The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Toledo
Zips Fall to Toledo, 48-17
November 02 | Football
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Akron, Ohio – The Akron football team established an early lead, but couldn't stop a second-half scoring outburst by Toledo, falling 48-17 on Wednesday evening at InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field.
Akron moved to 5-5 on the season and 3-3 in Mid-American Conference play, while the Rockets improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the MAC.
Toledo used a balanced offensive attack, outgaining the Zips 622-444 with 332 yards in the air and 290 yards on the ground.
Akron recorded 348 passing yards as senior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) accounted for 316 passing yards , completing 17-of-33 passes with two touchdowns and an interception. Junior QB Tra'Von Chapman (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 32 yards on 1-of-3 throwing and an interception.
Junior WR Jerome Lane (Akron, Ohio) led all receivers with 177 yards and a touchdown on six targets that included a 91-yard reception, the second longest all-time. Senior WR JoJo Natson, Jr. (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) added a touchdown on three receptions and 44 yards. Senior RB Denzel Jones, Jr. (Ravenna, Ohio) was Akron's leading rusher with a career-high 72 yards on 11 carries.
Defensively, sophomore LB Brian Bell (Valdosta, Ga.) and freshman CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led Akron with 11 tackles apiece – a career-high for Bell.
Toledo started with the ball and marched directly into Akron territory, but the Akron defense forced them to punt, stalling the drive at the 40-yard line.
The Zips' started their first drive from their own nine-yard line, and only needed one play and 12 seconds to put seven points on the scoreboard. Woodson opened the game with the second longest pass in program history as he found Lane in the middle of the field for a 91-yard touchdown reception. Both the pass and reception were career-highs for Woodson and Lane, surpassing the tandem's career-best 72-yard hook-up against Louisiana on September 26, 2015.
The Rockets responded with a nine-play 73-yard drive that ended on the foot of PK Jameson Vest. He booted the ball through the uprights from 21 yards out to cut the Zips' lead to 7-3 with 8:43 remaining in the first quarter.
On Akron's second possession of the game, the Zips took the ball 71 yards to the four-yard line, but could not punch it in the end zone. During the drive, Woodson and Lane connected two more times for 32 yards. Sophomore RB Van Edwards, Jr. (Cape Coral, Fla.) added 17 yards on the ground and 17 yards receiving before the Zips had to rely on the foot of sophomore PK Tom O'Leary (Tucker, Ga.). O'Leary sent the ball through the uprights and pushed the Zips lead back to seven points with a 21-yard field goal, 10-3.
Toledo would use the last 4:06 of the initial quarter to drive 72 yards to the Akron nine-yard line. The Rockets started the second frame staring at a second-and-six from the previous spot. The Rockets tied the game on the first play of the quarter as Terry Swanson carried the ball into the scoring area.
After an Akron three-and-out, Toledo rallied for the lead with another scoring drive, capped by a 23-yard field goal by Vest for a 13-10 UT advantage with 3:58 left to play in the half.
The Rockets extended the lead to 20-10 during the final 48-seconds of the half with a 51-yard drive that ended as time expired with a touchdown pass from QB Logan Woodside to WR Michael Roberts.
In the second half, Toledo scored on their first possession, using 1:40 to travel 69-yards for seven points. Running back Kareem Hunt gained the last 20 yards on the ground for the 27-10 lead.
Akron retaliated with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive as Woodson found junior WR Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio) for 15 yards and a first down. Jones added 15 yards on two carries before Woodson ended the drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Natson. Akron cut the lead to 27-17 with 6:41 left in the third quarter.
Toledo responded with 21 unanswered points to take 48-17 advantage, and the Zips were unable to recover.
Akron closes out its home slate at InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field on Wednesday, Nov. 9, against Bowling Green at 8 p.m. before a national television audience on ESPNU. The Senior Class will be honored during a pregame ceremony.
