Akron Drops MAC Opener to Ohio

Saturday, October 2

Akron, Ohio

3:30 PM

University of Akron

1-4 , 0-1

Ohio

1-4 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Ohio

Akron

October 02 | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

Akron Drops MAC Opener to Ohio
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BOXSCORE (PDF) | POSTGAME COMMENTS | PHOTO GALLERY

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron football team led 17-10 early in the third quarter, but could not overcome 24 unanswered points by Ohio as the Bobcats posted a 34-17 win to open Mid-American Conference play on Saturday night at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

Akron (1-4, 0-1 MAC) generated 333 yards of total offense with 19 first downs as redshirt sophomore QB DJ Irons (Lawrenceville, Ga.) completed 14-of-17 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Irons connected with a game-long 45-yard passing play, targeting freshman WR Konata Mumpfield (Hoschton, Ga.) for a second-quarter touchdown. Mumpfield finished the game with a team-high 69 yards on four receptions. Sophomore WR Michael Mathison (Covington, Ga.) and junior WR George Qualls, Jr. (Caruthersville, Mo.) followed with 59 and 51 yards, respectively, while freshman TE Tristian Brank (Asheville, N.C.) recorded his first career touchdown reception at Akron.

Irons led the ground attack with 64 of the Zips' 112 total yards gained. Irons carried the ball 16 times, while freshman RB Blake Hester (Ashland, Ky.) followed with 13 rushes for 51 yards.

The Bobcats were led by De'Montre Truggle's 201 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts. Ohio (1-4, 1-0 MAC) gained 398 total yards on the ground and posted 458 total yards of offense, scoring four touchdowns. Armani Rogers added 108 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns to the Bobcats' ground attack. Ohio collected only 60 total passing yards as QB Kurtis Rourke completed 7-of-13 passes with an interception. Akron junior CB Charles Amankwaa (Hillsborough, N.J.) recorded the takeaway and traveled 27 yards to the Ohio 40-yard line. Akron scored on the ensuing possession as Irons hit Mumpfield for the long passing play. Junior S Jaylen Kelly-Powell (Detroit, Mich.) led the Zips' defense with 11 total tackles and freshman S Ronald Jackson, Jr. (Detroit, Mich.) followed with 10 total tackles. Akron recorded two sacks as sophomore LB Reggie Corner, Jr. (Canton, Ohio) posted a solo sack for six yards of loss, while junior LB Brandon Bischof (Akron, Ohio) and senior DL Zach Morton (Detroit, Mich.) registered a tandem sack for a one-yard loss.

Up Next
Akron travels to Bowling Green for a 12 p.m. tilt against the Falcons on Oct. 9. Fans can follow the game on ESPN+ or via live stats on GoZips.com.

How It Happened

Ohio started the scoring with a 25-yard field goal with 4:44 left to play in the first quarter. The Bobcats six-play, 79-yard drive lasted 3:07 was fueled by a 63-yard rush by De'Montre Tuggle. (OU Leads 3-0, 4:44 Q1).
At the end of the first quarter, Ohio led 3-0. The Bobcats ran the ball for 107 yards en route to 125 yards of total offense. Akron generated 39 yards of total offense.
With 6:08 left in the second quarter, the Zips tied the game with a 23-yard field goal by Cory Smigel. The Zips drive was highlighted by a 21-yard passing play from DJ Irons to George Qualls, Jr. (The drive: 12 plays, 81 yard, 6:29 T.O.P)
Akron's Charles Amankwaa recorded his second consecutive game with an interception, picking off Ohio QB Kurtis Rourke and returning it 27 yards.
Akron took full advantage of the turnover, scoring in three plays for 55 yards in 1:16. DJ Irons targeted Konata Mumpfield with a 45-yard passing play for a touchdown. With 3:12 remaining in the first half Akron led 10-3.
Ohio tied the game before intermission, using four plays and traveling 65 yards in 50 seconds. Rourke completed touchdown pass to WR Isiah Cox for two yards with nine seconds remaining in the half.
The game was tied 10-10 at halftime.
Akron struck first in the third quarter as the Zips used the opening drive to establish a 17-10 advantage. The Zips used the initial 6:19 to travel 70 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown.
Akron's TE Tristian Brank recorded his first career TD at Akron as DJ Irons completed a 9-yard pass with 8:34 on the clock.
Ohio scored 24 unanswered points to take a 34-17 advantage by the end of the fourth quarter. The Bobcats tied the game 17-all with 5:41 left in the third quarter and followed with a 26-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter, 13:30 left to play in the game.
The Bobcats closed out the game with two touchdowns. The initial drive was 10 plays for 75 yards with 6:12 left in the game for a 27-17 advantage. The final drive lasted 1:45 consisting of eight plays for 59 yards.