AMHERST, Mass. – True freshman QB Zach Gibson completed his first five passes and went 12-of-16 for 173 yards in limited action as the Akron Zips football team fell to Massachusetts 37-29 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday.
The Zips used three quarterbacks, but it was . . .
The Zips used three quarterbacks, but it was . . .
. . . Gibson who provided a much-needed spark at the end of the third quarter. With the Zips trailing 34-14 with 4:43 remaining in the third frame, Gibson was behind center for the first time in his collegiate career.
He drove the Zips down the field to cut the Minutemen lead to 34-21 after a seven-play, 80-yard drive that lasted 2:55. Gibson went 4-of-4 passing during that span.
He completed his first two passes, one for seven yards to sophomore RB Brandon Lee and the other for 29 yards to redshirt sophomore WR Jeremiah Knight.
He drove the Zips down the field to cut the Minutemen lead to 34-21 after a seven-play, 80-yard drive that lasted 2:55. Gibson went 4-of-4 passing during that span.
He completed his first two passes, one for seven yards to sophomore RB Brandon Lee and the other for 29 yards to redshirt sophomore WR Jeremiah Knight.
Freshman RB Michiah Burton followed with a pair of three-yard rushes and Gibson continued hurl the ball around the field. Gibson found freshman WR Michael Mathison for eight yards and sophomore WR Timothy Scippio for 28 yards, taking the Zips to the UMass two yardline. Burton finished the drive with a two-yard run. Gibson threw for 72 yards of the 80-yard touchdown drive.
He followed with another scoring drive in the fourth quarter, taking the Zips 98 yards in 11 plays and 3:15. Junior WR Nate Stewart was the first big target, collecting an 11-yard pass.
Gibson found Stewart again for 14 yards and then completed his longest pass of the day, a 33-yarder, to Knight. After a 10-yard strike to Burton, he tosseda 17-yard touchdown pass to Stewart. The Zips went for the two-point conversion and Gibson was the target, receiving the pass from Stewart. Gibson went 5-of-5 before his first incompletion.
Redshirt junior Kato Nelson started the game, but left after the first half with an injury. He went 13-of-17 for 141 yards and two touchdowns and a 47-yard long pass to Mathison.
Knight led the receiving corps with 100 yards on five receptions and the 33-yard long pass while Mathison gained 72 yards on six receptions and the 47-yard pass. Junior WR Dustin Burkhart and redshirt sophomore WR Julian Hicks added touchdown catches. The touchdown snag for Hicks marked first career score at Akron.
Akron had 406 yards of total offense.
Defensively, senior LB John Lako led Akron with 13 tackles including two for loss. Sophomore LB Bubba Arslanian and senior DB Alvin Davis, Jr. followed with nine and six, respectively.
The Minutemen received the opening kickoff and had the first chance to get on the scoreboard, but the takeaway pencil rewrote the first drive as Akron redshirt junior LB DeMarkus Glover intercepted the ball at the Akron 35-yard line.
The Zips capitalized on the UMass miscue as Nelson hit Mathison with a 47-yard pass to take the Zips into Minutemen territory. Next, Sands picked-up five rushing yards and Nelson completed the 7-play, 61-yard drive with a three-yard strike to the back of the endzone to Hicks.
UMass retaliated with a touchdown to even the score at 7-7 with 6:57 left in the first quarter. Back-to-back 20-plus yard pickups fueled the five-play, 75-yard scoring drive as UMass QB Michael Curtis scampered for 20 yards and followed with a 21-yard pass to WR Jessie Britt to setup the touchdown. The Minutemen completed the drive and tied the game with six-yard pass to WR Samuel Emilus.
In the second frame, Akron was moving the chains and marched into Minutemen territory behind a pair of rushes from Lee, but an interception stalled the Zips charge to the endzone.
UMass CB Isaiah Rodgers stepped in front of the Zips intended receiver and returned the ball 58 yards for six points. The extra point attempt was good, and with 13:12 left to play in the half, UMass held a 14-7 advantage. Four minutes later, the Minutemen added three points to make it a 10-point spread, 17-7, with 8:22 left to play in the half.
The 10-point lead didn't last long as Akron marched down the field for a score. The drive ate 6:20 off the clock and consisted of 13 plays for 75 yards. Nelson opened the drive with a 19-yard pass to Burkhart to take the ball to the Akron 44 yard line.
After a short loss and a short gain, freshman RB Michiah Burton gained 10 yards on third down to keep the drive alive and the Zips moving forward. Nelson rushed for nine yards and completed two passes for another 10 yards before finding Burkart for a three-yard touchdown pass. It was Burkhart's first career touchdown as a Zip.
The Minutemen ended the half with a 39-yard field goal and took a 20-14 advantage into the locker room.
The Zips surged at the end of the game, but UMass was able to run out the clock to avoid the Akron comeback.
Following a bye week, the Zips return home to host rival Kent State in the annual Homecoming game on Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
He followed with another scoring drive in the fourth quarter, taking the Zips 98 yards in 11 plays and 3:15. Junior WR Nate Stewart was the first big target, collecting an 11-yard pass.
Gibson found Stewart again for 14 yards and then completed his longest pass of the day, a 33-yarder, to Knight. After a 10-yard strike to Burton, he tosseda 17-yard touchdown pass to Stewart. The Zips went for the two-point conversion and Gibson was the target, receiving the pass from Stewart. Gibson went 5-of-5 before his first incompletion.
Redshirt junior Kato Nelson started the game, but left after the first half with an injury. He went 13-of-17 for 141 yards and two touchdowns and a 47-yard long pass to Mathison.
Knight led the receiving corps with 100 yards on five receptions and the 33-yard long pass while Mathison gained 72 yards on six receptions and the 47-yard pass. Junior WR Dustin Burkhart and redshirt sophomore WR Julian Hicks added touchdown catches. The touchdown snag for Hicks marked first career score at Akron.
Akron had 406 yards of total offense.
Defensively, senior LB John Lako led Akron with 13 tackles including two for loss. Sophomore LB Bubba Arslanian and senior DB Alvin Davis, Jr. followed with nine and six, respectively.
The Minutemen received the opening kickoff and had the first chance to get on the scoreboard, but the takeaway pencil rewrote the first drive as Akron redshirt junior LB DeMarkus Glover intercepted the ball at the Akron 35-yard line.
The Zips capitalized on the UMass miscue as Nelson hit Mathison with a 47-yard pass to take the Zips into Minutemen territory. Next, Sands picked-up five rushing yards and Nelson completed the 7-play, 61-yard drive with a three-yard strike to the back of the endzone to Hicks.
UMass retaliated with a touchdown to even the score at 7-7 with 6:57 left in the first quarter. Back-to-back 20-plus yard pickups fueled the five-play, 75-yard scoring drive as UMass QB Michael Curtis scampered for 20 yards and followed with a 21-yard pass to WR Jessie Britt to setup the touchdown. The Minutemen completed the drive and tied the game with six-yard pass to WR Samuel Emilus.
In the second frame, Akron was moving the chains and marched into Minutemen territory behind a pair of rushes from Lee, but an interception stalled the Zips charge to the endzone.
UMass CB Isaiah Rodgers stepped in front of the Zips intended receiver and returned the ball 58 yards for six points. The extra point attempt was good, and with 13:12 left to play in the half, UMass held a 14-7 advantage. Four minutes later, the Minutemen added three points to make it a 10-point spread, 17-7, with 8:22 left to play in the half.
The 10-point lead didn't last long as Akron marched down the field for a score. The drive ate 6:20 off the clock and consisted of 13 plays for 75 yards. Nelson opened the drive with a 19-yard pass to Burkhart to take the ball to the Akron 44 yard line.
After a short loss and a short gain, freshman RB Michiah Burton gained 10 yards on third down to keep the drive alive and the Zips moving forward. Nelson rushed for nine yards and completed two passes for another 10 yards before finding Burkart for a three-yard touchdown pass. It was Burkhart's first career touchdown as a Zip.
The Minutemen ended the half with a 39-yard field goal and took a 20-14 advantage into the locker room.
The Zips surged at the end of the game, but UMass was able to run out the clock to avoid the Akron comeback.
Following a bye week, the Zips return home to host rival Kent State in the annual Homecoming game on Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
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