BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- What looked so promising early spiraled into more of the same for the Akron Zips. The Bowling Green Falcons came back from a halftime deficit to remain undefeated in Mid-American Conference play with a 31-14 victory.

Whatever swagger Akron had after a victory over James Madison, and last-minute losses to Michigan and Louisiana-Lafayette was gone by the end of this one as BG had its way the entire second half.

"What we have to do is complete a whole game, every quarter,'' Akron quarterback Kyle Pohl said. "That's tough for any team to do, play a complete game, but that's obviously what we have to do to win.''

The Zips have earned their style points this season, and continue to get their share of improvement kudos. But none of that comes with a victory.

"They are a lot more physical than they have been,'' BG head coach Dave Clawson said. "That game was a battle.''

An Akron team that piled up 199 yards of first-half offense against the No. 1 defense in the MAC could generate just 97 after that. A team that scored touchdowns on its first two possessions could not score again.

An Akron defense that amassed six stunning sacks in the first half against the Falcons got none in the second half, while allowing 238 yards and 21 points. Even at the end, as the clock was ticking down, the Falcons were taking a knee at Akron's 15.

"They overpowered us in the second half,'' Akron head coach Terry Bowden admitted. "Our kids are really frustrated right now."

That frustration showed on third downs. In the opening half when Akron was building its lead the Zips were four-of-seven on third downs. In the second half Akron was just two of six.

"That was our chance to take the game to them,'' Bowden said.

But failure to keep drives alive doomed the Zips.

Akron had a 14-3 lead late in the opening half, and 14-10 advantage at halftime behind two first-quarter touchdowns and a defense that sacked BG quarterback Matt Johnson six times before intermission.

But none of that offensive magic or defensive pressure showed itself in the third quarter until the Falcons, behind the rushing and receiving exploits from tailback Travis Greene, had scored on two straight drives to take a 24-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

Akron had a golden opportunity at the start of the fourth quarter with a 13-play, 74-yard drive that got to BG's one inch line. But instead of a third-down plunge into the line for a touchdown and third-down conversion. The Zips went to play-action out of the shotgun and was nearly intercepted.

Needing a field goal Akron went for a chip shot 17-yarder. But it bounced off the left upright leaving the Zips with Zip and the Falcons with a two-possession cushion, the ball and the clock ticking away.

"That's always discouraging, coming out of there with no points,'' Pohl said. "We came out a little flat in the second half. They made some adjustments, and played us physical."

An eight-minute scoring drive followed, ending with an 11-yard Greene TD run for a 31-14 advantage. Greene finished with 142 yards rushing and a TD plus 71 yards receiving with a TD.

Akron's defense held the Falcons on three down to start the game. Then three plays later quarterback Kyle Pohl found receiver L.T. Smith behind BG's secondary for an easy 51-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead. It marked Akron's first touchdown in the first quarter all season.

The Falcons (4-1, 2-0) came right back with back-to-back rushing plays covering 14 and 32 yards to Akron's 29. But true to the character of the league, BG abandoned that ground success and went to the pass. Five plays and four passes later the Falcons needed a 29-yard field goal from Tyler Tate to cut Akron's lead down to 7-3.

That didn't last long. The Zips (1-4, 0-1) marched down the field again vs. the No. 1 defense in the league, 72 yards in 12 plays, for a second touchdown and 14-3 lead, courtesy of a three-yard Pohl TD run.

Akron's offense slowed a bit after that, but not the defense as the Zips earned four sacks well before halftime with defensive end C.J. James causing the most havoc with three of the sacks.

The sack total grew to six by the break, but it was not enough to stop a late 10-play, 65-yard TD drive by the Falcons. It ended with a 22-yard bobbling catch from Shaun Joplin for a TD that cut Akron's lead down to 14-10 with 1:41 at halftime.

The Zips opened the second half going three and out. The Falcons promptly took the ball and showed their halftime adjustments; basically, more of Travis Greene. He delivered 52 yards rushing and receiving on an 11-play 69-yard touchdown drive that ended with a two-yard William Houston plunge for a 17-14 Bowling Green lead.

A six-play, 60-yard drive with Greene taking a shovel pass 30 yards for a touchdown and 24-14 lead for the Falcons with 1:41 to go in the third quarter.

At that point Greene was already in the books for 105 yards rushing and 71 yards in receptions. BG quarterback Matt Johnson, who was 7 of 19 including sacks in the opening half, was 8 of 8 in the third quarter for 123 yards as Akron had no sacks.

Once Akron imploded to start the fourth quarter, the Falcons milked the clock got another score and kept their MAC East Division title hopes glowing.