NCAA college football scores | Toledo Rockets vs. Akron Zips recap

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NCAA college football scores | Toledo Rockets vs. Akron Zips recap

Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Wed, Nov 27, 2024 ·

11 min read

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The University of Akron football team wrapped up its 2024 season by upsetting Toledo in thrilling Mid-American Conference action Tuesday night.

The Zips survived a potential game-winning field goal by the Rockets to end regulation and then prevailed 21-14 in overtime.

Akron (4-8, 3-5) doubled its win total from the previous two seasons, when the Zips went 2-10 in 2023 and 2022. UA's dramatic triumph over Toledo (7-5, 4-4) gave UA coach Joe Moorhead a signature win in his third season at the helm.

This is the first time Akron has won consecutive games under Moorhead. UA beat rival Kent State 38-17 last week .

Here is how our updates for Akron versus Toledo unfolded , with quotes from interviews added afterward :

Akron Zips defensive back Elijah Reed celebrates an interception against Kent State in the final moments, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Kent.

Akron's CJ Nunnally IV records game-clinching sack in overtime vs. Toledo. The Zips defeat the Rockets 21-14

It all came down to fourth-and-goal at the 4-yard line, and Akron defensive end CJ Nunnally IV sacked Toledo quarterback Tucker Gleason to end the game in overtime.

"We just ran the all-out blitz, honestly, and the guys didn't block me," Nunnally said. "They didn't pick me up. I guess they don't respect me enough to block me and slide my way. So I had to make them pay for it.

"It's just a great feeling when you know you can make the play to end the game and that leads to success. Now the whole team can celebrate."

Nunnally also forced a crucial fumble early in the second quarter.

Akron scores touchdown on first play of overtime to take 21-14 lead

On the first play of overtime, Akron quarterback Ben Finley ran right as if he would keep the ball. Then Finley threw to wide-open running back Charles Kellom, and Kellom scored a 25-yard touchdown. Garrison Smith made the extra point, and the Zips went ahead 21-14.

"There's nothing like it," Kellom said. "You work for times like this to get the go-ahead touchdown, the winning touchdown, to take the win for your team and really put the team on your back. I just thought that that moment was great for me. Nothing tops it."

Finley went 10-of-21 passing for 194 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He ran four times for 16 net yards.

"I loved it here," Finley said. "I had a great first season at Akron. It was a lot of fun. I met some of the best friends that I'll have for the rest of my life, and it was a really, really fun year here. And I got one more."

With starting running back Jordon Simmons idle, Kellom rushed 21 times for 69 net yards and caught three passes for 33 yards and TD.

"It sucks that Jordon went down," Kellom said. "He's a big part of this team, big part of this offense, but I just had to take my opportunity and run with it."

Toledo misses would-be game-winning field goal with no time left in regulation. Rockets and Akron Zips are headed for overtime

Toledo's Dylan Cunanan missed his third field goal of the game with time expired in regulation, sending the Rockets and Zips into overtime. Cunanan missed wide right from 29 yards.

Earlier in the game, Cunanan missed from 26 and 45 yards.

Close call on Akron punt doesn't go Zips' way

After Toledo tied the score 14-14 and Akron went three-and-out, the Zips punted.

The ball was downed at the Toledo 27-yard line with 2:16 left in the fourth quarter.

But did the ball touch Rockets returner Bryson Hammer before it was downed? If it hit Hammer, it would have been Akron's ball. The referee said the replay review of the ultra-close play determined the ball didn't touch Hammer. Moorhead could be seen on ESPN2's telecast expressing his disagreement.

Toledo ties the score 14-14 vs. Akron with 3:26 left in the fourth quarter

Toledo rallied with 14 unanswered points to tie the score 14-14 with 3:26 left in the fourth quarter.

After an Akron punt, Toledo took over at its 8-yard line with 6:07 left. The Rockets then produced a seven-play, 92-yard scoring drive. Gleason found wide receiver Jerjuan Newton wide open in the middle of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Cunanan made the extra point to tie the score.

Toledo fires back and cuts Akron's lead to 14-7 with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter

After being shutout in the first three quarters and falling behind 14-0 early in the fourth quarter, the Toledo offense came to life.

The Rockets manufactured a 10-play, 85-yard scoring drive capped by Gleason's 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Torres . Cunanan made the extra-point kick after previously missing two field goals, and Toledo sliced its deficit to 14-7 with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter.

Akron extends its lead vs. Toledo to 14-0 with 13:57 left in the fourth quarter

Akron boosted its advantage to 14-0 when backup quarterback Tahj Bullock rushed for a 1-yard touchdown on first-and-goal and Smith made the extra-point kick with 13:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Bullock's rushing TD capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive UA assembled after Toledo missed its second field goal of the game.

Bullock went 2-of-2 passing for 27 yards and rushed eight times for 22 net yards and a TD.

"Size, speed, athleticism, can throw it, can catch it, he could just do just about everything, and it makes him incredibly versatile and makes us, I think, more difficult to defend," Moorhead said. "And you look at a guy like [ New Orleans Saints player] Taysom Hill , who's doing things like that at the next level, and I think Tahj is a guy capable of making a lot more plays here at Akron and certainly in that role someone that I think can find a spot on an NFL roster."

Akron Zips lead Toledo 7-0 at the end of the third quarter and will begin the fourth quarter deep in Rockets territory

Akron led Toledo 7-0 at the end of the third quarter.

The Zips found themselves with a golden opportunity to extend their lead when the third quarter ended because they were driving. The fourth quarter began with UA facing second-and-9 at the Toledo 11-yard line.

Toledo missed another field goal, and Akron still leads 7-0 with 5:51 left in the third quarter

Cunanan missed his second field goal of the game, this time wide left on a 26-yard attempt with 5:51 remaining in the third quarter. The miss allowed Akron to maintain a 7-0 lead.

On third-and-4 at the Akron 9, Zips cornerback Catrell White made a key tackle on running back Connor Walendzak, who caught a pass in the left flat from Gleason. Walendzak likely would have scored if White hadn't stopped him for a 1-yard gain. Toledo then opted for the 26-yard field goal attempt.

Akron Zips lead Toledo Rockets 7-0 at halftime

Akron led Toledo 7-0 at halftime.

The UA defense had a shut out through the first half and nearly had a second takeaway in the final minute of the second quarter.

On third-and-10 at the Toledo 42-yard line, Rockets wide receiver Thomas Zsiros had a pass from Gleason deflect off his hands. Akron safety Paul Lewis III appeared to make a diving interception, but a replay review showed his helmet knocked the ball loose as he crashed to the ground. The result was an incomplete pass.

Toledo punted. Akron then ran the ball to run out the clock and head to halftime with the lead.

Toledo outgained Akron 193-180 yards and picked up 13 first downs compared with UA's seven. But a missed field goal, a big play for a touchdown and a crucial turnover in the red zone allowed the Zips to maintain control through the first two quarters.

Akron Zips defensive end CJ Nunnally IV earns instant redemption with forced fumble

A play after Nunnally drew a holding penalty while covering Torres on a third-down pass into the end zone, Nunnally created a turnover.

"I had to get my get back," Nunnally said. "I didn't think it personally was holding. He tripped over my feet, so I had to make him feel that. Definitely had to make him pay for it."

On first-and-goal, Nunnally stripped running back Sevaughn Clark of the ball, and Zips linebacker Antavious Fish recovered the fumble at the Akron 8-yard line with 10:43 remaining in the second quarter.

"We definitely got a momentum swing, and we just did it for all the seniors that was going out," said Nunnally, who has a season of eligibility remaining.

Akron wound up driving to its 38 before stalling and punting.

Akron leads Toledo 7-0 at the end of the first quarter

UA held a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Akron defense played well out of the gate, allowing just four first downs on Toledo's first three possessions.

The Rockets began the second quarter in the midst of a drive, facing first-and-10 at their 45-yard line. But Nunnally's aforementioned forced fumble and Fish's recovery eventually ended the Toledo march, a 16-play, 94-yard drive.

Other standout performances on UA's defense included those of linebackers Gage Summers (19 tackles) and Bryan McCoy (17 tackles).

Akron Zips score on first offensive snap after Toledo Rockets miss field goal. UA takes 7-0 lead

After Cunanan missed a 45-yard field goal wide right to end the first series of the game with 10:58 left in the opening quarter, Akron drew first blood.

On the Zips' first offensive snap, wide receiver Ahmarian Granger ran a slant route and caught a short pass from Finley. Granger was open when he hauled in the ball, and he raced to the end zone untouched for a 72-yard touchdown. Smith's ensuing extra point gave the Zips a 7-0 lead with 10:47 left in the first quarter.

"I knew Ahmarian was going to get loose on one of these," Finley said. "He's a slimy pancake. I knew he was going to get loose."

Granger produced another highlight during Akron's third possession. After Granger had started to slide, he remained on the ground and caught a 34-yard pass from Finley near UA's sideline.

"When I fell, it just fell in my hands," Granger said. "I was like, 'That's Ben. That's Ben. That's all.'"

The drive, however, stalled shortly thereafter.

Granger had two catches for 106 yards and a TD in the first quarter. He didn't have another catch the rest of the game.

Here is some pregame information:

What is the history between Akron and Toledo football?

Akron trails 13-10 in its all-time series with Toledo.

The Zips had lost their past four games against the Rockets. UA fell in those lopsided matchups 49-14 in 2021, 48-21 and 45-28 (MAC Championship Game) in 2017 and 48-17 in 2016. Akron hadn't prevailed in the series since 2013, when the Zips won 31-29 at home.

Akron Zips football history: 'A role model for many': Friends, family remember late UA football coach Gerry Faust

Akron Zips running back Charles Kellom scores a second-half 2-point conversion, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Kent.

Akron football scores in 2024

The Akron Zips have done the following this season:
Aug. 31: lost 52-6 at Ohio State
Sept. 7: lost 49-17 at Rutgers
Sept. 14: beat Colgate 31-20
Sept. 21: lost 50-7 at South Carolina
Sept. 28: lost 30-10 at Ohio (MAC game)
Oct. 5: lost 27-20 to Bowling Green (MAC game)
Oct. 12: lost 34-24 at Western Michigan (MAC game)
Oct. 19: bye
Oct. 26: beat Eastern Michigan 25-21 (MAC game)
Nov. 2: lost 41-30 to Buffalo (MAC game)
Nov. 13: lost 29-16 at Northern Illinois (MAC game)
Nov. 19: won 38-17 at Kent State (MAC game)
Nov. 26: beat Toledo 21-14 in OT (MAC game)

Akron Zips tight end Grant Gainer (19) celebrates with teammates after beating Kent State, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Kent.

How can I watch on TV, stream, listen to Akron Zips football vs. Toledo Rockets?

The game was televised on ESPN2 with Matt Schumaker as the play-by-play announcer and Dustin Fox as the analyst. It could be heard locally on the radio via WHLO 640-AM (flagship), WHK 1420-AM and 102.5-FM with David Skoczen as the play-by-play announcer and Joe Dunn as the analyst.

More on the Akron Zips: Coach Joe Moorhead is brutally honest with players in college football's new era

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips football earns upset MAC win vs Toledo in overtime on ESPN2

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