Akron Defeats Utah State 23-21 In Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Tuesday, December 22
Akron 23, Utah State 21
Box Score
Postgame Notes
Photo Gallery
BOISE, Ida. — The Akron Zips claimed their first FBS bowl win in school history with a 23-21 defeat of Utah State at Albertsons Stadium on Tuesday afternoon before a crowd of 18,876.
Finishing on a five-game winning streak, Akron improved to 8-5 overall, the most wins in a season since moving into FBS play in 1987. The Aggies finished the season at 6-7 overall.
Senior PK Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio) was named the bowl's Most Valuable Player. He finished with 11 points on the day (three field goals and two extra points) en route to becoming Akron's career scoring leader. He finished his collegiate career with 268 career points, surpassing Zac Derr (1998-01) who had 266 career points.
Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) went 14-of-29 for 168 yards and was the Zips' leading rusher with 47 yards on 16 carries. He also had a 14-yard TD reception.
In the air, senior WR Andrew Pratt (North Canton, Ohio) led Akron with a career-high nine receptions for 94 yards.
Defensively, sophomore S Zach Guiser had nine tackles, while senior LB Dylan Evans and Jatavis Brown had eight tackles each.
On the opening drive, the Zips' defense showed its strength as senior NT Cody Grice (Akron, Ohio) and DE Se'Von Pittman (Canton, Ohio) sacked QB Chuckie Keeton for a loss of eight, forcing the Aggies to punt.
Akron scored on its next possession. Driving 56 yards to the endzone, the Zips used a trick play as junior WR Tyrell Goodman (Yonkers, N.Y.) passed the ball 14 yards to Woodson for the score. Stein tacked on the extra point, giving Akron a 7-0 lead with 10:38 to go in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, both teams threw a pick. Woodson was first, followed by Keeton five plays later as senior CB Kris Givens (Ridgeland, Miss.) recorded his second interception of the season, stopping an Aggies' scoring drive on the six.
Givens struck again on the next defensive drive. He broke up a pass in the endzone on third-and-eight. On fourth down, the Aggies lined up for a fake field goal and tuned the ball over on downs after a rush for a loss of seven yards.
With 2:53 remaining in the first half, Stein nailed a 33-yard field goal to give the Zips 10-0 advantage.
Following the kickoff, Utah State took three plays to drive the field, including a career long 61-yard run by Devante Mays, to score a nine-yard touchdown from Myers to Brandon Swindall.
On their next drive, the Aggies made back-to-back first downs to the 32. Akron's Brown forced a fumble, recovered by Rodney Coe who ran it back 56 yards to the 12 with four seconds on the clock. Stein then converted a 29-yard field goal, giving the Zips a 13-7 lead at intermission.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, Utah State took its first lead, 14-13, following a seven-play 64-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Myers to Hunter Sharp.
Akron rebounded with an eight-play, 40-yard drive that gave the Zips a 20-14 lead following a two-yard touchdown run by senior RB Donnell Alexander(Kansas City, Mo).
Stein added a 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, giving UA a 23-14 lead, while becoming Akron's career scoring leader.
With 1:12 remaining in the game, Utah State scored its final touchdown on a two-yard pass. The Zips ran the clock down to six seconds. Utah State's final attempt of the game was incomplete, sealing the Zips' victory.
Story courtesy of Akron Athletic Communications
