Things couldn't have started much better or ended much worse for the Akron Zips in a 34-14 Mid-American Conference loss to Miami on Saturday, Oct. 17, in Oxford, Ohio.
After the Zips (1-6, 0-3) opened the game with an impressive 11-play, 97-yard drive for a TD on Brayden Roggow's 6-yard pass to Marcel Williams, the RedHawks (4-3, 2-1) scored 27 unanswered points to win going away.
Miami gashed Akron on the ground, averaging 9.3 yards on 35 attempts for 324 rushing yards. Rodney Nelson led the way with 144 yards and two TDs on 13 carries.
That dominance prevented the Zips from making a push, even though they led 234-65 in yards through the air on Roggow's 22-of-38 passing. Roggow also threw four costly interceptions the RedHawks turned into 21 points.
Jordan Gant led Akron with 46 yards on 15 rushes and scored the Zips' final touchdown on a 10-yard run late in the third quarter to make it 27-14.
Akron travels to Kent on Saturday, Oct. 24, for the annual "Battle for the Wagon Wheel." Kickoff will be at 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips football score at Miami. Turnovers cost Zips in MAC loss