Akron’s Rally Worthy of Mid-American Title

Luke Getsy threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon with 10 seconds left to give Akron a 31-30 victory over Northern Illinois on Thursday night in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Ford Field.

Akron (7-5) overcome a national conference championship-game record 270 yards and two touchdowns by Northern Illinois tailback Garrett Wolfe to earn the first title in school history and a berth in the Motor City Bowl.

The game was as wild as the teams’ first meeting, which Akron won, 48-42, in overtime on Sept. 24. Northern Illinois also finished 7-5.

Akron’s winning drive started on its 19 with 1:41 left and no timeouts.

The Zips drove into Northern Illinois territory and Hixon beat Adriel Hansbro down the middle of the field and grabbed Getsy’s pass deep in the end zone.

The Zips had never won a football title in any conference, dating to joining the Ohio Athletic Conference in 1915.

Wolfe had 42 carries and easily broke the previous MAC title-game record of 188 yards, set by Toledo’s Chester Taylor in 2001, and the 2-year-old national record of 235 yards, set by Kansas State’s Darren Sproles.