Akron Rallies for 40-28 Win

Saturday, November 8

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1:00 PM

Central Michigan University

Akron

11/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football

Nov. 8, 2003

Final Stats?|? Notes

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University raced out to a 21-3 lead early in the second period only to have the University of Akron race back to claim a 40-28 Mid-American Conference football win here Saturday afternoon, 40-28.

The loss dropped CMU's record to 3-7 overall and 1-6 in MAC action. Akron goes to 6-5 for the season and 4-3 in league play.

"It's kind of the way the season has gone," said CMU head coach Mike DeBord. "We've been in all of the MAC games but a play here or there has made a big difference."

A big one happened right before half when the Chippewas were moving only to lose a fumble at the Zips' 41. Akron marched 59 yards in three plays and took a 24-21 halftime lead -- a lead it never relinquished.

The Zips scored first in the second half for a 30-21 lead but CMU roared right back to score on a 13-yard pass from Derrick Vickers to Steve Messam to cut the deficit to 30-28. However, UA answered with 10 unanswered points for the win.

Vickers completed 17-of-28 passes for 155 yards and a career-high-matching three TDs. Freshman HB Jerry Seymour broke the 100-yard barrier for the fifth time this season, gaining 105 yards in 10 carries.

The story of the game, though, was Akron QB Charlie Frye. He completed 27-of-34 passes for 416 yards and two touchdowns. He had 460 yards in total offense for a Kelly/Shorts Stadium record.

Akron's 607 yards in total offense were the third most in stadium history behind Toledo's 643 set earlier this year.

CMU closes the 2003 season with a pair of road games at Western Michigan (Nov. 15) and Navy (Nov. 22).

*Justin Harper caught seven passes for 55 yards to top the Chippewas.
*Terrence Jackson nearly gave the Chippewas a pair of 100-yard rushers with 92 yards in 18 carries.

*Brian Brandt had another good punting day with six kicks for an average of 42.8 yards.

*Already among the top freshman tacklers in the country, Dan Bazuin added to his tally against Akron with five stops and three for losses of eight yards.

*Akron's Bobby Hendry was the top rusher in the game with 132 yards and three TDs in 33 carries.

*Nick Sparks and Matt Cherry had eight catches each for the Zips.

*First period TD catches for CMU were made by Scott Gibson (a career first) and Tory Humphrey; Terrence Jackson scored from one yard out in the second for the Chippewas.