Ogbonna accounts for 3 touchdowns, Buffalo stops Akron rally for 41-30 win

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — C.J. Ogbonna threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead Buffalo to its seventh-straight win over Akron, 41-30 on Saturday.

After the Zips shocked the Bulls with an opening drive touchdown, a 29-yard pass from Ben Finley to Ahmarian Granger, Buffalo (5-4, 3-2 Mid-American Conference) reeled off 38-straight points.

Ogbonna tied the game midway through the first quarter with an 18-yard pass to JJ Jenkins His 2-yard toss to Jake Orlando made it 24-7 midway through the second quarter.

Jacquez Barksdale had a 1-yard touchdown plunge in the first quarter and Al-Jay Henderson went 45-yards in the third before Ogbonna went 8 yards late in the third to make it 38-7.

Finley had touchdown passes of 28 and 25 yards to Adrian Norton and then a 28-yard connection with Kyan Mason, plus a pair of two-point conversions in the fourth quarter to pull the Zips (2-7, 1-4) within 38-30 with 4:39 left.

The Zips held the Bulls to a three-and-out but fumbled the punt and Buffalo recovered on the 22. They turned that into a 36-yard field goal from Upton Bellenfant to end the threat.

Ogbonna was 17 of 29 for 210 yards and Henderson ran for 107 yards for Buffalo.

Finley was 22-of-41 passing for 354 yards with the four touchdowns with an interception and was sacked three times. The Zips also lost three fumbles and were stopped on downs three times.

___

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football.

Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up