By: DJ Johnson
Akron (1-3) produced 534 yards of total offense against VMI (0-4) as the Zips rode an early lead to the 23-point win.
“I’m certainly proud of our team,” said Akron Head Coach Rob Ianello. “I think we started the game with a lot of energy on offense and defense.”
On their first drive, UA quarterback Clayton Moore found wide out Keith Sconiers in the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown. Akron took the 6-0 lead after the missed extra point.
Freshman running back Karl Bostick made it a 13-0 lead with a 17-yard run, capping off an eight-play 60-yard drive.
A VMI touchdown pass and a T.J. Marchese field goal for the Zips made the score 16-7 after one quarter of play.
Sconiers again found the endzone midway through the second, this time from 10 yards out, completing an impressive nine-play 72-yard drive.
Standout tail back Jawon Chisholm pushed the lead to 29-7 after scoring his first career touchdown with a nine-yard run. The redshirt freshman finished with his second consecutive and second career 100-yard day, carrying the ball 27 times for 188 yards and a touchdown.
“Run the ball and stop the run. That’s where it starts with winning football,” said Ianello.
A scoreless third quarter was followed by an exchange of touchdowns in the fourth, as Zips’ wide receiver Jerrod Dillard caught Moore’s third touchdown of the day, good for the 23-yard score.
Moore finished the afternoon completing 13 of 28 passes for 223 yards.
“Clayton today I thought hit some really good passes down the field,” Ianello said. “We have to improve on the intermediate [passes].”
On the other end of many of those was Sconiers, who pulled in eight balls for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
“He competes for the ball and he makes plays,” Ianelo said. “He has really grown these last two weeks in our pass game.”
Brian Wagner once again led the Akron defense with 10 tackles, as Jamar Williams added six stops. Williams was the beneficiary of a Keydets fumble in the second quarter, capturing one of the two forced fumbles by the Zips.
Emmanuel Lartrey put a big hit on VMI quarterback Eric Kordenbrock in the first quarter, forcing a fumble that Nico Caponi recovered.
UA limited VMI to 239 yards of total offense for the day, compared to Akron’s 240 through the air and 294 on the ground.
Paid attendance at InfoCision Saturday was 14,257.
UA hits the road this upcoming Saturday, traveling to Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich. to face Eastern Michigan. The Eagles will be the Zips’ second MAC opponent this season.