“The University of Akron football team was competitive for one half against the Big Ten’s Indiana University Hoosiers, but fell off in the second half. The Hoosiers outscored the Zips 21-7 in the second half and went on to win the game 38-21. UA dropped to 1-2 on the season, while IU improved their mark to 3-0.”
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The University of Akron football team was competitive for one half against the Big Ten’s Indiana University Hoosiers, but fell off in the second half.

The Hoosiers outscored the Zips 21-7 in the second half and went on to win the game 38-21.

UA dropped to 1-2 on the season, while IU improved their mark to 3-0.

I thought defensively we played well, Zips Head Coach J.D. Brookhart said. We really only gave up three points in the first half. Obviously we gave the kick-off return away off the bat, but until the end of the first half. I thought the defense played pretty well.

IU scored on the opening kickoff of the game when senior wide receiver Ray Fisher returned a Branko Rogovic kick 92 yards.

The Hoosiers opened up a 10-0 lead, but the Zips answered back when Matt Rodgers connected with Deryn Bowser to bring UA within three points.

Bowser’s touchdown reception was his fifth of the season. He remains the only Zip with at least one touchdown reception.

The touchdown pass to Bowser was one of the few bright spots for sophomore Matt Rodgers, who made his first start at quarterback of his college career.

After the touchdown, Rodgers, who was filling in for suspended senior quarterback Chris Jacquemain, threw four interceptions.

I put our defense in a lot of bad positions, Rodgers said. I think at times in the second half I tried to do a little too much. Indiana is a good defense.

You can’t win the ball game turning the ball over four times. It’s tough to do.

Rodgers, who found out he was starting two days before the game, said he was prepared for Indiana.

As a backup you have got to prepare like you’re the starter all the time, Rodgers said. When they call for you, you have to step up and come in and play and there can’t be a drop off.

I have to come up and perform better. I put that on my shoulders.

A punt block recovery for a touchdown by Aaron Williams gave the Zips their only lead of the game at 14-10.

I think the punter rolled out and somebody blocked it, Zips freshman linebacker Brian Wagner said. It was a good play and coach made a good call.

We got the block and momentum was on our side. We just didn’t capitalize on it.

Akron’s momentum became brief as Inidana scored right before the end of the first half on a Ben Chappell 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mitchell Evans giving the Hoosiers a 17-14 lead.

Chappell, a junior, threw for 163 yards and two touchdowns against the Zips.

The Hoosiers erupted in the second half scoring 3 touchdowns – two coming on the ground.

The Hoosier offensive rushing attack was led by running backs Darius Willis and Trea Burgess.

Willis, a freshman, led the team with 66 yards rushing and one touchdown while Burgess, a junior, contributed with 59 yards rushing and one touchdown.

The Zips rushing attack was, again, led by Rodgers who rushed for the only touchdown.

We’ve got to make a huge stride rushing the ball way better than that, Brookhart said. We were running a pretty good clip by the end of last year basically with the same group, so there’s no excuse for that.

Brookhart said that, in the second half, the offense put the defense in multiple bad positions.

I think the defense played their butts off, but, in the second half were given awful field positions to have to defend which made things difficult, Brookhart said. But, you still have to stop them.

The Zips will look to get back to their winning ways when they travel to Mt. Pleasant, Mich. to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas.

The Chippewas come into the game with a 2-1 record.

Kickoff is scheduled for Sept. 26 at 3:30 p.m.

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