Written by: D.J. Johnson

Akron scored 49 points on Saturday afternoon, a feat that had not been accomplished since Charlie Frye led the Zips in 2003.

Though a record-setting day, when it was all said and done, the other side of the scoreboard read 56.

Miami came out with the seven-point win, and Akron dropped yet another neck-and-neck game.

“I don’t think either defense figured out either offense,” said head coach Terry Bowden. “We were chasing points all day.”

The shootout became a matter of who had possession last, as the RedHawks took the ball midway through the fourth quarter and produced a six-minute, 89-yard touchdown drive.

Two Zips personal fouls proved crucial in aiding the game-winning score.

“(The fouls) became the story in my mind,” Bowden said.

Two illegal hits on Miami receivers moved the ball a total of 29 yards; the second hit took it from the Akron 27 to the 13.

Five straight rushes provided the go-ahead score.

Time became the RedHawks’ best friend with the clock sitting 1:04.

It proved to be the only thing that could stop either offense.

Akron quarterback Dalton Williams once again led his team down the field, all the way to Miami’s 38-yard line, but a last-second interception ended the game.

“When you’re fighting and finding ways to win ballgames, these tough losses are hard,” Bowden said.

With Saturday’s loss, a back-and-forth game with Tennessee, and an overtime defeat, the Zips have been served their fair share of heartbreak in 2012.

Despite just one win, the program finds itself in a much different place than last year.

“When you take over a program as rock bottom as this program was, you usually lose big, then you lose close,” Bowden said. “These kids have skipped that first step.”

The offense allowed the Zips to lose close on Saturday.

Four touchdowns and Williams’ 446 passing yards combined into 629 total offensive yards.

Miami’s 705-yard day came in large part by way of their quarterback, Zac Dysert.

Dysert had 108 rushing yards, 516 yards through the air, and a school-record six touchdown passes.

The two quarterbacks were virtually flawless through the first half, which Miami closed out with a 35-28 lead.

The surge of offense did not stop coming out of the locker room.

Trailing 45-35 to start the fourth quarter, Akron sandwiched a Miami field goal with two touchdowns to take a 49-48 lead with 7:06 remaining.

Miami then turned a 13-play drive into the game-winning score, not allowing the Zips enough time to respond.

“These kids are right on the verge,” Bowden said. “Now we’ve got to see where we can correct mistakes.”

The loss drops Akron to 1-4 on the season. Miami moves to 3-2.

The Zips will host Bowling Green this Saturday as part of Homecoming weekend. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.