AKRON, Ohio– Senior nose tackle Cody Grice and short yardage RB, scored three of the Zips' seven touchdowns in Akron's first win of the season, defeating Savannah State, 52-9, Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
The Zips improved to 1-2 overall, while Savannah State dropped to 0-2.
Akron's run game led the charge for the Zips' offense, scoring five times and collecting 291 total yards on the ground. Grice owned a team-high and career-high three touchdowns. Senior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio) ran for a team-high 120 yards on 11 attempts with one score, marking the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career.
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The Zips improved to 1-2 overall, while Savannah State dropped to 0-2.
Akron's run game led the charge for the Zips' offense, scoring five times and collecting 291 total yards on the ground. Grice owned a team-high and career-high three touchdowns. Senior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio) ran for a team-high 120 yards on 11 attempts with one score, marking the second 100-yard rushing performance of his career.
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Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson completed 12-of-20 passes for 207 yards with a touchdown through the air and 11 rushes for 67 yards and touchdown on the ground. Sophomore QB Tra'Von Chapman also saw action for the Zips and was 6-for-13 for 128 yards and a score.
Savannah State played two quarterbacks, David Handler and Arshon Spaulding, who threw for a combined 128 yards and one interception.
Defensively, senior LB Dylan Evans recorded a team-high nine tackles, four solo and one for a loss, and four break-ups for Akron. Junior CB DeAndre Scott picked off Handler for his second interception of the year and the Zips forced one fumble.
Akron outgained Savannah State, 626-202. The Zips picked up 31 first downs and converted 7-of-13 third downs. The Tigers totaled just 14 first downs and were 6-of-17 on third down.
The Zips received the ball to start the game and marched down the field 75 yards for an opening-drive touchdown. Chapman completed all three of his pass attempts for 70 yards and rushed twice for four yards. With the ball on the one-yard line, Grice powered his way into the end zone for the Zips' first touchdown and his first of the year.
Savannah State then took advantage of Akron's first interception of the year and put three points on the board to cut the Zips lead to 7-3.
When Akron senior Robert Stein attempted a field goal with 9:44 remaining in the second quarter. The kick was blocked by Savannah State and returned for an 81-yard touchdown. The Tigers attempted a two-point conversion and were stopped short of the goal line.
Woodson entered the ball game in the second quarter (9:27) and led the Zips on an eight-play, 66-yard scoring-drive. Woodson completed a pass to a diving Hundley for 17 yards, putting the ball on the two-yard line. Grice took the direct snap, hit the hole, and went untouched over the goal line for his second score of the afternoon.
The offense extended the Akron lead to 21-9 with Grice's third touchdown of the contest. Once again, Grice lined up behind the center and dashed across the goal line for a four-yard touchdown.
Grice's three touchdowns in the first half are a career-high and his third multi-score game. Grice now owns seven touchdowns in his collegiate career.
With five ticks left on the clock, Imani Davis caught a pass in stride from Woodson for 33 yards and a touchdown. Davis' catch was the longest catch of his career. The drive lasted only 32 second and four plays. The Zips entered the locker room at halftime ahead, 28-9.
In the second half, the Zips' second drive resulted in a 21-yard field goal from Stein, to increase the Akron lead to 31-9.
During Akron's next possession, the Zips ran the ball four out of five plays. The drive ended with an 18-yard touchdown run by Hundley.
A 28-yard completion to sophomore Anthony Young set up a one-yard touchdown run for Woodson, his first rushing TD of the game and second total.
The Zips scored one last time to close out the contest with 2:40 to play in the fourth quarter. Chapman found sophomore WR Jerome Lane who sprinted to the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown.
Next week, the Zips travel to Lafayette, La., for their final non-conference game of the year against Louisiana. Kick off will be at 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET) on ESPN3.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
Savannah State played two quarterbacks, David Handler and Arshon Spaulding, who threw for a combined 128 yards and one interception.
Defensively, senior LB Dylan Evans recorded a team-high nine tackles, four solo and one for a loss, and four break-ups for Akron. Junior CB DeAndre Scott picked off Handler for his second interception of the year and the Zips forced one fumble.
Akron outgained Savannah State, 626-202. The Zips picked up 31 first downs and converted 7-of-13 third downs. The Tigers totaled just 14 first downs and were 6-of-17 on third down.
The Zips received the ball to start the game and marched down the field 75 yards for an opening-drive touchdown. Chapman completed all three of his pass attempts for 70 yards and rushed twice for four yards. With the ball on the one-yard line, Grice powered his way into the end zone for the Zips' first touchdown and his first of the year.
Savannah State then took advantage of Akron's first interception of the year and put three points on the board to cut the Zips lead to 7-3.
When Akron senior Robert Stein attempted a field goal with 9:44 remaining in the second quarter. The kick was blocked by Savannah State and returned for an 81-yard touchdown. The Tigers attempted a two-point conversion and were stopped short of the goal line.
Woodson entered the ball game in the second quarter (9:27) and led the Zips on an eight-play, 66-yard scoring-drive. Woodson completed a pass to a diving Hundley for 17 yards, putting the ball on the two-yard line. Grice took the direct snap, hit the hole, and went untouched over the goal line for his second score of the afternoon.
The offense extended the Akron lead to 21-9 with Grice's third touchdown of the contest. Once again, Grice lined up behind the center and dashed across the goal line for a four-yard touchdown.
Grice's three touchdowns in the first half are a career-high and his third multi-score game. Grice now owns seven touchdowns in his collegiate career.
With five ticks left on the clock, Imani Davis caught a pass in stride from Woodson for 33 yards and a touchdown. Davis' catch was the longest catch of his career. The drive lasted only 32 second and four plays. The Zips entered the locker room at halftime ahead, 28-9.
In the second half, the Zips' second drive resulted in a 21-yard field goal from Stein, to increase the Akron lead to 31-9.
During Akron's next possession, the Zips ran the ball four out of five plays. The drive ended with an 18-yard touchdown run by Hundley.
A 28-yard completion to sophomore Anthony Young set up a one-yard touchdown run for Woodson, his first rushing TD of the game and second total.
The Zips scored one last time to close out the contest with 2:40 to play in the fourth quarter. Chapman found sophomore WR Jerome Lane who sprinted to the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown.
Next week, the Zips travel to Lafayette, La., for their final non-conference game of the year against Louisiana. Kick off will be at 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET) on ESPN3.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
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