TROY, Ala. – Penalties and turnovers proved costly as the Akron Zips fell at Troy, 22-17, before 27,324 fans on Saturday evening at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Akron fell to 1-3 overall, while Troy improved to 3-1 overall.
“How many times were . . .
Akron fell to 1-3 overall, while Troy improved to 3-1 overall.
“How many times were . . .
. . . we in the red zone and didn’t score a touchdown or field goal?” head coach Terry Bowden said. “We didn’t play a real good football game, but the kids played hard. We didn’t do the things we needed to do to win a game.”
Following a 25-minute weather delay for lightning, the Zips jumped on the scoreboard first and then fought to regain the lead throughout most of the game. With 5:37 to go, UA went ahead 17-16 but couldn’t hold on for the win.
Senior RB Warren Ball led the rushers with 112 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 28 carries. It marked the third 100-yard rushing performance of his career.
Senior WR Austin Wolf had a six receptions for 71 yards, while redshirt junior WR Kwadarrius Smith had a career-high four receptions for a career-high 103 yards. It marked the first 100-yard receiving performance of his career.
Senior QB Thomas Woodson went 20-of-40 for 268 yards and a touchdown. He also had two interceptions.
Defensively, redshirt junior DB Shawn Featherstone led the defense with a career-high 11 tackles, including a career-best seven solo stops.
Troy QB Brandon Silvers went 28-of-41 for 314 yards and touchdown. Jordan Chunn rushed for 106 yards and touchdown on 16 carries.
Overall, the Zips committed 12 penalties for 100 yards and three turnovers. Troy had 16 turnovers for 159 yards and one turnover.
On Troy’s opening drive, UA sophomore LB John Lako registered the first forced fumble of his career. Seven plays later, redshirt junior Tom O’Leary converted a 27-yard field goal to take give the Zips a 3-0 lead.
The Trojans got on the scoreboard in the first quarter with a six-yard rush by Jordan Chunn. Troy capped a 13-play, 83-yard drive to take a 7-3 lead following the extra point by Bratcher Underwood.
Troy drove the field to end the quarter, finishing on the 24-yard line before time expired. Akron held the Trojans to a field goal to open the second quarter as Underwood converted a 22-yarder to go ahead 10-3.
Back-up quarterback Kaleb Barker came in and rushed for his first career touchdown, a 48-yard run. Underwood missed the extra point, giving Troy a 16-3 lead with 11:25 remaining in the first half.
Akron used 11 plays over 5:25 to march down to the red zone. But a deep pass by Woodson on a third-and-nine was intercepted in the end zone, ending the Zips’ drive. Troy’s next drive stalled at mid-field, and Akron got the ball back with 3:25 to go in the half. After a three-and-out, Troy couldn’t move the ball either.
The Zips’ closed out the half on a drive that started with 1:09 on the clock. UA worked its way down to the seven-yard line with 14 seconds to go, but a holding penalty added 10 yards. On the final play, O’Leary missed a 34-yard field goal as the ball shanked left. Troy led at intermission, 16-3.
Akron came out of the locker room on fire to start the second half. Woodson drove the Zips 48 yards over six minutes on the opening drive but UA fumbled the ball on the Troy 18.
The UA defense kept the Zips in the game as Troy couldn’t score on its next drive.
Akron got the ball back and utilized a seven-play, 68-yard drive to get into the end zone as Woodson threw a 29-yard pass to redshirt junior WR Kwadarrius Smith to pull UA within six, 16-10, with 2:59 to go in the third quarter.
On its next drive, Troy drove to the Akron 15, but once again, the UA defense came through, holding the Trojans to a field goal attempt. Underwood hit the left upright, and the Trojans were held pointless. Troy held a 16-10 lead at the end of three quarters.
On its first drive of the fourth quarter, Akron drove 57 yards over four minutes and utilized a direct snap to Warren Ball for a four-yard rushing touchdown. The TD gave the Zips a 17-16 lead with 3:14 remaining in the game.
On its next drive, Troy went three-and-out. The Zips took over and couldn’t move the ball. Junior P Nick Gasser nailed a 56-yard punt, downing the ball on the Troy three-yard line.
With 1:16 to go, Troy used some big plays to move the ball 97 yards, scoring on a 23-yard touchdown on a pass from Silvers to Deondre Douglas to go ahead 22-17. The Trojans attempted a two-point conversion but failed to convert.
On their final drive, the Zips tried to move the ball quickly. After a 15-yard catch by Smith, Woodson threw his second interception, ending the Zips’ drive.
Akron opens Mid-American Conference play at Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. ET at Doyt Perry Stadium. ESPN3 will broadcast the game.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
Following a 25-minute weather delay for lightning, the Zips jumped on the scoreboard first and then fought to regain the lead throughout most of the game. With 5:37 to go, UA went ahead 17-16 but couldn’t hold on for the win.
Senior RB Warren Ball led the rushers with 112 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 28 carries. It marked the third 100-yard rushing performance of his career.
Senior WR Austin Wolf had a six receptions for 71 yards, while redshirt junior WR Kwadarrius Smith had a career-high four receptions for a career-high 103 yards. It marked the first 100-yard receiving performance of his career.
Senior QB Thomas Woodson went 20-of-40 for 268 yards and a touchdown. He also had two interceptions.
Defensively, redshirt junior DB Shawn Featherstone led the defense with a career-high 11 tackles, including a career-best seven solo stops.
Troy QB Brandon Silvers went 28-of-41 for 314 yards and touchdown. Jordan Chunn rushed for 106 yards and touchdown on 16 carries.
Overall, the Zips committed 12 penalties for 100 yards and three turnovers. Troy had 16 turnovers for 159 yards and one turnover.
On Troy’s opening drive, UA sophomore LB John Lako registered the first forced fumble of his career. Seven plays later, redshirt junior Tom O’Leary converted a 27-yard field goal to take give the Zips a 3-0 lead.
The Trojans got on the scoreboard in the first quarter with a six-yard rush by Jordan Chunn. Troy capped a 13-play, 83-yard drive to take a 7-3 lead following the extra point by Bratcher Underwood.
Troy drove the field to end the quarter, finishing on the 24-yard line before time expired. Akron held the Trojans to a field goal to open the second quarter as Underwood converted a 22-yarder to go ahead 10-3.
Back-up quarterback Kaleb Barker came in and rushed for his first career touchdown, a 48-yard run. Underwood missed the extra point, giving Troy a 16-3 lead with 11:25 remaining in the first half.
Akron used 11 plays over 5:25 to march down to the red zone. But a deep pass by Woodson on a third-and-nine was intercepted in the end zone, ending the Zips’ drive. Troy’s next drive stalled at mid-field, and Akron got the ball back with 3:25 to go in the half. After a three-and-out, Troy couldn’t move the ball either.
The Zips’ closed out the half on a drive that started with 1:09 on the clock. UA worked its way down to the seven-yard line with 14 seconds to go, but a holding penalty added 10 yards. On the final play, O’Leary missed a 34-yard field goal as the ball shanked left. Troy led at intermission, 16-3.
Akron came out of the locker room on fire to start the second half. Woodson drove the Zips 48 yards over six minutes on the opening drive but UA fumbled the ball on the Troy 18.
The UA defense kept the Zips in the game as Troy couldn’t score on its next drive.
Akron got the ball back and utilized a seven-play, 68-yard drive to get into the end zone as Woodson threw a 29-yard pass to redshirt junior WR Kwadarrius Smith to pull UA within six, 16-10, with 2:59 to go in the third quarter.
On its next drive, Troy drove to the Akron 15, but once again, the UA defense came through, holding the Trojans to a field goal attempt. Underwood hit the left upright, and the Trojans were held pointless. Troy held a 16-10 lead at the end of three quarters.
On its first drive of the fourth quarter, Akron drove 57 yards over four minutes and utilized a direct snap to Warren Ball for a four-yard rushing touchdown. The TD gave the Zips a 17-16 lead with 3:14 remaining in the game.
On its next drive, Troy went three-and-out. The Zips took over and couldn’t move the ball. Junior P Nick Gasser nailed a 56-yard punt, downing the ball on the Troy three-yard line.
With 1:16 to go, Troy used some big plays to move the ball 97 yards, scoring on a 23-yard touchdown on a pass from Silvers to Deondre Douglas to go ahead 22-17. The Trojans attempted a two-point conversion but failed to convert.
On their final drive, the Zips tried to move the ball quickly. After a 15-yard catch by Smith, Woodson threw his second interception, ending the Zips’ drive.
Akron opens Mid-American Conference play at Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. ET at Doyt Perry Stadium. ESPN3 will broadcast the game.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
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