fbadmin
Group Administrator | Subject: Buffalo Rallies to Defeat Akron, 21-17
Football Bowl Subdivision
posted by fbadmin on Monday, October 19th 2009 @ 1:35 PM
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Akron true freshman quarterback Patrick Nicely, making his first career, led the Zips to a 17-14 lead after a field goal with 9:57 left in the game, but Buffalo rallied to score with six minutes left and intercepted a deflected pass with 1:32 left for a 21-17 decision Saturday afternoon at UB Stadium.
Nicely is just the fourth true freshman to start at quarterback with the Zips, joining Brian Magrill (1994), Mic Hutton (1969) and Ron Boruszkowski (1962). He finished by completing 17-of-34 passes for 200 yards with two interceptions. Another UA freshman, redshirt DeVoe Torrence, also had a solid game, rushing for 90 yards on 13 attempts (6.9 per carry).
The teams traded punts on their first possessions. On the first play of Buffalo’s second drive, Akron’s Manley Waller picked off Zach Maynard at the UB 27. However, Akron fumbled on third and two at the UB four. The Zips defense responded by forcing the Bulls to a three-and-out with Akron taking possession on the Buffalo 35 after the UB punt.
On the ensuing possession, the Zips fumbled again near the UB goal line when Nicely was hit from behind and coughed up the ball. UA junior left guard Mike Ward, who has now started al 30 games of his UA career, recovered the ball in the endozone for his first TD and an early 7-0 Zips’ lead.
Buffalo tied the game at 7-7 midway through the second quarter. The Zips were backed up against their own goal line and forced to punt. Needing just 42 yards to score, the Bulls used a 17-yard run by Maynard and a 20-yard Maynard to Naaman Roosevelt pass to get into scoring possession. Maynard and Roosevelt hooked up again from seven yards out for the game-tying score.
The Zips opened the second half with a nice drive, which stalled and resulted in a missed field goal. Then, with four minutes to go in the third, Buffalo replicated its scoring formula from the first half. Akron had a short punt and the Bulls only need 43 yards to score. Maynard hit Roosevelt with the same crossing route, this time from eight yards out, for a 14-7 UB lead.
As the third quarter drew to a close, Jalil Carter intercepted a Maynard pass. DeVoe Torrence reeled off a 16-yard run followed by a 19-yard run to put the Zips in scoring position. Four plays later, senior Alex Allen topped the drive with a one-yard plung over left guard to tie the game at 14-14.
Akron’s defense forced a quick punt and the Zips took over at the UB 35. Nicely hit Dashan Miller on a quick out , which went for 14 yards, and then hit Jeremy Bruce for eight yards. The drive stalled, but Branko Rogovic split the uprights from 30 yards out to give Akron a 17-14 lead.
Buffalo answered right back with a nine-play drive to regain the advantage, 21-17. Maynard had three completions for over 15 yards on the drive, including two to Roosevelt, and Mario Henry scored from one yard out.
The Zips drove to the UB 29 late in the game, but a Nicely pass across the middle was tipped and ultimately intercepted by Domonic Cook at the UB 22. He returned the ball 55 yards and the Bulls ran out the clock for the win.
Maynard completed 20-of-35 passes for 205 yards with two TDs and two INTs. Roosevelt caught 12 passes for 100 yards. Defensively for the Zips, Carter led the way with 12 tackles and an interception, while MAC Freshman of the Year candidate Brian Wagner had 10 stops.
Akron will play the second of its three-game road swing next Saturday, returning to New York to face Big East foe Syracuse. Game time at the Carrier Dome is set for 3:30 pm.
News Release By: Mike Cawood, Akron SID |
