 AKRON 22, BUFFALO 14 With the win, the Zips (1-11, 1-7 Mid-American Conference) finished the year on a good note for 16 seniors, who were honored before the game. Buffalo ended the season with a 2-10 record overall and a 1-7 mark in MAC play.
Nicely connected on 13-of-24 passes for 193 yards and made a number of big plays down the stretch.
Seniors Alex Allen and Jalil Carter also enjoyed strong performances, with each going over 100 yards, respectively. Allen rushed a career-high 32 times for 106 yards and Carter had five receptions for 109 yards, including his second touchdown of the season.
Holding on to a 22-7 lead late in the fourth quarter, Akron had to hold off a late surge by the Bulls, who scored a quick touchdown and recovered the ensuing on-side kick with 1:52 left in regulation. UB quarterback Jerry Davis led his team all the way down to Akron's 17-yard line as the Bulls, down by eight points, threatened to send the game into overtime.
But sophomore linebacker Brian Wagner, who shared the team lead (14 tackles) with senior linebacker Mike Thomas, made one final big play for the defense by stripping the ball free from Davis on first-and-10.
Senior linebacker Shawn Lemon jumped on the loose ball to end the rally and send the Zips to their first victory of the year.
Defense was stout for both teams early on as the Zips and Bulls played to a scoreless draw after the first quarter.
Akron got on the scoreboard first with 4:20 left before halftime thanks to a big play from its special teams. On fourth-and-seven, UA's Bill Alexander blocked a punt attempt by Jacob
Schum on Buffalo's 24-yard line, with Josh Richmond making the recovery.
A pair of rushes by Nate Burney and Allen set up a first-and-goal from the 8-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Nicely hooked up with Carter on a fade route in the left corner of the end zone to give the Zips a 6-0 lead.
Another big play by Richmond set up a second Akron touchdown drive just before halftime. The sophomore defensive back stepped in front of a Davis pass and returned the interception 23 yards to Buffalo's 39-yard line.
Nicely made UB pay by connecting with Carter on an eight-yard pass before finding LaFrance down the right side line for a big gain. The senior wide out capped off the 31-yard reception with a dive into the end zone for his fifth TD of the season.
Amid winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour, UA place kicker Igor Iveljic had a rough day, missing a pair of first-half PATs.
The Bulls got on the board in the third quarter after orchestrating a 12-play, 83-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 13-yard pass from Davis to Alex Neutz.
But the Zips answered right back with another impressive drive that was keyed by a pair of precise throws by Nicely. On third-and-10 from the UA 42, Nicely hit Carter with a 42-yard pass down the left side line and then found Gary Pride in the corner of the end zone on a 15-yard toss three plays later.
Akron place kicker Bronco Rogovic then split the uprights to give the Zips a 19-7 lead with 1:30 left in the third quarter before connecting on a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to push UA out to a 22-7 advantage. Buffalo got into the end zone one last time with 1:55 left in regulation when Davis found Neutz from 18 yards out.
Courtesy of Akron Media Relations
NOTES: The punt block by Alexander in the second quarter was the first punt block of the season for the Zips and the first blocked kick of Alexander's career ... Richmond's interception in the second quarter was the first of his career, while Anthony Holmes fourth-quarter pick was his third of the season ... Pride's third-quarter touchdown reception was the first touchdown of his career ... Carter recorded his second 100-plus yard receiving effort of his career ... Rogovic attempted and converted his first field goal attempt and second extra point of the season ... Allen surpassed the 100-yard mark for the fourth time this season and the fifth time of his career ... It was also Allen's third straight 100-yard game.
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