The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Marshall
Football Falls to Marshall, 48-17
September 20 | Football
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AKRON-- The University of Akron football team dropped a 48-17 decision to Marshall University on Saturday at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
In a match-up of former Mid-American Conference foes, Akron (1-2) was held to 92 yards on the ground and 343 total yards, but turned the ball over four times. The Zips entered the game tied for first in the nation with zero giveaways.
Junior QB Kyle Pohl threw for 151 yards (17-of-37) and redshirt freshman QB Tommy Woodson threw for 100 yards and a touchdown late in the game. Junior Zach D'Orazio netted 69 yards on five catches, including a diving grab that put the Zips in the red zone early in the second quarter.
Marshall QB Rakeem Cato led the Marshall charge, connecting on 17-of-31 for 210 yards and a touchdown to contribute to Marshall's 526 yards of total offense.
Junior LB Jatavis Brown and senior S Devonte Morgan led the Zips defensively with eight and seven tackles, respectively.
In its first possession of the game, Marshall (4-0) ended a nine-play scoring drive with an 11-yard rush from Cato, giving the Thundering Herd a 7-0 advantage at the 9:48 mark.
Following a 16-yard carry by Pohl, Marshall forced the first Zips' turnover of the season, giving the Herd the ball on UA's 42-yard line. Marshall used the possession to extend its lead to 10-0 on a 24-yard field goal.
Marshall scored on each of its four opening possessions as Cato found Angelo Jean-Louis on the end of a 24-yard TD pass, and a second UA miscue combined to set the Zips back 24-0 with 14:52 to play in the first half.
Akron junior CB Kris Givens brought an end to the Herd's offensive momentum by picking up his first career interception, but the Zips were unable to convert it into a scoring drive following a fourth-down interception in the end zone with 10:16 left in the first half.
The Zips got on the board in the second quarter when senior PK Robert Stein put one through the uprights from 24 yards out to trail 31-3 at the intermission.
Midway through the fourth quarter, redshirt freshman RB Manny Morgan marched 11 yards into the endzone, topping off a nine-play drive for his first career TD, to help the Zips cut the deficit to 41-10.
Woodson then hit sophomore WR Mykel Traylor-Bennett in the endzone with a 24-yard strike with 1:36 left to play for the final score of the game (48-17).
Akron concludes non-conference play on Saturday, Sept. 27, when the squad travels to Heinz Field to face Pittsburgh. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN3.
