The University of Akron Athletics

Akron’s Comeback Falls Short at Miami
October 16 | Football
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OXFORD, Ohio – The Akron Zips football team outscored the Miami RedHawks 14-13 in the second half, but could not overcome a 21-7 first-half deficit as the Miami triumphed 34-21 at Yager Stadium on Saturday.
Akron redshirt freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.) threw for a career-high 291 yards and matched a career-best three touchdowns which included a 50-yard touchdown pass late in the game to junior WR Andre Williams (Orlando, Fla.).
Sophomore WR Michael Mathison (Covington, Ga.) and freshman TE Tristian Brank (Ashville, N.C.) caught TD passes for the Zips, while freshman WR Konata Mumpfield (Hoschton, Ga.) paced the receiving corps with 10 receptions and 109 yards – his second straight 100-yard receiving effort.
Defensively, senior LB Jeslord Boateng (Dublin, Ohio) led the Zips with nine tackles while freshman LB Andrew Behm (Appleton, Wis.) recorded a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery.
UP NEXT
The University of Akron football team welcomes Buffalo to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field for a 3:30 p.m. tilt on Oct. 23.
How it Happened
• Miami found the endzone first with 6:42 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The RedHawks used their first drive to travel 64 yards on 10 plays capped by a 23-yard TD pass.
• The RedHawks increased the lead to 14-0 with 2:18 left in the first frame on a 57-yard passing play. The drive 5 plays, 77 yards, 1:18 T.O.P
• Behm recorded the Zips first takeaway with a forced fumble and recovery to setup the Zips' initial scoring drive.
• The Zips narrowed the RedHawks advantage to 14-7 with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Gibson to Brank in the second quarter. The drive 3 plays, 36 yards, 1:07 T.O.P
• Miami answered with the last score of the half to take a 21-7 lead at the break. The drive 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:16 T.O.P
• The RedHawks added 13 points in the third quarter as the Michael Scott blocked the PAT on Miami's first TD drive of the half. 34-7 End of third.
• Akron registered a second block as freshman S Rishad Hence (Detroit, Mich.) blocked a Miami 26-yard FG attempt with 12:20 left in the final frame.
• With 9:34 left to play, the Zips put another touchdown on the scoreboard as Gibson completed a 27-yard pass to Mathison. The drive 11 plays, 80 yards, 2:46 T.O.P
• Akron put the final points on the scoreboard as Gibson hit Williams for a 50-yard touchdown pass to make the score 34-21 with 31-seconds left in the game.
Team Stats

AKR 0, MIA 7
MIA - Homer,Andrew 23 yd pass from Mayer,AJ (Nicholson,Graham kick) 10 plays, 64 yards, TOP 04:33

AKR 0, MIA 14
MIA - Sorenson,Jack 57 yd pass from Mayer,AJ (Nicholson,Graham kick) 5 plays, 77 yards, TOP 01:18

AKR 7, MIA 14
AKR - Brank,Tristian 15 yd pass from Gibson,Zach (Smigel,Cory kick) 3 plays, 36 yards, TOP 01:07

AKR 7, MIA 21
MIA - Bester,Jaylon 5 yd run (Nicholson,Graham kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:16

AKR 7, MIA 27
MIA - Mozee,Keyon 46 yd run (), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:21

AKR 7, MIA 34
MIA - Homer,Andrew 7 yd pass from Mayer,AJ (Nicholson,Graham kick) 5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 03:22

AKR 14, MIA 34
AKR - Mathison,Michael 27 yd pass from Gibson,Zach (Smigel,Cory kick) 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:46

AKR 21, MIA 34
AKR - Williams,Andre 50 yd pass from Gibson,Zach (Smigel,Cory kick) 1 plays, 50 yards, TOP 00:12