Akron football | Zips miss chance at Big Ten upset, suffer quadruple-OT loss at Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Unable to take advantage of a chance to win at the end of regulation, the University of Akron football team missed a chance to upset a Big Ten team Saturday night.
The Zips lost at Indiana, as the Hoosiers pulled out a 29-27 win in quadruple overtime on their home field.
Looking for their first big win under second-year head coach Joe Moorhead, the Zips instead suffered a gut-wrenching loss when the Hoosiers converted a 2-point conversion play in the fourth OT and Akron was unable to match them on its try.
Indiana quarterback Tayven Jackson turned a trick play on a mandatory 2-point conversion in the fourth overtime into a scoring pass to DeQuece Carter. Akron’s conversion pass on the ensuing possession fell incomplete.
Cam Camper caught four passes for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Christian Turner ran 13 times for 67 yards and a TD as the Hoosiers (2-2) recovered from blowing a 17-10 lead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Indiana was outgained 474-282 on a night the teams combined for 15 penalties and five turnovers. Louis Moore shined on defense for the Hoosiers with two interceptions, one of which he returned 22 yards for a TD at the 5:56 mark of the third quarter to give Indiana a 14-10 lead.
Quarterback DJ Irons had a huge game for the Zips, with two touchdown runs to give them hopes of just their second win ever against a Big Ten team. Akron's only win against a Big Ten team came in 2018 when the Zips upset Northwestern, which went on to win the Big Ten West that season.
Irons threw for 194 yards and ran for 141 yards and two TDs Saturday. Akron led 10-7 early in the third quarter after an Irons 14-yard TD run.
Akron running back Lorenzo Lingard carried 13 times for 141 yards, including a 71-yard scoring run that made it 17-17 with 3:34 left in regulation.
The Zips (1-3) got the ball back late in regulation and drove deep into Indiana territory before Dante Jackson missed a 32-yard field goal on the final play of regulation.
Akron opened the first overtime with a 10-yard touchdown run by Irons on a third-and-9 play. Indiana responded with a 12-yard TD catch by Camper. After the Hoosiers went ahead 27-24, Jackson’s 23-yard field goal tied it after the second OT period.
At the point, under NCAA rules, each team takes turns with 2-point conversion attempts from the 3. After both failed to convert their 2-point tries in the third OT, the Hoosiers finally prevailed in the fourth OT.
Akron vs. Indiana takeaways
Akron: A 16.5-point underdog, the Zips narrowly missed out on what would have been a signature win for second-year coach Joe Moorehead as he attempts to make his mark on a program that dropped to 0-4 all time against Indiana.
Indiana: The Hoosiers’ struggles revealed a number of problems. Their two losses were understandable, considering Ohio State and Louisville are each 4-0. Akron, however, went 2-10 last season and was picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference’s East Division. The offense must improve as the Hoosiers resume Big Ten play.
Next games for Akron, Indiana
Akron: The Zips open MAC play next Saturday when they host Buffalo.
Indiana: The Hoosiers play next Saturday at Maryland.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Indiana Hoosiers football defeats University of Akron in overtime
