Re: The Legacy of Tyler Kozlov
Damion Bain scores two touchdowns but Zips cannot overcome injuries, fall to Flashes
This was going to be another opportunity for the Akron Zips to claim their rivalry victory while simultaneously eliminating their rival from a post season birth and pave the way to a potential MAC Championship. What a difference sixty minutes makes. Going into this game, the future was quite bright and the present was two victories from the Zips playing for the MAC Title.
It wasn't meant to be.
The Akron Zips who were already down to just two halfbacks after Tra Ingram's abdominal tear earlier in the season were knocked to just one in the first quarter after Connor Hundley left with a concussion, following a jarring hit. He was responsive on the sidelines but was kept out as a precaution and will undergo further evaluations in the upcoming week before he will take the field again. This injury hurts bad, while Hundley who was once the original starter, hasn't been spectacular, it leaves the team with just one active halfback for this one and potentially against Bowling Green State.
The Zips first drive which spanned half of the first frame would lead to a punt, after getting deep into Flashes territory, the away team was forced to punt it away after consecutive sacks knocked them outside of Tom O'Leary's range and the offense would sputter.
The teams would trade possessions with the Zips usually gaining some ground before having to punt while the Flashes were just generally incompetent on offense, the Zips defense showing up strong for this performance for a second straight week.
It would take until the second quarter, for the Zips to score and even then tragedy struck. Running a read option, Chandler Kincade picked up 11 but took a bad shot and would leave the game, it would later be revealed to be a shoulder injury, one that took him out of this one but would be evaluated on a week to week basis, it's unknown if he will be active for the Zips game versus the Falcons. Kyle Pohl would throw two incompletions and a rush would end the drive and set up a field goal to make it 3-0 heading into the half.
The third quarter belonged to the Kent State Golden Flashes who put the Zips on the ropes and with their injuries it seemed that their two touchdowns in the quarter would close out this one, but the Zips managed to fight back despite the adversity.
Kent State managed to score late in the third when their offense churned out on a tired Akron defense that saw the field more often without their starting quarterback and top two halfbacks on the field, and it led to the Golden Flashes first touchdown of the evening when a sweep to the leftside led to their halfback going untouched for the score to make it a 3-7 score.
On the following drive, Kyle Pohl seemingly returned to his old ways with an interception deep in his own territory quickly had the Zips defense on the ropes for a second consecutive time and the Golden Flashes rush attack churned out another touchdown shortly after, a quick minute of scoring led to a sudden 3-14 barrage.
The Zips next drive took a little to get going, as a pair of offensive plays went no where before the Zips picked up a first down on third and long. On the first down play, Damion Bain took a hand off to the right side and followed his blockers, the freshman took off and went 81 yards for the score to make it a 9-14 in quick succession and the momentum returned to the Zips who managed to bring it close.
Utilizing the momentum, Tyler Kozlov kept his offense in for the two point conversion, on an improvised bootleg, Kyle Pohl caught a defensive back cheat up and laced a soft lob to Andrew Pratt, his first of three key receptions in the final frame. The score 11-14 and the Zips were in business.
The offense however just couldn't muster enough to keep that momentum through much of the 4th, at least until there was a little bit of magic, on second and 3, the Zips opted to test the long ball, Kyle Pohl shot a pass to Jeff Parker on a deep fly route, but the ball would be popped up. Andrew Pratt managed to swoop and pull in the reception in full speed and charged upfield, making it all the way to the three before being tackled. It took just one play for Damion Bain to punch the score in and with just a minute to go, the Zips had a 18-14 lead and it appeared that they would be able to escape this one with a victory.
It wouldn't be the case however, on the kickoff, Kent State saw excellent blocking and their return man hit the crease, going for a 95 yard touchdown just a play after the Zips made the improbable score. The Flashes had the lead yet again.
It seemed there was a little bit of magic left for Akron however, on third and long, the Zips Kyle Pohl shot a pass to Andrew Pratt who reeled it in within field goal range, with twenty seconds to go, and the hurry up was on. Without any time outs, Kyle Pohl wanted to get the ball closer and found Fransohn Bickley in the flat, but the referee ruled his knee went down prior to going out of bounds, and the clock would tick.
4.3.2.1.. and despite being in field goal position, the Zips had to go for the win, with no time on the clock, Kyle Pohl called for the snap and dropped back, flying a pass to Jeff Parker, but it would be batted down innocently and the Zips would fall to their rivals who stormed the field after holding off their opposition.
"This is on me, bad clock management in those final seconds.. it hurts. We had this one and we know who the better team is. They made plays when it mattered and because of it, they get the Wagon Wheel and we lost our shot at the conference title." Spoke a deflated Kyle Pohl, who didn't do much to silence his critics in this defeat, with an inefficient performance, his yardage totals bloated due to two amazing receptions by Andrew Pratt that piled up the yardage.
The Zips fall to 7-4 and with a bevy of injuries, the excitement for the post season has dulled substantially. The Kent State Golden Flashes keep their post season hopes alive with a 5-6 record.
Damion Bain scores two touchdowns but Zips cannot overcome injuries, fall to Flashes
This was going to be another opportunity for the Akron Zips to claim their rivalry victory while simultaneously eliminating their rival from a post season birth and pave the way to a potential MAC Championship. What a difference sixty minutes makes. Going into this game, the future was quite bright and the present was two victories from the Zips playing for the MAC Title.
It wasn't meant to be.
The Akron Zips who were already down to just two halfbacks after Tra Ingram's abdominal tear earlier in the season were knocked to just one in the first quarter after Connor Hundley left with a concussion, following a jarring hit. He was responsive on the sidelines but was kept out as a precaution and will undergo further evaluations in the upcoming week before he will take the field again. This injury hurts bad, while Hundley who was once the original starter, hasn't been spectacular, it leaves the team with just one active halfback for this one and potentially against Bowling Green State.
The Zips first drive which spanned half of the first frame would lead to a punt, after getting deep into Flashes territory, the away team was forced to punt it away after consecutive sacks knocked them outside of Tom O'Leary's range and the offense would sputter.
The teams would trade possessions with the Zips usually gaining some ground before having to punt while the Flashes were just generally incompetent on offense, the Zips defense showing up strong for this performance for a second straight week.
It would take until the second quarter, for the Zips to score and even then tragedy struck. Running a read option, Chandler Kincade picked up 11 but took a bad shot and would leave the game, it would later be revealed to be a shoulder injury, one that took him out of this one but would be evaluated on a week to week basis, it's unknown if he will be active for the Zips game versus the Falcons. Kyle Pohl would throw two incompletions and a rush would end the drive and set up a field goal to make it 3-0 heading into the half.
The third quarter belonged to the Kent State Golden Flashes who put the Zips on the ropes and with their injuries it seemed that their two touchdowns in the quarter would close out this one, but the Zips managed to fight back despite the adversity.
Kent State managed to score late in the third when their offense churned out on a tired Akron defense that saw the field more often without their starting quarterback and top two halfbacks on the field, and it led to the Golden Flashes first touchdown of the evening when a sweep to the leftside led to their halfback going untouched for the score to make it a 3-7 score.
On the following drive, Kyle Pohl seemingly returned to his old ways with an interception deep in his own territory quickly had the Zips defense on the ropes for a second consecutive time and the Golden Flashes rush attack churned out another touchdown shortly after, a quick minute of scoring led to a sudden 3-14 barrage.
The Zips next drive took a little to get going, as a pair of offensive plays went no where before the Zips picked up a first down on third and long. On the first down play, Damion Bain took a hand off to the right side and followed his blockers, the freshman took off and went 81 yards for the score to make it a 9-14 in quick succession and the momentum returned to the Zips who managed to bring it close.Utilizing the momentum, Tyler Kozlov kept his offense in for the two point conversion, on an improvised bootleg, Kyle Pohl caught a defensive back cheat up and laced a soft lob to Andrew Pratt, his first of three key receptions in the final frame. The score 11-14 and the Zips were in business.
The offense however just couldn't muster enough to keep that momentum through much of the 4th, at least until there was a little bit of magic, on second and 3, the Zips opted to test the long ball, Kyle Pohl shot a pass to Jeff Parker on a deep fly route, but the ball would be popped up. Andrew Pratt managed to swoop and pull in the reception in full speed and charged upfield, making it all the way to the three before being tackled. It took just one play for Damion Bain to punch the score in and with just a minute to go, the Zips had a 18-14 lead and it appeared that they would be able to escape this one with a victory.
It wouldn't be the case however, on the kickoff, Kent State saw excellent blocking and their return man hit the crease, going for a 95 yard touchdown just a play after the Zips made the improbable score. The Flashes had the lead yet again.
It seemed there was a little bit of magic left for Akron however, on third and long, the Zips Kyle Pohl shot a pass to Andrew Pratt who reeled it in within field goal range, with twenty seconds to go, and the hurry up was on. Without any time outs, Kyle Pohl wanted to get the ball closer and found Fransohn Bickley in the flat, but the referee ruled his knee went down prior to going out of bounds, and the clock would tick.
4.3.2.1.. and despite being in field goal position, the Zips had to go for the win, with no time on the clock, Kyle Pohl called for the snap and dropped back, flying a pass to Jeff Parker, but it would be batted down innocently and the Zips would fall to their rivals who stormed the field after holding off their opposition.
"This is on me, bad clock management in those final seconds.. it hurts. We had this one and we know who the better team is. They made plays when it mattered and because of it, they get the Wagon Wheel and we lost our shot at the conference title." Spoke a deflated Kyle Pohl, who didn't do much to silence his critics in this defeat, with an inefficient performance, his yardage totals bloated due to two amazing receptions by Andrew Pratt that piled up the yardage.
The Zips fall to 7-4 and with a bevy of injuries, the excitement for the post season has dulled substantially. The Kent State Golden Flashes keep their post season hopes alive with a 5-6 record.
None expected the Zips to be overly competitive after last week's deflating loss and without their suddenly "star" quarterback held out due to precautions and this game essentially being "null" without a shot at the MAC Championship and with bowl eligibility already in tow, the Zips expected to coast to a season concluding loss, at least that's what it seemed like heading in.
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