Tuesday night #MACtion was sent off with a bang at InfoCision Stadium.
Prior to this game’s kickoff, one could have dismissed a contest between the Akron Zips (4-8, 3-5 MAC) and the Toledo Rockets (7-5, 4-4 MAC) as programming fodder; a contractually-obligated matchup between two state schools from Ohio with no real stakes on the line.
To a certain extent, that statement is true.
Toledo had been eliminated from championship contention the week prior by the Ohio Bobcats, while the Akron Zips were one of the first teams eliminated from postseason contention.
As Tuesday night unfolded, however, the stakes were painstakingly clear: Akron was on a mission to prove their hard work wasn’t for nothing, while Toledo needed a win to gain confidence in themselves after a rough patch towards the end of the conference season.
Akron’s urgency to send their seniors off proud at home ultimately prevailed, as CJ Nunnally IV would chase down Tucker Gleason on fourth-and-goal from the Akron four-yard line for a walk-off sack to secure the 21-14 win over Toledo in overtime.
The result was a vitally important one for the Zips, who took the initial 7-0 lead into the halftime break courtesy of a 72-yard touchdown reception by Ahmarion Granger on a slant route merely five minutes into the contest. Toledo’s attempt to reply in the first half were ultimately stifled, with Dylan Cunanan missing a field goal from 45 yards out and Sevaughn Clark getting the ball punched out of his hands near the goal line by Akron linebacker Antavious Fish at the end of a 16-play drive.
The third quarter saw both teams exchange fallow possessions, with Akron punting after a nine-play, 25-yard drive to start the half and Dylan Cunanan missing his second field goal of the night— this time from 26 yards out— after an 11-play, 65-yard drive.
Akron’s specialty quarterback Tahj Bullock would break the game open to start the fourth quarter, concluding a drive lasting nearly seven game minutes on a one-yard touchdown run to double up Akron’s lead at 14-0 with 13:59 remaining.
Toledo responded right away, slicing and diving the interior of the Zips defensive coverage over 10 plays before Tucker Gleason found his favorite redzone target in tight end Anthony Torres wide-open in the endzone for a seven-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal to cut the lead in half. The scoring drive— their first points since their touchdown against Ohio in the second quarter last week— got the Rockets right back into rhythm, as they’d tie the game back up on a 19-yard pass from Gleason to Jerjuan Newton with 3:30 remaining.
All hope seemed lost for the home side when Akron went three-and-out on three passing attempts, and even more so when Tucker Gleason ran for a 22-yard gain on second-and-10 with 1:44 remaining to put the Rockets inside the Akron redzone.
However, Toledo head coach Jason Candle flinched, opting to set up the field goal instead of going for endzone shot, a decision in part taken because Akron had one timeout remaining.
The Rockets would matriculate the ball to the Akron 11-yard line, setting up a 29-yard attempt for Dylan Cunanan, who had missed two prior attempts and nearly missed an extra point earlier.
Cunanan’s kick would miss, pointed on a rope wide right of the goalposts to force overtime, ensuring the young placekicker— who entered the game 13-of-16 on the season— would finish the night 0-of-3.
Toledo won the toss and opted for defense, but Akron’s Charles Kellom would put the pressure on immediately, scoring on the first play from scrimmage via reception to give the Zips the 21-14 lead in the first overtime period.
The Rockets would nab a first down on a third-and-one conversion to start their drive, with Tucker Gleason finding Junior Vandeross III for an eight-yard reception to set up first-and-goal from the Akron eight-yard line.
Running back Connor Walendzak plowed ahead for six yards on the first down play, but that was as far as Toledo would get, with Walendzak’s next run stuffed at the line, and the last two plays being logged for a combined 21 lost yards to end the game.
For the victorious Zips, their pair of quarterbacks performed admirably. Ben Finley finished 10-of-21 for 194 yards and two passing touchdowns on the day, while also running for an additional 16 net yards (24 gained). Tahj Bullock was 2-of-2 for 27 yards and a rushing touchdown on the day.
Charles Kellom, in at the last minute as the starting halfback, finished with 21 carries for 69 yards and the game-winning 25-yard reception score. Ahmarion Granger led the Zips with 106 receiving yards on two receptions, while Israel Polk (47 yards) and Kellom each had three receptions.
Gage Summers led the tackling effort for the Zips, as the lettuced linebacker finished with 19 tackles on the night. Bryan McCoy finished with 17 tackles. CJ Nunnally IV, the game’s hero, finished with eight tackles and two tackles-for-loss.
The Rockets heated up late, but for much of the contest, were out of balance.
Tucker Gleason finished 31-of-44 passing, with 289 yards and two touchdowns on the night, as well as 59 net ruhsing yards.
Connor Walendzak led the rushing effort with 87 yards on 19 attempts, while Willie Shaw (two rush, 12 yards) left the game early with injury and SeVaughn Clark had the game-changing fumble.
Junior Vandeross III led Toledo with 11 receptions for 84 yards, while Anthony Torres had six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown and Jerjuan Newton had eight nabs for 81 yards and a score.
Defensively, it was a game to forget for the Rockets, who failed to cause a turnover while also giving up 5.4 yards per play.
Daniel Bolden had a quiet day at the office, leading Toledo with eight total tackles. Cavon Butler and Martez Poynter each had a TFL and a sack to lead the team. Nasir Bowers and Braden Awls each had a pass break-up on the day.
Akron finishes the season at 4-8, with a 3-5 mark in conference play. The win is Akron’s first over Toledo since 2013, and also secured their first season with four or more victories since 2018, snapping two of Akron’s more arduous streaks in one go.
Toledo will now await selection to a bowl game after securing the necessary wins earlier in the season. Exact pairings will be known after next week.