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  Saturday, Oct. 23 12:00pm ET
Navy has no answer for Akron comeback
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Brandon Payne scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns Saturday to spark Akron to a 35-29 comeback victory over Navy.

Jimmie Gray scored on an 11-yard run with 6:52 remaining to give the Zips their only lead of the game. Akron (6-2) trailed 29-13 after three quarters.

Payne ran six yards for a touchdown with 12:43 remaining, then caught a 2-point conversion pass to cut the gap to 29-21. On the ensuing possession Navy was forced to punt into the wind. Payne fielded the kick at his 34, spun away from a Navy defender and broke down the right sideline 66 yards for a score. Another 2-point conversion tied it with 11:05 to play.

Navy, which built a 16-0 lead in the first eight minutes, was unable to move the ball in the final quarter. The Midshipmen (2-5) finished the game without starting quarterback Brian Broadwater, who injured his right collarbone early in the third period. He stayed in the game, finally giving way to backup Brian Madden after Payne's touchdown run.

Broadwater threw for two touchdowns and ran for one before his injury. He combined with tight end Dave Rautenbach for a 56-yard touchdown in the first quarter, the longest Navy pass play of the season and the first catch by a Navy tight end this year. Broadwater topped that with a 62-yarder to Brandon Rampani later in the opening period.

Broadwater's 1-yard run at 12:50 of the second quarter gave Navy a 23-0 lead. Akron's Lavel Bailey took a pass from Butchie Washington and went 41 yards for Akron's only first-half touchdown. The teams added field goals in the second quarter, and exchanged field goals in the third quarter.

Navy's best scoring chance in the fourth period was turned aside when Tim Shubzda's 44-yard field goal attempt into a 20 mph wind hit the crossbar. It was the fourth time this season that Shubzda has hit the goal posts with a kick. He has made 7-of-14.

Bailey, whose 57-yard reception set up Payne's first touchdown, caught seven passes for 143 yards. Washington was 15-of-27 for 208. Gray rushed for 84 yards on seven carries and Payne gained 42 on 19 rushes.

Broadwater accounted for 183 yards through the air, completing 6-of-15. Navy's rushing attack, third nationally at 282 yards per game, was held to 128.

 


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