middle, splitting two Bowling Green defenders. The scoring strike came after consecutive false start penalties backed the Zips up for second and 11 from the BG 17. Williams helped keep the drive going with a key third-down conversion on a 12-yard run.
The Zips appeared headed for more points late in the half, but a six-play, 87-yard drive came to an end when Conor Hundley fumbled inside the BGSU 5 on a second-down carry. Booboo Gates recovered the fumble and the Falcons took over deep in their own territory.
After the teams traded punts, Josh Richmond intercepted a pass over the middle as Schilz overthrew Ryan Burbrink on a crossing route. Akron took possession at the BGSU 39 and worked its way down the field to set up a 46-yard field goal from freshman kicker Robert Stein, the longest of his career, as time expired for a 10-0 lead.
For the half, the Zips limited the Falcons to 150 total yards, while Williams completed 19-of-32 passes for 179 yards and the lone touchdown of the first two stanzas. With Chisholm gaining 89 yards on 12 carries in the opening frame, Akron was able to move the ball effectively early on against the stingiest defense in the MAC in terms of yards per game entering the day.
Akron travels to Athens to take on the Ohio Bobcats on Saturday, Oct. 20. Kickoff is 2 p.m. ET and the game will be covered by ESPN3.
Zips Notebook: This was Homecoming Weekend on the UA campus ... Jawon Chisholm also had 100-yard performances against Morgan State (129) and Miami (Ohio) (156) this season... the Zips held the Falcons scoreless in the first half, the second opponent the defense has held off the scoreboard for an entire half this year (Morgan State, second half) ... Kurt Mangum's 13 tackles was a personal-best ... Dalton Williams hit the 50-pass attempt mark for the third time this season (50 versus Central Florida; 54 at Florida International).
