Akron's defense withers as the offense struggles in the season opening loss to Syracuse, 29-3, to start the first year of the Rob Ianello regime.
View full sizeAkron quarterback Patrick Nicely looks for running room against Syracuse on Saturday at InfoCision Stadium.AKRON, Ohio — A somewhat stubborn Akron defense could not overshadow the Zips' suspect offense as Syracuse spoiled the coaching debut of Rob Ianello with a 29-3 victory Saturday before 15,969 at InfoCision Stadium.
Syracuse used big plays and long drives to wear down Akron's defense, while the offense struggled with a barrage of penalties and minus-yardage plays that kept it from generating any rhythm.
"I'm bitterly disappointed in the outcome of the game," Ianello said. "I'm more disappointed that we didn't do the things that good football teams should do. We had way too many penalties [10 for 82 yards], and they were unforced penalties. All correctable, but certainly not things you want to happen in the game, nor what I anticipated, quite frankly."
Midway through the third quarter Akron's defense -- courtesy of a 29-yard second-quarter fumble return by Shawn Lemon and a 34-yard third-quarter interception return by Brian Wagner -- had accumulated more yardage than Akron's offense, 63 to 39. Akron had converted just one third down by halftime.
"We never seemed to quite get on schedule on offense and put ourselves in a bind," Ianello said. "It was always second-and-long, then third-and-long and they were coming after us."
View full sizeAkron head coach Rob Ianello.On the plus side, even with the defensive pressure from the Orange, Akron QB Patrick Nicely (12-of-35 for 111 yards) did not throw an interception and avoided trouble by throwing numerous passes away instead of forcing throws. Akron also did not have any fumbles.
The game-decider came late in the third quarter when Akron's best and longest potential scoring drive of seven plays for 57 yards was spoiled when Syracuse lineman Chandler Jones blocked the Zips' 39-yard field-goal attempt, which was recovered by the Orange and returned 57 yards for a touchdown and a 23-3 lead.
"From [potentially] 17-6 to 23-3 can take some wind out of your sails," Ianello said. "A huge momentum swing."
The measuring stick for both teams is a short one, but an even one. Akron of the Mid-American Conference and Syracuse of the Big East entered the season regarded as two of the worst teams in major college football. Both were picked to finish last in their conference. This was the rubber game of a three-game series where the teams split the first two games and the combined score was 56-56.
Syracuse took a 17-3 halftime lead courtesy of a 69-yard touchdown drive on its first series, a 47-yard field goal, and a 65-yard touchdown drive that concluded with five seconds left in the second quarter.
A minus-13 yard rush on the first play of the second half was enough to show the Zips had no halftime adjustments capable of altering the apparent outcome. The Orange finished with 431 yards of total offense to Akron's 166.
Akron held Syracuse tailback Delone Carter, a product of Copley, to 91 yards on 26 carries. But the Orange was balanced, rushing for 202 yards while passing for 229. The Zips finished with 55 yards rushing and 111 passing.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253