AKRON, Ohio — In a thrilling conclusion to the Mid-American Conference regular season on Tuesday night, Akron secured a hard-fought 21-14 victory against Toledo in overtime, thanks to a decisive play by CJ Nunnally IV. Nunnally’s sack of quarterback Tucker Gleason on the final play sealed the win for the Zips, marking their first triumph over the Rockets since a narrow 31-29 victory back in November 2013.

Finishing the season with a record of 4-8 overall and 3-5 in conference play, Akron concluded the year on a positive note, achieving back-to-back wins, which was their only winning streak of the season. Conversely, Toledo, which boasted a record of 7-5 and had been bowl-eligible, faced disappointment as they dropped their last two games in the regular season.

As the game reached its critical moment, Akron took the lead 21-14 during the first play of overtime. Quarterback Ben Finley initially rolled to the right, looking to run but instead found a connection with Charles Kellom, who dashed into the end zone for the go-ahead score.

Toledo’s hopes for a win were dashed when Dylan Cunanan missed a potential game-winning 29-yard field goal attempt as time expired. He had already faced struggles earlier in the game, missing kicks from 45 and 26 yards, which ultimately contributed to the Rockets’ downfall.

The Rockets managed to tie the game at 14 in the fourth quarter, initiated by Gleason’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Torres, followed by another touchdown pass for 19 yards to Jerjuan Newton. This impressive touchdown drive encompassed seven plays and covered 92 yards, culminating with just 3:26 remaining in regulation.

Akron set the tone early, as Finley connected on a long 72-yard touchdown pass to Ahmarian Green in the first quarter, and later, Tahj Bullock powered through from the 1-yard line to score early in the fourth quarter, contributing to the tension-filled match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.