Any Saturday can change a team, program and university. That was evident last weekend as teams across the nation shook up the polls with upsets, great defenses and record-breaking performances.

Fans of The University of Akron also had something to stand and cheer about. The Zips took down the RedHawks from the University of Miami (Ohio) by a score of 24-17.

“The [players] were not going to be denied,” head coach Terry Bowden said to the media after their win.

The Zips (2-6, 1-3 MAC) traveled to the University of Miami (0-7, 0-3 MAC) and won the game with 22 first downs and 374 total yards compared to Miami’s 18 first downs and 303 total yards.

The Zips stayed on the field for over 32 minutes behind quarterback Kyle Pohl, who finished the game with 227 yards. He was supported by running back Jawon Chisholm who rushed for three touchdowns during the game and finished with 86 yards for 16 carries.

He averaged 5.4 yards per carry and caught a pass for 18 yards from Pohl.

Other contributors on offense that lead the Zips to victory over the RedHawks were running back Conor Hundley, who rushed for 56 yards on 120 carries. Hundley also laid a huge hit on a Miami linebacker in the fourth quarter that sparked the offense and put the game away.

Wide receivers Zach D’Orazio and Fransohn Bickley caught seven passes for 88 yards and six catches for 48 yards respectively.

On the defensive side, the Zips would tie their season high of six sacks. They swarmed the RedHawk quarterback, Austin Boucher, while also recording an interception. During the game, the defense recovered a fumble while also forcing three fumbles.

Notable players of the game for the defense were Justin March, recorder of seven tackles, Albert Presley, who had two of the team’s six sacks and six total tackles, Nick Rossi, who had five total tackles and forced two fumbles, and lastly Andrew Pratt. Pratt blocked a punt on special team, which would set up the first score of the game.

That block was also the first for the Zips since the 2010 season.

Akron scored the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter. However, the RedHawks would even the score by the end of it. The score would stay at 7-7 until the second half, where the Zips scored 17 unanswered points on two touchdowns and a field goal. The score then read 24-7 midway through the fourth quarter.

Miami would answer back, scoring 10 points on back to back possessions, leading to an on-side kick to decide the fate of the game. Akron would recover the kick and would then let the clock run down with the final score in their favor at 24-17.

The Zips won their first game in Oxford since Oct. 21, 1939 and their first at Yager Stadium. The Zips also broke a 30-game losing streak, a record the Zips have had since their victory against Eastern Michigan in the 2008 season.

The Zips also end a 28-game losing streak against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. The last win was against Buffalo in the 2010 season.

Akron also ended a streak of three years of one-victory seasons with this win.

With all of these negatives streaks coming to a halt, the Bowden era offically is starting to turn in the right direction. The Zips have a good chance at winning at least tow more games this year. They may be favorites against Massachusetts and Kent State.

Come out this Saturday to cheer the Zips on as they host the Cardinals of Ball State University. Kickoff is at 12 p.m.

All Photos courtesy of Jeff Sabo – Miami University Photographer