The contest was scheduled to be played Saturday, but bad weather and flooding in the area led to a one-day postponement.
Western Michigan trailed 14-3 at the half and . . .
With their victory, the Zips (6-3, 3-0 MAC) snapped a four-game WMU win streak and remained undefeated in conference play. Akron will be at Toledo next week (Noon, ET).
Western Michigan fell to 4-3, 2-1 MAC) while absorbing its first conference loss. The Broncos will be at Eastern Michigan Saturday (2 p.m. ET).
Senior RB Manny Morgan led the Zips’ rushing efforts with 12 carries for 53 yards.
Senior QB Thomas Woodson went 13-of-24 for 127 yards and a touchdown, while senior captain WR A.J. Coney paced the receivers with three receptions for 38 yards.
Defensively, sophomore CB Alvin Davis II topped the Zips with 12 tackles.
Jarvion Franklin led WMU with 130 yards rushing on 31 carries. QB Jon Wassink was 17-of-29 for 182 yards and a touchdown. WR D‘Way Eskrdige had seven catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Akron opened the fourth quarter with the ball and a 14-7 lead. Five plays into the drive, however, WMU’s Asantay Brown picked off a Woodson pass.
Six plays later, Wassink threw a long bomb to D-Wayne Eskridge for a 50-yard touchdown. The extra point brought WMU within four, 14-10, with 10:38 to go in the game.
Akron went three-and-out on its next possession, giving Western the ball at its own 35. The hosts then used nine plays to reach UA’s 18. Facing 4th-and-12 with 5:07 remaining, Western Michigan settled for a 35-yard field goal.
Akron held the ball for eight plays on its next possession before punting. That left WMU, now at its own 29, 45 seconds to at least kick a field goal. The Broncos reached Akron’s 39 before Gilbert’s sack and the clock ended Western’s final challenge.
With their victory, the Zips (6-3, 3-0 MAC) snapped a four-game WMU win streak and remained undefeated in conference play. Akron will be at Toledo next week (Noon, ET).
Western Michigan fell to 4-3, 2-1 MAC) while absorbing its first conference loss. The Broncos will be at Eastern Michigan Saturday (2 p.m. ET).