AKRON — Western Michigan ran away from Akron 42-14 on Tuesday night, November 10, at InfoCision Stadium, handing the Zips their sixth straight Mid-American Conference loss in a game Akron never led, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
The Broncos outgained Akron 566 yards to 233, and the ground game decided it: Western Michigan rushed for 360 yards to Akron’s 60, according to the Beacon Journal’s game account. Western Michigan led 21-7 at halftime and 28-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Two Western Michigan running backs topped 100 yards. Jalen Buckley carried 23 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns, including a 35-yard score on fourth-and-1 in the third quarter, and Cole Cabana rushed nine times for 107 yards and one touchdown, highlighted by an 82-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, the Beacon Journal reported.
Akron’s bright spot was wide receiver Marcel Williams, who caught five passes from quarterback Cibastian Broughton for 85 yards and both Zips touchdowns — a 35-yard score in the second quarter and a 39-yard score in the fourth that cut the deficit to 35-14, according to the Beacon Journal.
The night also cost Akron a starter. Right tackle Allen Jones Jr. was ejected for targeting in the third quarter after a replay review, and backup quarterback Mason Reynolds threw two touchdown passes for Western Michigan, the second a 10-yard strike to tight end Nate Levicki with 6:53 left that set the final margin, the Beacon Journal reported.
The loss drops Akron to 1-9 overall and 0-6 in the MAC, while Western Michigan improves to 7-3 and 5-1. It came a week after the Zips seized a fourth-quarter lead at Ohio before falling 28-20 on November 3. Western Michigan now leads the all-time series 17-5 and has won the past three meetings; Akron last beat the Broncos on October 15, 2017, according to the Beacon Journal.
What happens next: Akron’s search for a first conference win continues on the road — the Zips play at UMass on Wednesday, November 18, then close the regular season at home against Buffalo on Friday, November 27.
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