End zone D aids Akron defeat of Toledo 31-29

Published Nov. 29, 2013 3:51 p.m. ET

foxsports

Bryce Cheek broke up a 2-point conversion pass and Andrew Pratt recovered the ensuing onside kick as Akron denied a Toledo comeback 31-29 in the final minute on Friday.

Kyle Pohl passed for 259 yards and three touchdowns as the Zips (5-7, 4-4 Mid-American Conference) closed the season with three straight wins.

Toledo (7-5, 5-3), previously knocked out of the Mid-American race, was hoping to improve its bowl chances with eight wins. Terrance Owens answered Pohl with two scores in the final 5:37, hitting Bernard Reedy from the 28, and guiding a 10-play drive capped by a Marc Remy run from the 3 with 59 seconds left before Cheek and Pratt saved the win.

The Zips trailed 7-0 and 10-7 early, but after three unanswered scores led 24-10 in the third quarter. After Toledo lost the ball on downs in the fourth, Pohl fired a 35-yarder and a 31-17 lead.