Western Michigan Broncos vs Akron Zips Box Score on Oct 15, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 15, 2016

Running back Jarvion Franklin gained a career-high 281 yards on 33 carries, and 24th-ranked Western Michigan held host Akron to only 283 yards of total offense in a 41-0 victory Saturday afternoon.

The win improves the Broncos' record to 7-0, their best start since 1941. Western Michigan is also 3-0 in the Mid-American Conference while Akron is 2-1 with a 4-3 overall record.

One of the few miscues for Western Michigan was a turnover after going the first six games of the season without one. A fumble by running back Davon Tucker was recovered by Akron defensive end Daumantas Venckus with 10:42 left in the second quarter.

The Broncos were the only remaining team in the country without a turnover. The six-game stretch was the longest by any team at any point in a season since at least 2004. The previous best streak to start a season was Oregon State in 2010, as the Beavers started four games without a turnover.

Western Michigan, led by the balanced attack of quarterback Zach Terrell and Franklin, scored on its first four possessions to take control of the game. Terrell completed 21 of 31 pass attempts for 207 yards and two scores in the game.

The Broncos led 21-0 with 14:28 left in the second quarter, outgaining Akron in total yards 210-14 at that point. Akron quarterback Tra'Von Chapman accounted for all of the Zips' yards throwing for seven yards and running for seven.

The Broncos, playing as a ranked team for the first time in school history, came prepared reaching the end zone on drives of 10 and 16 plays among their first four scoring possessions.

They took the opening drive into the end zone with the 10-play, 75-yard possession culminating on a 1-yard run by Terrell. A 16-play, 70-yard drive that spanned 6:48 between the first and second quarters showed how effective Western Michigan's offense was against Akron, ranked No. 109 nationally in total defense entering the game.

After the Zips failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 at their 45-yard line with 13:33 left in the second period, Franklin rushed for 31 yards before Tucker scored on a 13-yard run to increase the lead to 27-0. The extra-point attempt with 12:54 left in the half failed, one of the few miscues by the Broncos to that point.

NOTES: Western Michigan is ranked in the Top 25 in both the USA Today Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Poll for the first time in program history. The Broncos entered the game ranked No. 23 in the coaches poll and No. 24 in the AP. ... Western Michigan began the season 6-0 for the first time since 1941, when the Broncos started 8-0. ... Western Michigan WR Corey Davis came into the weekend the active leading receiver in the FBS with 4,374 yards. He holds the all-time MAC receiving record and was 631 yards away from the all-time FBS receiving record before the game against Akron. ... Since 1979, Akron has faced 27 nationally ranked teams, going 1-26. The Zips' sole victory was a 34-20 win over No. 25 Marshall at the Rubber Bowl on Nov. 2, 2002. ... Western Michigan is the first nationally ranked team to play at Akron's InfoCision Stadium since it opened in 2009.