Curtis' 3 TDs lifts UMass past winless Akron 37-29

Curtis' 3 TDs lifts UMass past winless Akron 37-29

Published Sep. 28, 2019 7:45 p.m. ET

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Michael Curtis threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and UMass defeated Akron 37-29 on Saturday.

UMass (1-4) led 20-14 at intermission, but after the break, Curtis led the Minutemen on 12-play, 72-yard drive in four minutes for a 27-14 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Akron (0-5) secured favorable field position when Michael Mathieson returned it to the Zips' 37-yard line. But on the next play, Jordan Adams intercepted Robbie Kelly and returned it 45 yards to the Akron 18-yard line. A personal foul penalty on Akron moved the ball near the goal line. Curtis plunged in from two yards out on the next play for a 20-point lead.

The Zips used three different quarterbacks with Kato Nelson throwing for two touchdowns and Zach Gibson, making his collegiate debut, throwing for another.

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UMass entered the game without six players — three offensive starters and a special teams starter — after coach Walt Bell suspended them for a violation of team rules.

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