Akron Falls to FAU, 50-3, in Boca Raton Bowl

Tuesday, December 19

Boca Raton, FL

7 PM

University of Akron

7-7

Florida Atlantic

11-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

December 19 | Football

Box Score

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BOCA RATON, Fla. – Four second-half touchdowns proved too much for the University of Akron football team to overcome as Florida Atlantic (11-3 overall) posted a 50-3 victory over the Zips (7-7 overall) in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday.

The Owls out-gained Akron in the second half, 332-24, to deny the Zips their second bowl triumph.

On the evening, Florida Atlantic out-paced Akron in total yards, 582-146, including a rushing for 312 yards. The Zips finished the contest without committing a turnover.

Playing in their school-record 14th game of the season, redshirt freshman quarterback Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) led Akron offensively going 9-of-15 for 80 yards, while rushing for 21 yards. Senior RB Manny Morgan (Naples, Fla.) was the Zips' leading rusher with 41 yards on 17 carries, while senior wide receiver A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) pulled in two catches for a team-best 28 yards receiving. Senior wide receivers Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio) and Tra'Von Chapman (Cincinnati, Ohio) each made three receptions for 26 and 19 yards, respectively.

Quarterback Jason Driskel finished the contest hitting on 19-of-25 en route to throwing for 270 yards, including throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another pair of scores. Devin Singletary rushed for a game-high 130 yards for Florida Atlantic and converted three of those runs into touchdowns. Kalib Woods pulled in four receptions for a game-high 79 receiving yards, while Willie Wright made seven catches and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Defensively, junior linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) paced the Zips with a game-high 13 tackles, including three solo tackles. Akron also benefitted from 11 and 10 tackles, respectively, from sophomore defensive back Alvin Davis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and redshirt junior defensive end Jamal Davis II (Canton, Ohio). Alvin Davis and junior defensive back Kyron Brown (Boyton Beach, Fla.) registered a team-best six solo tackles apiece. Azee Al-Shaair and Rashad Smith recorded 13 and 10 tackles for Florida Atlantic.

The Owls took the opening series down to the Zips' 27-yard line before the scoring drive stalled as Greg Joseph's 45-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.

Akron assumed the ball on its opening series and marched down to the Florida Atlantic nine-yard line thanks to a key 3rd-and-10 conversion on a quarterback keeper by Nelson. A quarterback sack on third-and-goal forced the Zips to go for a 38-yard field goal, an attempt by junior kicker Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) that went wide right.

A 4th-and-2 conversion on their own 29-yard line followed by a pass interference call set up the Owls on the 47-yard line. Florida Atlantic capped the scoring drive with a four-yard touchdown pass on fourth down from Driskel to Wright with 1:08 remaining in the opening quarter to give the Owls a 7-0 lead.

After a failed onside kick that sailed out of bounds without being touched, the Zips opened the ensuing drive on the Owl's 44-yard line.

On 3rd-and-1, a direct snap to Morgan gained the first down at the 30-yard line for Akron on the final play of the first quarter.

A dead-ball personal foul on Florida Atlantic on a 3rd-and-17 attempt from the Owls' 39-yard line gave the Zips a first down on the 22-yard line. Another personal foul call against Florida Atlantic staked Akron to 1st-and-goal at the six-yard line.

The Zips capped a 12-play, 42-yard scoring drive with a 19-yard field goal from Gasser at the 11:14 mark of the second quarter to cut their deficit to 7-3. A key play on the drive was a 13-yard quarterback keeper by Nelson on 2nd-and-14 to move the ball to the 13-yard line.

The Owls answered with a 14-play, 75-yard drive capped by a three-yard quarterback run by Driskel to assume a 14-3 advantage with 5:38 remaining in the half.

The Zips were unable to capitalized on their ensuing drive before punting the ball to Florida Atlantic with 1:35 left in the second quarter.

On 1st-and-10 from their own 13-yard line, Driskel fired a 63-yard completion for the Owls to Kamrin Soloman to the Akron 24-yard line. Florida Atlantic then took a 21-3 advantage on a six-yard rush by Singletary with 37 ticks left before halftime to culminate a four-play, 87-yard scoring drive.

The Zips outgained in the opening half, 250-122, including a 101-28 margin in passing yards. Nelson connected on 6-of-9 attempts in the first half for 67 yards, while Driskel went 12-for-13 for 152 yards and one touchdown.

Registering a team-high six tackles, including three solo stops in the opening half was Alvin Davis, while sophomore Denzel Butler (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) garnered the Zips' lone sack in the first half. Five different Akron players were credited with tackles for a loss in the opening two quarters.

On the opening drive of the second half the Zips appeared to gain a key fourth-down conversion at the 47-yard line of Florida Atlantic on a run by Morgan. Following an officials' review the spot was deemed a half-yard shy resulting in a change of possession to the Owls.

Florida Atlantic answered with another scoring drive moving 52 yards over 10 plays resulting in a two-yard rushing touchdown by Singletary to give the Owls a 28-3 lead with 9:13 left in the third quarter.

After a three-and-out by the Zips, Florida Atlantic went 40 yards on six plays capped by a three-yard touchdown from Driskel to Wright to assume a 36-3 lead following a successful two-point conversion.

Akron was unable to gain a first down on the ensuing series before the Owls missed a 45-yard field goal attempt as Joseph's kick sailed wide right.

A seven-yard rush by Driskel extended Florida Atlantic's advantage to 43-3 with 14:35 left in the game, before a 26-yard run by Singletary with 10:47 to play pushed the margin to 50-3.

For fans wishing to purchase season tickets for the 2018 season, the Ticket Office is currently taking non-refundable deposits of $25/seat. To request tickets, please contact the Athletics Ticket Office by calling or texting 1-888-99-AKRON during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).