The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ball State
Woodson Returns, Guides Zips to 35-25 Win at Ball State
October 22 | Football
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MUNCIE, Ind. – Junior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) returned to the starting line-up as the University of Akron football team pulled out a come-from-behind 35-25 win at Ball State on Saturday at Scheumann Stadium.
The Zips improved to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in Mid-American Conference action, while BSU fell to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the league.
Woodson finished with two touchdowns on 27-of-40 throwing for 338 yards. Trailing 17-7 at halftime, Woodson guided the Zips to 21 unanswered points to open the second stanza.
Sophomore RB Van Edwards (Cape Coral, Fla.) led the Zip on the ground with a career-high 16 carries for a career-high 112 yards and a touchdown, his first 100-yard rushing performance.
Senior WR JoJo Natson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had his second 100-yard receiving game, finishing with 109 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.
Defensively, sophomore LB Ulysees Gilbert (Ocala, Fla.) led the defense with a career-high 17 tackles, including a career-best 12 assists, while CB Alvin Davis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) added a career-high 15 tackles.
BSU scored on the opening drive as QB Riley Neal ended a 13-play drive with a one-yard rush for the score. Neal finished the game with 187 yards, going 23-of-34 with an interception.
On UA's opening drive, the Zips marched up to the BSU 23-yard line before fumbling the ball. The Cardinals led, 7-0, after the first quarter.
BSU opened the second quarter with a 21-yard field goal by Morgan Hagee to take a 10-0 lead.
Edwards put the Zips on the scoreboard, capping an eight-play drive with a 45-yard run to the endzone. Redshirt sophomore PK Tom O'Leary (Tucker, Ga.) made it a three-point game, 10-7.
BSU scored again on its next drive as RB James Gilbert scampered 18 yards for a touchdown, giving the Cardinals a 17-7 advantage.
Over the last three minutes of the first half, the Zips marched down the field for three first downs, including an 11-yard pass to Natson, an 11-yard rush by Woodson, and an 18-yard run by Edwards, but time ran out before reaching the endzone. Ball State held a 17-7 edge at intermission.
In the first drive of the second half, the Zips went for it on a fourth-and four on the BSU 29. Woodson connected with Lane on a 28-yard reception, putting the ball on the one. Junior QB Tra'Von Chapman (Cincinnati, Ohio) came in for one play and rushed one yard into the endzone, capping a 10-play, 65-yard drive to pull Akron within three, 17-14.
UA held BSU on its next drive as the Cardinals were forced to punt.
Akron got its first lead with 20 seconds to go in the third as Woodson connected with Natson on a 23-yard pass to give the Zips a 21-17 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Zips added insurance with a 14-yard touchdown pass from RB Manny Morgan (Naples, Fla.) to WR Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio) to put the Zips ahead 28-17.
The Cardinals came charging back, scoring on a 17-yard reception and adding a two-point conversion to trail by three, 28-25, with 5:18 remaining.
The Zips responded with a reception of their own. With 2:22 to go, Woodson connected with junior WR Jerome Lane (Akron, Ohio) for the final touchdown, a three-yard touchdown, putting UA ahead 35-25.
Ball State drove the field in hopes of another score. With 45 seconds to go on Akron's 18, Neal threw a pick to UA's Jordan George (Dayton, Ohio) to seal the Zips' win.
Akron, one win away from bowl eligibility, will play its second MAC road game in a five-day span when the Zips visit Buffalo on Thursday, Oct. 27, for a 7:30 p.m. match-up at UB Stadium. Time Warner/ESPN3 will televise the game.
