AKRON, OHIO – The Akron Zips improved their overall record to 4-3 and evened their Mid-American Conference mark at 2-2 as they defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas 17-10 Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium.
The win was Akron’s first over Central Michigan (1-8, 0-5 MAC) since 2003, breaking a seven-game losing streak to the Chippewas. It was also UA's first home win over CMU since 1997, when they played at the Rubber Bowl.
“There is no such thing as an ugly win; a win is a win” Zips head coach Terry Bowden said afterward. “We did some things that just put them in the position to be in that ball game, and we did that to ourselves with turnovers.
With the game being played in a light rain and mist, UA used its ground game to produce170 yards. Leading the way was was senior RB Van Edwards, who gained 112 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Sophomore QB Cato Nelson completed only 10-of-27 passes for 149 yards and a score.
CMU suffered its fifth consecutive loss, Its longest losing streak since dropping six straight in 2010, and also falls to 0-5 in the conference.
“It’s hard when you put that much in week in and week out,” Chippewas head coach John Bonamego said,. . . “It just depends on where they go to look for answers, whether they look outside or inside. I’m going to encourage them to look inside. The only thing they’ll find ... outside is excuses, and there’s no room for that. Excuses won’t allow you to grow. That goes for everybody from the top down, myself, the assistants, and the coordinators. The answers must come from within.”
Getting his first start since the Kansas game back on Sept. 9, sophomore QB Tony Poljan completed 19-of-37 passes for 169 yards. Junior RB Romello Ross paced the Chippewas run game with 75 yards on 22 carries, while freshman Julian Hicks led receivers with five catches for 40 yards.
Akron seemed to have the upper hand early and scored the game’s first points late in the first quarter when Nelson engineered an eight-play 88-yard drive that culminated with a four-yard touchdown pass over the middle to senior TE Newman Williams.
The Zips added to their lead early in the second quarter when senior PK Nick Gasser connected on a 43-yard field goal.
Akron made it a 17-0 lead later in the period. After a short CMU punt, the Zips moved 55 yards on three plays, with senior RB Van Edwards running 20 yards off the left side for the score.
The second half was controlled by the visitors from Mount Pleasant.
Momentum shifted somewhat in the second half as Central Michigan put up two scores within a five minute span of clock time in the third quarter.
Tommy Lazzaro's sack resulted in a fumble by Nelson and Xavier Crawford recovered for CMU at the Akron 11.
Akron's defense did minimize the damage, holding Central to a 28-yard Ryan Tice field goall.
After a three-and-out by Akron, the Chippewas put together a nine-play, 58-yard drive. Poljan completed two key passes along the way and went in from 1-yard to finish the trip. With the PAT, Akron led 17-10.
There was a quarter-and-a-half left to play, but neither team would score again.
What turned out to be the key play in the game occured late in the period when the CMU defense recovered another Akron fumble. (They recovered four of them in the game)
Starting on the Zips 43, CMU reaced the five yard line before the UA defense stiffened. Tice came on for a 23-yard field goal attempt that was no good when it hit the left upright.
Midway through the fourth period,the Chippewas had one final chance to tie the game and possibly send it into overtime. With 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. CMU took possession on its own 22 yard line, Poljan had a big 11-yard run for a first down and followed with an 11-yard completion to junior WR Cameron Cole.
The drive reached the Zips five. Going for it on fourth down and inches, junior RB Kumenhunu Gwilley lost one yard, and the ball was turned over on downs with 3:27 remaining.
When CMU got the ball again the Chippewas gained a first down, reaching the UA 42, but they could get no farther.
Defensively, UA had four sacks of Poljan with a forced fumble a fumble recovery, and five pass breakups. Zip defenders were was led by junior LB John Lako with a career high 23 tackles (nine solo).
CMU got to Nelson twice with five forced fumbles, reciovering four, and registered nine pass breakups. The Chips were led by senior LB Malin Fountain, who had 15 total stops (11 solo) and a forced fumble. He is now over the 100 tackle mark for the season.
The Zips look to extend their winning streak three-games on Thursday night as they play host to the Northern Illinois Huskies while Central Michigan looks to end its losing streak next Saturday at Eastern Michigan.