BOX SCORE
GAME NOTES
KALAMAZOO -- Andre Jones took a lateral from Alphonso Owen to complete an 89-yard touchdown return with no time remaining to give Akron a 39-38 Mid-American Conference victory over Western Michigan in front of 25,610 at Waldo Stadium on Saturday night.
The Broncos (2-4, 1-1 MAC) had stopped Akron at the seven-yard line with 1:45 remaining after three of Londen Fryar's school record six pass breakups and then WMU took a safety with 15 seconds left to set up the free kick.
The Zips (3-2, 2-0 MAC) victory overshadowed career nights by Western Michigan quarterback Tim Hiller and wide receiver Jamarko Simmons. Hiller had a career-high 375 yards passing and Simmons tied his career-high with 172 yards receiving.
Akron forced a fumble on the Broncos' first possession, but it appeared the WMU defense would hold when Greg Marshall sacked Akron's quarterback and forced a fumble. The Broncos, however, were unable to recover the fumble and Akron moved into position for Igor Iveljic's career-long 51-yard field goal with 13:20 remaining in the first half to open the scoring, 3-0.
The Broncos answered on their next possession as Tim Hiller connected with Jamarko Simmons for a 52 yard catch-and-run. WMU couldn't take advantage of the season-long reception by the MAC's leading receiver and settled for Mike Jones' 27-yard field goal with 10:49 remaining, 3-3.
Akron regained the lead, 10-3, after a Jabari Arthur seven-yard touchdown reception with 4:12 remaining in the first quarter capped a seven-play, 50-yard drive in 2:32.
Again, Western Michigan matched Akron's score with a score of its own. Broncos' wide receiver Juan Nunez took the ball away from Akron defensive back Reggier Corner for his first career touchdown from 25 yards out to complete a six-play, 73-yard drive that evened the score, 10-10, with 2:02 on the clock in the opening period.
After a missed field goal by Akron, the Broncos drove 72 yards in eight plays to take the lead, 17-10, on Hiller's 11th consecutive completion, a 15-yard fade route to Simmons with 11:36 remaining in the first half.
It was the Zips turn to answer on the next possession as AArthur found the endzone again on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Chris Jacquemain to knot the score, 17-17, with 9:36 on the clock.
The Broncos moved into scoring position on their next drive, but missed a field goal. Two plays later, Bryan Williams caught a pass behind his back over the middle and raced 60 yards, the longest completion of the season for UA, to put the Zips back on top, 24-17, with 4:32 until halftime.
Threatening to tie with the ball at Akron's nine-yard line, Western Michigan lost its second fumble of the night with 1:52 remaining in the half. Akron, however, fumbled the ball and Cody Cielenski recovered with 36 seconds to go to give WMU a takeaway in its 32nd consecutive game and keep the deficit at only seven, 24-17, at halftime.
Akron started the second half with the ball, but was forced to punt and then WMU took over with an 11-play, 70-yard drive in 3:49 to tie the score, 24-24, on Brandon West's one-yard touchdown run with 9:29 to go in the third quarter.
Freshman safety Mario Armstrong registered his first career interception on Akron's next drive to give the Broncos good field position at the Akron 47-yard line. The Broncos began driving, but it appeared the drive may stall with a third and goal from the 13-yard line. Hiller, however, lofted a pass into the endzone and Simmons leaped between two Akron defenders to snatch the pass and give the Broncos the lead, 31-24, with 4:18 to go.
WMU forced another turnover on the Zips next possession as Boston McCornell forced a fumble recovered by Armstrong at the WMU 46. A career-long 21-yard run by West and then a 15-yard scamper by the sophomore from Brunswick, Ga., put WMU in position for Mark Bonds' seven-yard touchdown run with 12:25 remaining. The score gave WMU the first two possession lead, 38-24, for either team.
Two drives later, Akron pulled back to within one score, 38-31, on a 51-yard touchdown reception by Arthur, his third of the game with 4:54 remaining.
A 44-yard reception by Owen gave the Zips the ball at the WMU seven-yard line with 2:02 remaining. Fryar had a pass break-up on second and third down to give him five for the game, a new WMU school record, and then he added a sixth on fourth down to keep the Zips out of the endzone with 1:45 to go.
Hiller threw three touchdown passes, two to Simmons, while Bonds and West each added a score rushing. Bonds led WMU with 83 yards on 26 carries.
Arthur led Akron with 15 catches for 223 yards and three touchdowns, while Jacquemain completed 23-of-41 for 389 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
The Broncos return to MAC West play next Saturday at 4 p.m. in DeKalb, Ill., against Northern Illinois.
