Akron Registers Come-From-Behind 35-20 Win at Bowling Green

Saturday, October 9

Bowling Green, Ohio

12:00 PM

University of Akron

2-4 , 1-1

Bowling Green

2-4 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

Bowling Green

Akron Registers Come-From-Behind 35-20 Win at Bowling Green

October 09 | Football

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The University of Akron football team scored 28 unanswered points to take a 35-13 lead by the fourth quarter and held on for a 35-20 win at Bowling Green (2-4, 0-2 MAC) in Mid-American Conference action on Saturday, Oct. 9.

Zips (2-4, 1-1 MAC) finished the contest with four takeaways, including three interceptions and a forced fumble en route to securing the victory. For the third consecutive game, junior CB Charles Amankwaa (Hillsborough, N.J.) registered an interception, while junior S Jaylen Kelly-Powell (Detroit, Mich.) and freshman CB Tyson Durant (Copley, Ohio) hauled in errant BGSU passes. Durant also had a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Senior QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) started behind center, completing 6-of-10 passes for 91 yards with a 47-yard long pass while leading the Zips' to their initial score. After the break, redshirt freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.) entered the game and led the Zips to four consecutive touchdown drives. He completed 14-of-15 pass for 177 yards with three passing touchdowns and a 48-yard strike to freshman WR Konata Mumpfield (Hoschton, Ga.).

Mumpfield led the receiving corps with 106 yards on six receptions to go along with two touchdowns. Junior TE Nik Ognenovic (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) added the Zips' third receiving score with a 21-yard TD reception from Gibson.

On the ground, freshman RB Blake Hester (Ashland, Ky.) collected a career-high 120 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns.

Freshman LB Andrew Behm (Appleton, Wis.) led Akron's defensive efforts with 10 tackles while junior LB Michael Scott (Tallahassee, Fla.) followed with nine takedowns. The Zips registered four sacks as freshman LB Juan Jarrett (Cincinnati, Ohio) accounted for one and a half sacks for eight yards of loss. Durant and sophomore LB Jeslord Boateng (Dublin, Ohio) had one sack each while senior DL Zach Morton (Detroit, Mich.) had a half sack. Boateng finished with eight total tackles.

Bowling Green scored the game's initial 13 points with a touchdown and two field goals as QB Matt McDonald completed 21-of-35 passes for 257 yards with three interceptions and two touchdowns.

Akron outgained the Falcons 385-364 in total yards, while holding a 268-257 edge in the air and 117-107 on the ground.

Up Next
Akron travels to Oxford, Ohio for a 2:30 p.m. tilt against Miami on Oct. 16. Fans can follow the game on ESPN+ or via live stats on GoZips.com.

How It Happened

Bowling Green started the game with the ball and scored on its first possession with an eight-play, 75-yard drive. The scoring drive lasted 3:07 and was capped by a 40-yard TD pass from Matt McDonald to Tyrone Broden. (7-0 BGSU, 11:53)
BGSU added a 35-yard field goal by Nate Needham at the 5:45 mark for a 10-0 Falcons lead. (8 plays, 37 yards, 3:56 time of possession)
Akron used a strong defensive stance to prevent the Falcons from scoring again in the first quarter. Bowling Green had first-and-goal from the one-yard line and could not score, eventually turning the ball over on downs at the Akron one-yard line.
In the second quarter Akron recorded its first takeaway as junior CB Charles Amankwaa (Hillsborough, N.J.) recorded his third interception in as many games.
With 9:28 remaining in the second quarter, the Falcons added three points to the scoreboard with a 26-yard field goal to take a 13-0 advantage. (7 plays, 24 yards, 2:41 time of possession.
Akron had 59-yard passing play for a touchdown called back, but senior QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) responded with a 47-yard strike to junior WR George Qualls, Jr. (Caruthersville, Mo.). Nelson followed with a 26-yard pass to junior WR Andre Williams (Winter Park, Fla.) to the Akron one-yard line. Akron freshman RB Blake Hester (Ashland, Ky.) recorded his first career touchdown with 1-yard run. Zips trailed 13-7 with 6:07 left in half.
Akron forced another turnover as freshman CB Tyson Durant (Copley, Ohio) recorded his first career interception. At halftime Zips trailed 13-7.
Zips scored on its first four drives of the second half, outscoring Bowling Green 28-0.
Akron started the second half with the ball as freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.) drove the Zips down the field with a five-play, 75-yard scoring drive that lasted 2:12. Gibson connected with freshman WR Konata Mumpfield (Hoschton, Ga.) for a 48-yard passing play and targeted freshman TE Tristian Brank (Asheville, N.C.) for a 19-yard reception to the one-yard line. Gibson to Mumpfield for TD reception. Akron led 14-13 with 12:48 to go in the third quarter.
Zips junior CB Jalen Hooks (Warren, Ohio) stripped BGSU's Jaison Patterson for Akron's third takeway of the game.
Gibson traveled 34 yards with seven plays in 3:54, hitting Mumpfield for a nine-yard TD pass. Akron lead 21-13 with 8:47 left in the third quarter.
Mumpfield registered a career-high 106 yards receiving, with a pair of touchdown catches. He joins teammate Michael Mathison with a 100-yard receiving game this season.
Hester posted a career-best 120 yards rushing and garnered a pair of touchdown runs.
Gibson threw a career-high three touchdowns for the Zips.
Freshman LB Andrew Behm (Appleton, Wis.) recorded a career- and game-high tackles for Akron.
Junior TE Nik Ognenovic (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) added his first career catch as a Zip with a 21-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.