Stein, Akron get their kicks in Boise

Zips defeat Aggies

for first bowl win

Associated Press

BOISE, IDAHO

When Akron placekicker Robert Stein lost his scholarship after his freshman year, he didn’t quit. Instead, he fought his way back to the top of the depth chart without the free ride.

And after Stein made three field goals and earned MVP honors in leading Akron to a 23-21 victory over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Tuesday, coach Terry Bowden was delighted Stein stuck it out.

“He wasn’t getting the job done during spring practice going into his sophomore year, so I told him that I was giving his scholarship to a freshman,” Bowden said. “There were tears that day — from both of us. But he stayed with us and took his job back. And the next season when I knew I had to give him his scholarship back, he told me to let the other kicker keep it.”

Stein endeared himself to Bowden for his sacrifice — he also became the school’s all-time scoring leader with a 46-yard field goal with 8:15 remaining in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference. He finished his career with 268 points.

“This game today just epitomizes everything about my career here,” Stein said. “And the fact that I was able to end on a note like this is just great.”

Akron (8-5) finished with eight wins for the first time since moving up to FBS in 1987. The record came four years to the day after the school hired coach Terry Bowden.

“This is the fifth program I’ve taken over and we’ve had a tough row to hoe, but that’s what makes this one the most memorable because it’s been so hard,” Bowden said.

“When you’re a Bowden junior there aren’t many records for you to go after,” said the son of famed coach Bobby Bowden. “But I know forever that we’re the first team in Akron school history to get eight wins in (FBS), and that’s a record he ain’t ever gonna have.”

While Stein provided the difference in scoring, it was Akron’s defense that made the lead stick and help the Zips to their first bowl victory.

Brown, the MAC defensive player of the year, had eight tackles along with 11/2 sacks, 21/2 tackles for loss, and a critical forced fumble.

Utah State (6-7) mounted a comeback behind senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton, who threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Sharp with 1:12 remaining to pull to 23-21. But Akron recovered the onside kick and then stopped one final flea flicker play by Utah State as time expired.

“When you go back and look at the games where we were explosive on offense, we were scoring touchdowns (when we got down close) ... but today we didn’t produce,” Utah State coach Matt Wells said. “But I liked the fight and character of our kids who battled all the way down to the end.”

While Akron averaged less than 200 yards passing per game this season, the Zips turned to the air to score the game’s first points.

After an incompletion, Zips quarterback Thomas Woodson hit A.J. Coney on a 42-yard pass play. On the next play, Akron dug into its bag of tricks, scoring when receiver Tyrell Goodman hit Woodson with a 14-yard pass for the 7-0 lead.

Utah State struggled to generate any offense early as the Aggies, going through three-and-out for minus-5 yards on their first four possessions.

The Aggies, however, got a spark after a long punt return by Sharp set up Utah State at the Akron 31. But on third-and-8 from the Zips 18, Akron cornerback Kris Givens ripped an apparent touchdown catch out of Brandon Swindall’s arms. Utah State elected to go for a first down instead of kick a field goal, but the Akron defense held.

The Zips responded with a 12-play, 59-yard drive that ended in a 33-yard field goal by Stein, pushing their lead to 10-0.