Akron Closes 2019 Season with 52-3 Loss to Ohio

Tuesday, November 26

Akron, Ohio

6 PM

University of Akron

0-12 , 0-8

Ohio

6-6 , 5-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

OHIO

AKRON

November 26 | Football

Box Score

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AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips closed out the 2019 football season with a 52-3 loss to the Ohio Bobcats at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field on Tuesday night.

Prior to the opening kickoff, Akron honored 18 members of its Senior Class – OL Trevor Brown, LS Peyton Coffman, DB Alvin Davis, Jr., WR Jaquavis Dixon, DB Shawn Featherstone, Jr., DL Andy Jean-Baptiste, DL Davon'te Jest, TE Nick Johns, WR De'von Jones, TE Brandon Junk, OL Rich Kallay, QB Robbie Kelley, LB James King, LB John Lako, LB DeMarcus Lloyd, TE Darryl Long, RB Deltron Sands, and LB Josh Ward.

The 2019 Senior Class leaves campus as one of the all-time most productive classes in program history. In four seasons, they helped the Zips to 16 wins, becoming bowl eligible in 2017. They claimed the 2017 MAC East title, played in the 2017 MAC Championship game, and competed in the Boca Raton Bowl while winning three consecutive Wagon Wheel trophies.

Freshman DB Adetutu Daranijo (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and redshirt sophomore LB Bubba Arslanian (Aurora, Ohio) led the Zips defense with 10 tackles apiece, while the senior defenders contributed heavily in the takedown category – Lako (8), Ward (7), Davis (6), Lloyd (5), Jean-Baptiste (3), Jest (3), and King (1). Daranijo's marks were a career high.

On the other side of the ball, three Zips lined-up behind center as redshirt junior QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.), freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.), and senior QB Robbie Kelley (Springfield, Ill.) passed for a combined 33 yards. Freshman RB Peter Hayes-Patrick (Orlando, Fla.) led the squad on the ground with 42 yards on 14 carries.

The Bobcats started the scoring on their second drive of the game when QB Nathan Rourke found WR DL Knock for a 53-yard passing play at 9:55 in the first quarter.

Akron responded as Jest set up the Zips first score with a strip-sack and recovery of the fumble at the Zips 10-yard line. Moments later, redshirt freshman PK Cory Smigel (North Royalton, Ohio) split the uprights from 25-yards away with 7:20 left in the opening stanza.

Ohio established a 14-3 advantage with another big passing play before the first frame expired. With 4:59 showing on the play clock, Rourke delivered a pass to Shane Hooks for a 39-yard score.

The Akron defense caused its second turnover of the game when junior DE Dylan Meeks (Orlando, Fla.) caused the Bobcat runner to fumble and freshman DB A.J. Watts (Columbus, Ga.) secured the loose ball from the turf. Unfortunately, the Bobcats stalled Akron's drive, and the Zips were unable to close the gap.

Ohio opened the second quarter with a 40-yard field goal that increased the lead to 17-3 and added two touchdowns for a 31-3 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Bobcats did all the scoring, adding 21 points to the scoreboard on a trio of rushes. Ohio out-gained the Zips 603-74 with 352 yards passing and 251 yards rushing.

Up next for the Zips is early signing day on Dec. 18-20. Spring drills begin in March, and Akron opens the 2020 season at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field against Youngstown State on Sept. 5.