MAC East champ Miami (Ohio) edges winless Akron 20-17
Akron defense gets a pick-6
Miami (OH) QB Brett Gabbert gets hit as he throws and is picked off by John Lako, who returns it 64 yards for an Akron touchdown.
OXFORD, Ohio -- Jaylon Bester rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown and Miami (Ohio) withstood a stern challenge from winless Akron for a 20-17 victory on Wednesday night.
The RedHawks (7-4, 6-1) had already clinched the Mid-American Conference East Division berth to the MAC championship game but this victory assured an outright East title with their fifth straight win and fifth without a loss at home.
Miami had a 17-3 halftime lead over the Zips (0-11, 0-7) after a Sam Sloman 44-yard field goal and rushing touchdowns of 21 yards by Tyre Shelton and a 1-yard run by Bester.
The Zips closed within seven with a 64-yard pick-6 by John Lako before Sloman added another field goal just before the third quarter ended to make it 20-10. Kato Nelson passed 34 yards to Timothy Scippio as the Zips got within three early in the fourth quarter.
Miami's defense had five of their school-record 11 sacks on Akron's two final possessions to thwart the upset bid.
Game Information
2024 Mid-American Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 7-1 | 11-3 |
| Miami (OH) | 7-1 | 8-5 |
| Buffalo | 6-2 | 8-4 |
| Bowling Green | 6-2 | 7-5 |
| Western Michigan | 5-3 | 6-7 |
| Toledo | 4-4 | 7-5 |
| Northern Illinois | 4-4 | 7-5 |
| Akron | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Eastern Michigan | 2-6 | 5-7 |
| Central Michigan | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Ball State | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Kent State | 0-8 | 0-12 |
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