Marshall University Athletics
Akron Stuns Marshall, 31-28
11/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Akron Stuns Marshall, 31-28
11/6/2004
- Box Score
AKRON, Ohio ? The University of Akron?s Jason Swiger connected on a 43-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Zips to a stunning 31-28 comeback win over Marshall University in Mid-American Conference football action Friday at the Rubber Bowl.
Akron (5-4 overall, 5-1 MAC) overcame a 28-7 second half deficit by scoring 24 unanswered points in the final 18 minutes of the game.
With the win, Akron moves into a first-place tie with Marshall and Miami for the MAC East Division lead. In fact, with games remaining with Ohio and Miami, the Zips now control their own destiny in the MAC East race. Marshall must now win out with games remaining at Bowling Green and with Western Michigan, and hope for an Akron loss in order to win the MAC East title.
Marshall (5-4, 5-1 MAC) seemed to be well on its way to a perfect 6-0 mark in conference play before Akron made its run. Thundering Herd quarterback Stan Hill completed 37-of-53 passes, finding nine different receivers, for 439 yards and three touchdowns to lead a Marshall attack that cruised to a 28-7 lead late in the third quarter. Senior receiver Josh Davis became the MAC?s and Marshall?s all-time receptions leader, and tied the school record for receptions in a game in the process, by grabbing 15 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown. Senior wide out Brad Bates had a career day with 11 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Earl Charles netted 98 rushing yards on 17 carries with one touchdown. In fact, Marshall?s offense rolled up a season-high 554 yards of offense and 28 first downs.
Unfortunately, despite the impressive numbers, Marshall?s offense missed several opportunities to put the game away. Davis saw two touchdown catches slip through his hands, Earl Charles fumbled a ball into the end zone that Akron recovered for a touchback, and the usually sure footed Ian O?Connor missed three field goals.
For most of three quarters, the Herd?s defense was holding Akron star quarterback Charlie Frye and the Akron offense in check. Marshall?s defense managed 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, and intercepted two passes. Senior defensive end, and Rotary Lombardi Award Semifinalist Jonathan Goddard recorded two sacks (-13 yards), and four tackles for a loss (18 yards) to lead the Herd, while Curtis Keyes and J.T. Rembert both picked up interceptions.
Akron would take advantage of their opportunities down the stretch, however. Following a Marshall 39-yard field goal miss, Frye led the Zips on a six play, 78-yard drive that took only one minute and thirty six seconds. The drive ended on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Frye to Domenik Hixon that made the score 28-14 with 2:58 to go in the third quarter.
Marshall, two possessions later, managed a 10-play, 76-yard drive and appeared ready to put the game away, when Charles was hit at the goal line and fumble the football into the end zone where Akron?s John Fuller fell on the ball for a touchback. Marshall?s defense recovered the ball two plays later when J.T. Rembert intercepted Frye to give Marshall the ball at the Akron 32 yard line with less than 7:40 to go in the game. The Herd failed to capitalize on the good field position with O?Connor missing a 27-yard field goal attempt wide left with 4:32 to play in the game. Frye then engineered a 10-play, 80-yard drive that took only two minutes and 19 seconds to cut the lead to 28-21 with 2:19 to go.
Akron then successfully converted an onside kick attempt and took over on their own 48. Frye then led the Zips down the field, converting a fourth down and 10 with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with only 45 seconds to play. The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving the Herd the ball on its own 35-yardline.
Marshall?s Hill found Tremel Guillory on a short four yard pass to the Marshall 39-yard line and the Herd took one of its two remaining time outs. The Herd was unable to convert on three consecutive pass plays, setting up a punting situation with just a few seconds remaining. Punter/kicker Ian O?Connor fumbled the snap and Akron?s Dwayne LeFall fell on it at the Marshall 26 with only six seconds showing on the game clock to set up Swiger?s game winning kick.
Akron?s Frye finished the game 28-of45 for 322 yards and three touchdowns, whit Domenik Hixon catching 13 of those passes for 12 yards and a score.
Marshall will try and rebound from the loss when it travels to Bowling Green next Saturday.