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AKRON, OHIO – The roller coaster ride that was the 2009 Akron Zips ended Friday afternoon as 19 seniors played their final home game while defeating the Eastern Michigan Eagles 28-21 before an announced crowd of 9,962 at InfoCision Stadium.
With the victory, Akron (3-9, 2-6 MAC) avoided the first 10-loss season in school history and posted a third win in its new home. That is the most home wins since 2006.
Eastern Michigan, meanwhile, (0-12, 0-8 MAC) came close on several occasions (e.g. a 27-24 loss to Northwestern) but failed to register a win under new head coach Ron English. It's last victory was a 56-52 thriller over Central Michigan in the Eagles final game of 2008.
When Akron and EMU battled last season in Ypsilanti, UA let 10-0 and 24-21 advantages slip away, but the Zips nonetheless prevailed with a 42-34 victory.
Early on, Akron coach J. D Brookhart thought the two teams might light up the scoreboard again. “The game itself looked like it was going to be a shootout,” Brookhart said after the game. “Then things slowed down, and we made some young mistakes, and we asked Patrick (Nicely) to just manage the game in the second half”
Just 10 yards of total offense separated the two teams (EMU 320 yards to 310 for Akron). One key to the Zips win was their effectiveness in running the ball. They gained 193 yards on the afternoon -- second most this season.
Akron opened the scoring on its first drive when senior running back Alex Allen capped a seven-play, 71-yard drive with a two-yard run. It was the fourth consecutive game that Akron scored on its opening possession.
Eastern Michigan countered with a 52-yard drive in ten plays. Running back Dwayne Priest finished the drive from one yard out.
The Zips regained the lead on their next possession following a 42-yard return by senior Dashan Miller. Freshman quarterback Patrick Nicely used just three-plays to guide the Zips 38 yards. Allen scored his second touchdown of the game - this one from eight yards away - to make the score 14-7.
As the first quarter became the second, the Eagles tied the game a second time as freshman backup quarterback, Alex Gillett put together a 62-yard eight-play drive. Gillett finished the drive with a quarterback draw good for 27-yards and the touchdown.
Akron took the lead for good late in the period when senior cornerback Miguel Graham stepped in front of a Gillett pass at the Zips 38-yard line and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown and a 21-14 lead.
“We knew it was going to be difficult for the quarterback throwing the football because the wind was blowing pretty good. I saw him make a three-step read and I just read it, broke on it, and made a play with the ball” Graham said.
The interception was Graham’s second of the season and his first career touchdown.
EMU took possession on the following kickoff and moved the ball from its own 28-yard line to the Akron 24, where on the final play of the half, Eagles place kicker Joe Carithers missed a 41-yard field goal attempt that left Akron with 21-14 lead.
The Zips would add to their advantage on the opening possession of the third quarter Taking advantage of Carithers’ short kickoffs due to the swirling winds on the field and a 28-yard return by Miller, Akron began its drive at midfield. Nicely and the offense took just five plays to score as Miller rushed 29-yards into the end zone on an end-around to make the score 28-14.
Neither offense could generate another score until the game’s final minutes, when EMU finally broke the ice.
Gillett who has split duties at quarterback with junior Kyle McMahon since senior starter Andy Schmitt was lost for the season during a September loss at Michigan, put together a 13-play, 55-yard drive. Priest capped the drive with his second touchdown of the game - again from one-yard out - to make it a 28-21 game with 1:53 remaining.
Priest had the two touchdowns, but it was Gillett who sparked the EMU offense on the cloudy, windy afternoon. Gillett gained 102 yards on the ground for his second 100-yard rushing game in three weeks.
Eastern Michigan tried an onside kick, but Akron recovered and ran the clock out for its third victory in the last four meetings with Eastern Michigan.
NOTES:
- The game was the 28th lifetime meeting between the two schools with Akron holding a 17-11 advantage.
- EMU’s last win over Akron was 2002 in Ypsilanti 42-34 and their last win in Akron was 1995 49-29 at the Rubber Bowl.
- Fourteen seniors played their final game for Eastern Michigan, including LB Andre Hatchett and WR Jacory Stone
- The 2009 campaign was Eastern Michigan’s first winless season since 1981 (0-11).
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