AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) _ Playing its first major-college game in 29 years and led by its third-string quarterback, the University at Buffalo threw a scare into Akron before falling 17-10 in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams Saturday night.

Buffalo cut Akron's lead to 17-10 with 11:49 left in the game on a 32-yard pass from sophomore Joe Freedy to flanker Drew Haddad. Freedy, thrust into the starting role after the top two quarterbacks were injured in preseason practice, completed 6 of 17 passes for 64 yards.

Akron, coming off a 70-24 loss to Penn State in its opener, missed a 37-yard field goal attempt with 5:44 to play, giving Buffalo one more chance to tie it. But the Bulls sputtered and had to punt.

Buffalo was making its debut in Division I-A; the school dropped football after going 2-9 in 1970. The program was reinstated at the Division III level in 1977 and moved to I-AA in 1993.

The Zips scored on their first possession when quarterback Butchie Washington capped a 72-yard drive with a 19-yard run with 9:31 left in the first quarter. The Zips added to their lead with a 20-yard field goal by Zac Derr early in the second quarter.

Brandon Payne scored on a 1-yard run for a 17-3 Akron lead with 3:14 left in the third quarter. The Zips used seven running backs to rush for 192 yards including Payne's 82.

Washington completed 13 of 16 passes for 146 of Akron's 338 total yards. Buffalo totaled 189 yards, 125 on the ground.

The Bulls went three-and-out twice in the first quarter but Buffalo fans cheered when the team picked up its first down of the game on a 5-yard run by Freedy early in the second quarter.

The Bulls used a fake punt to set up their first points. Cornerback Tory Smith ran 34 yards to the Akron 25, and Scott Keller kicked a 33-yard field goal with 6 seconds left in the half to cut the Akron lead to 10-3.