The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Riding A Four-Game Winning Streak
October 10 | Football
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AKRON - This week, the Mid-American Conference's two up-start programs are on a collision course. And interestingly enough, a rematch in the Dec. 2 MAC Championship Game is not out of the question.
Currently 4-2 overall and 3-0 vs. MAC East opponents, the Akron Zips have survived the road and now settle in for four straight home games, beginning this Saturday against Northern Illinois. Akron has ridden an emotional roller-coaster to four straight wins, including road victories at Ohio and Bowling Green. The Zips mounted two goal line stands in the fourth quarter to turn back Bowling Green, 27-21, last Saturday at Doyt Perry Stadium.
"I don't know if I've ever seen a more courageous stand on the goal line," remarked Zip coach Lee Owens.
The Huskies, now 3-2 (1-0 MAC West), roared back Saturday to pound Central Florida, 40-20, in DeKalb, Ill. Northern's two losses: Northwestern and Auburn - two ranked teams on the road.
It's been a while since the Zips and Huskies have crossed swords - in fact, not since 1996 (before Northern rejoined the MAC) when Akron stopped NIU, 34-17, at Huskie Stadium. The 1997 season was the low point in the reconstruction of these two programs. Akron slipped from 4-7 in '96 to 2-9. Northern went 0-11. A lot has changed since then.
But both programs now are reaping the fruits of their labor. Both head coaches - Akron's Owens and NIU's Joe Novak - have exhibited patience and persistence. Both teams enjoyed breakthrough seasons in 1999: Akron 7-4, Northern 5-6.
Football Game Day Info
Date: Oct. 14, 2000
Site: Akron, Ohio
Stadium: Rubber Bowl (35,202)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Team Records: UA is 4-2, 3-0 in the MAC-E; NIU is 3-2, 1-0
MAC-W
Radio: ESPN 1350-AM. Steve French and Joe Dunn are the talent
TV: None
Series: 3-3
Zip Football Quick Facts
Location: Akron, Ohio (NE Ohio, pop. 223,000)
Enrollment: 23,264
Founded: 1870
Conference: Mid-American
President: Dr. Luis M. Proenza
Interim AD: Mike Rodriguez
Head Coach: Lee Owens
Alma Mater: Bluffton, 1977
Age: 44
6th Yr. at Akron: 23-38
Overall: same
1999: 7-4, 5-3 MAC (3rd East)
HS Record: 89-32-2 (11 yrs.)
Offense: Offset-I
Defense: Flex 50
NIU Coach: Joe Novak
At NIU: 11-38, 5th season
Overall: same
Zip Sports Information
Phone: (330) 972-7468
FAX: (330) 374-8844
Web Site: www.GoZips.com
Statistical Comparison of Akron-Northern
Illinois
Total Offense - UA: 393.7; NIU: 391.6
Rushing Offense - UA: 181.2; NIU: 191.8
Passing Offense - UA: 212.5; NIU: 199.8
Total Yield - UA: 413.2; NIU: 319.4
Rushing Yield - UA: 222.5; NIU: 118.8
Passing Yield - UA: 190.7; NIU: 200.6
MEDICAL UPDATE: The Zips came out of the Bowling Green game in good shape physically. Reserve QB Ryan Uhlenhake (broken right ankle Aug. 14) dressed for the Bowling Green game.
MAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Two Zips were nominated for MAC Player of the Week, after Saturday's 27-21 win at Bowling Green: OFFENSIVE- Butchie Washington (career-high three touchdown passes, 260 yards total offense), DEFENSIVE- DB Rich Reliford (game-saving tackles on two 4th-and-goal at the 1 situations, team-high 13 total tackles).
BG GAME NOTES: The Zips won their fourth straight game, equaling last year's long streak ... Akron has not won five in a row since 1985 ... Zips had four quarterback sacks, equaling their season total going into BG ... Junior whip linebacker Ed March (Uniontown/Green) had a career-high 11 tackles, including two sacks ... Homecoming spoilers: the Zips won at Ball State and Navy last fall to put a damper on alumni festivities. Akron turned the trick again at Bowling Green ... Senior linebacker Mike Hughes (New Middletown/Cardinal Mooney) scored his second career defensive touchdown taking an INT back 26 yards for a score ... Hughes' TD was the first INT return for a score since Dwight Smith took one back last season against Ohio (Oct. 9) ... Quarterback Butchie Washington (Columbus/Beechcroft) topped 400 career completions ... Washington tossed a career-high three touchdown passes, 28 for his career ties the Akron mark set by Tom Boggs from 1955-57 ... Butchie also is #2 in the MAC in pass efficiency at 129.7, trailing only Miami's Mike Bath.
VETERAN CREW: There are 20 seniors on this year's Akron squad, with 11 of the 20 being starters. The Zips' captains for the 2000 season are: FB Tony McCray (Akron/Buchtel), DB Rich Reliford (Bolingbrook, Ill.), DB Dwight Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central) and QB Butchie Washington (Columbus/ Beechcroft) all seniors. McCray is the younger brother of former Zip captain Andre McCray and might be the fastest fullback in the MAC.
OFF THE CUFF: Two of the most offensively balanced teams in America meet Saturday ... the Huskies are averaging better than 190 yards rushing and almost 200 passing ... the Zips are averaging slightly more than two yards per game more on offense than NIU, but the Zips are at 212.5 passing and 181.2 rushing ... Home Sweet Turf: The Zips will play on artificial turf the rest of the way, even if they advance to the MAC Championship Game and the Motor City Bowl ... Zip backs Brandon Payne (119.0) and Jimmie Gray (82.7) have averaged 201.7 ground yards together on turf ... on natural grass, Payne (55.0) and Gray (36.0) have combined to average 91.0 yards ... the Zips are a plus-7 in turnover margin and lead the MAC with 10 INTs ... Akron did not turn the ball over at Bowling Green ... the Zips have lost three fumbles in six games ... Akron doubled their season sack total at BG with four ... rookies Doug Sutton and Dwayne Lefall each have 1 1/2 quarterback sacks .. the Zips used 55 of the 60 players who traveled to Bowling Green ... redshirt freshman quarterback Micah Faler (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) completed his first college pass Saturday for 17 yards to Jake Schifino.
SERIES: 3-3. Zips won 34-17 in DeKalb in 1996 in the last meeting. This will be the first MAC contest between Akron and Northern.
REPORTING FOR ACTIVE DUTY: Two true freshmen DBs Maurice Taylor (Warren G. Harding) and Rickey McKenzie (Elkhart, Ind.) were activated for the Miami game and saw duty on special teams. Both traveled to Bowling Green last week. Taylor and rookie DL Doug Sutton are both out of Warren G. Harding HS.
LOOK BEYOND THE STATISTICS: At first glance, the Zips' defense is yielding 413.2 yards per game (12th in the MAC). But the statistic that matters the most points allowed can not be overlooked. Zips are seventh (in the middle of the MAC's 13 teams at 25.7 ppg.). In its last five games, Akron has yielded 102 points or an average of 20.4 per game. That would have ranked 41st in the nation last week out of 115 I-A programs. Lee Owens when asked about his team's defensive yield responded: Sometimes I think we get too carried away with statistics. ... Akron opponents have drove into the red zone 22 times and come away with just 11 touchdowns ... The Zips have the #1 pass efficiency defense in the MAC (107.2) and lead the league in interceptions (10) ...
POINT ME TO THE BURGH: Both from Pittsburgh, Pa., and both have produced plenty of points for the Zips sophomore tailback Brandon Payne (Woodland Hills) and junior place kicker Zac Derr (Shaler). Both are among Akron's top 15 all-time leading scorers and have combined for 286 points.
RECORD WATCH: Wide receiver Lavel Bailey caught his 120th career pass vs. Bowling Green and trails all-time leader Dan Ruff by seven receptions. His career totals for receptions (120), yardage (2,193) and touchdowns (17) are all second on UA's leader board, trailing one man: Ruff (1967-70). Ruff's numbers: 127, 2,531 and 27 are all within striking distance. Bailey enjoyed his ninth career 100-yard receiving game (his second of the season) against BG (6 recs, 108 yds, 1 TD). He had six grabs for 131 yards and two TDs against UCF.
Vs. BG, tailback Brandon Payne was shut out from scoring for the first time this season. Payne piled up a career-high 188 yards (24 carries) on the ground, with seven runs of more than 10 yards against Miami. With his career-rushing total at 1,367 yards (80.4 yds/game), Payne's career point total stands at 128 (14th place on the UA career scoring list). Currently at 87.0 rushing yds/game, he is aiming to become Akron's first Div. I-A 1,000-yard rusher.
Vs. BG, quarterback Butchie Washington, already the UA record holder for career completions (409), passing yardage (5,653) and career total offense (5,921), enjoyed his 21st career 150-yard passing game against BG and will make his 34th consecutive start vs. Northern Illinois the second longest streak in Division I-A (36, Jason McKinley, Houston). Washington has thrown for 200-plus yards in five of Akron's six games to date. On his current pace, he'll top 2,000 passing yards this fall for the first time in his career. His 28 career TD passes are equal the Akron mark set by Tom Boggs (1955-57).
Also vs. BG, junior PK Zac Derr saw his string of 6-for-6 field goals snapped, but added three XPs and is in seventh place on the all-time Akron scoring chart (158 points). He had 24 points in the wins over Ohio and Miami.
WATCH LISTS: Three Zips have been nominated for national awards. Zip senior defensive back Dwight Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central) is on the 40-man Watch List for the Jim Thorpe Award. Smith, a top 20 pick at his position by The Sporting News and rated the nation's 14th best corner by rivals.com, currently leads the nation with eight interceptions. A second-team All-MAC selection last fall, Smith is the second Zip (Andre McCray having been tabbed in 1998) in three years to be listed by the Thorpe Award, which recognizes the nation's premier defensive back.
Sophomore tailback Brandon Payne's (Rankin, Pa./ Woodland Hills) is on the Watch List for the Doak Walker Award, which recognizes the nation's outstanding running back. The 1999 MAC Freshman of the Year rushed for 845 yards last fall and ranked second in the league in scoring with 14 touchdowns.
Sure-handed Tim Ritley (Perry/Lake Perry) has been nominated for the inaugural John Mackey Award, symbolic of the country's outstanding tight end. A top candidate for Academic All-American, Ritley has eight receptions for 135 yards to date and has 28 career catches and three touchdowns in two-plus seasons. He also had key blocks to spring scoring runs against UCF.
In addition, senior captain Rich Reliford (Bolingbrook, Ill.) has been nominated for the National Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship Awards.
THINK YOU'RE BUSY?: Akron senior captain Rich Reliford learned on August 28 that he and his wife, LaToya, are expecting twins one boy, one girl in early January. Reliford, a defensive back out of Bolingbrook, Ill., carries a 3.03 GPA as a mechanical engineering major. Richard was speechless when the doctor told us, says LaTonya, also a University student. I'd never seen him like that.
1-2 PUNCH I: The 1999 MAC Freshman of the Year, Brandon Payne (Rankin, Pa./Woodland Hills) got off to a slow start, but then erupted for 138 yards on 25 tries vs. UCF and then a career-high 188 yards (his fourth career 100-yard game) against Miami. The former Big 33 pick is at 87.0 yards per contest (fourth in the MAC) and also has 12 receptions for 102 yards.
Senior Jimmie Gray (Cleveland Heights), having had a career-best effort of 111 rushing yards on 16 carries vs. UCF, just slipped out of the MAC top 10 at 59.3 yards/game. He had three straight 80-yard games to open the season.
This tandem is averaging more than 146 rushing yards and over 244 all-purpose yards (Gray 122.3, Payne 122.3) per game. Toledo's Chester Taylor (132.8) and Western Michigan's Robert Sanford (112.3) rank 1-2 among MAC rushing leaders. NIU's Thomas Hammock is fourth (90.8).
1-2 PUNCH II: How about the passing catching duo of senior Lavel Bailey and junior Jake Schifino? Thru five games, they've combined for 48 catches, 892 yards and six TDs.
THROWBACK: Dwight Smith started both ways against Miami and Bowling Green ... Smith had a 33-yard reception at Ohio ... For the Ohio game, sophomore corner Corvin Amos (Akron/East) made his first collegiate start ... Rich Reliford moved from CB to free safety, Mike Hughes moved from SS to Rover LB and Brad Detwiler drew the start at SS, Lou Mackey moved from Rover to MLB.
SENIOR MEMBER: Zip offensive guard Jeremiah Danielson (American Samoa/City College of San Francisco) turned 28 Sept. 28. Next to Florida State's Chris Weinke, Danielson is the second oldest player in Division I-A after having served four years in the Navy, including two-plus years with the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. He enrolled at City College of San Francisco in January of 1997 and joined the Zips for spring semester, 1999.
MID-AMERICAN CONF. ROUNDUP
Last Week's Schedule
Thursday (10/5)
W. Michigan 30, Marshall 10
Saturday (10/7)
Akron 27, Bowling Green 21
Kent 24, C. Michigan 21 OT
Ball State 15, Miami 10
Toledo 42, E. Michigan 14
Ohio 42, Buffalo 20
No. Illinois 40, UCF 20
This Week's Schedule
No. Illinois at Akron, 7:00
E. Michigan at Ball State, 1:00
Bowling Green at Miami, 2:00
Ohio at Kent, 2:00
Marshall at Toledo, 7:00
Idle- Buffalo, W. Mich., C. Mich.
Next Week's Schedule
Connecticut at Akron, 7:00
Ball State at Buffalo, 1:00
No. Illinois at W. Michigan, 1:00
C. Michigan at Ohio, 2:00
E. Michigan at Bowling Green, 7:00
Kent at Marshall, 7:00
Idle- Miami, Toledo
2000 MAC Standings
East Division Conf* Overall Akron 3-0 4-2
Marshall 1-0 2-3
Miami 1-1 3-3
Ohio 1-1 3-3
Bowling Green 1-2 1-5
Buffalo 1-2 1-5
Kent 0-2 1-5
West Division Conf* Overall W. Michigan 1-0 5-1
Northern Illinois 1-0 3-2
Toledo 2-1 5-1
E. Michigan 0-1 1-4
C. Michigan 0-1 1-5
Ball State 0-1 1-4
*Conf record will count only games within the division. Cross-over games will be used in the event of a three-way tie.
MAC Championship Game, Dec. 2 Huntington, W. Va.
Motor City Bowl, Dec. 27 Pontiac Silverdome
OCT. 26, 1996
Akron 34, Northern Illinois 17
Huskie Stadium
Zips 17 0 7 10 34 Huskies 3 7 7 0 17
DEKALB, ILL. - Yasin Reeder accumulated 233 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns in leading the Zips to a bizarre 34-17 road win at Northern Illinois.
The win provided several milestones for UA under Lee Owens: 1. first road win, 2. first back-to-back wins, 3. most points scored, 4. highest total offense (452 yards). The victory snapped a 17-game road skid dating back to 1993.
The Zips had apparently gone on top 13-0 early in the first quarter when Jaiye Murdock blocked a NIU punt and Julius Lancaster recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. The officials however ruled Lancaster's recovery to be out-of-bounds and instead awarded a safety.
Still in the first quarter, NIU punting. Kent Baker's pooch kick is ruled to have touched UA's George Germany and is covered by the Huskies inside the Akron 1-yard line. On third-and-goal at the 1, Northern back Scott Florence is chopped down for a one-yard loss by Andre McCray, and the home team settles for a 19-yard field goal to make it 9-3.
Up 24-17 to start the fourth quarter, and seemingly unable to shake Northern, Akron went to its ground attack and put the game away with two long clock-eating drives, scoring 10 points.
Fullback Chris Rooney chalked up his second 100-yard game of the season with 103 and one TD on 15 tries. Reeder's 72-yard KOR to open the game, set up Rooney's 8-yard TD run. The key play in setting up the Zips' third-quarter TD was a 46-yard end-around pass from Willie Spencer to Matt Thiry.
Scoring Summary
UA Rooney 8 run (Stidham kick), 13:29
UA Punt Blocked , safety, 12:10
NI Clark 19 FG, 3:57
UA Reeder 3 run (Gromek run), 0:51
NI Talley 4 run (Clark kick), 6:39
UA Reeder 9 run (Stidham kick), 5:55
NI Talley 5 pass from Barker (Clark kick), 2:00
UA Reeder 3 run (Stidham kick), 12:10
UA Stidham 26 FG, 2:41
Team Stats NI UA First Downs 13 26 Rushing yards 42-174 62-278 Passes 10-20-1 10-20-2 Passing yards 62 174 Total offense 62-236 82-452 Punts-avg 8-30.4 4-51.0 Fumbles-lost 2-1 4-2 Penalties-yards 6-53 6-45 Possession time 27:16 32:44
Individual leaders Rushing UA: Rooney 15-103,
Reeder 21-99; NI: Talley 28-161.
Passing UA: Gromek 9-19-2-128; NI: Barker 10-20-1-62.
Receiving UA: Scott 2-40, Whitt 2-36, Thiry 1-46; NI: Mitchell
2-26, Jacoby 3-20.
OCT. 7, 2000
Akron 27, Bowling Green 21
Doyt Perry Stadium
Zips 14 7 6 0 27 Falcons 7 7 7 0 21
BOWLING GREEN - Two fourth-quarter defensive stops inside the one yard line enabled Akron to defeat Bowling Green, 27-21, in a Mid-American Conference East Division football game Oct. 7 at Doyt Perry Stadium.
The Zips, now 4-2, won their fourth straight game. Bowling Green slipped to 1-5 (1-2 MAC East).
The hero was senior captain and free safety Rich Reliford. Trailing 27-21, Bowling Green drove 79 yards to the Akron 1. Facing 4th-and-goal, BG running back John Gibson was stoned at the goal line by Reliford, defensive end Derek Wilborn, defensive tackle Chris Smith and whip linebacker Ed March with 9:24 left to play. But it was Reliford who would not allow Gibson to push the football through the plane of the goal line.
"The goal line was here, and I'm talking centimeters, probably micrometers. I'm looking at the ref like 'please' (don't signal a touchdown)," explained Reliford. That was goal line stand #1.
The Zips took over on the one foot line and went three plays and out. After a short punt, BG was back in business at the Akron 36. The Falcons drove the Zips 7 and gained a first down. Gibson churned inside for six yards on first down and it appeared BG was seconds away from tying the contest at 27-all and having an opportunity to kick the PAT for the lead.
But Akron's defense would not yield. Gibson, who rushed for a career-high 149 yards on 35 carries, was stopped cold on second and third down inside the 1. Now facing 4th-and-goal, with less than three minutes to play, Bowling Green went with a tight formation, full-house backfield and gave the ball to Gibson one more time.
A crack opened for the BG back and it seemed he would score standing when a blur met him at the goal line. Reliford stood up Gibson at the one foot line and the Falcons were denied again. That was goal line stand #2. With 2:25 to play, the Zips managed to grind out one first down and kill the clock.
"I don't know if I've ever seen a more courageous stand on the goal line," remarked Zip coach Lee Owens.
Butchie Washington had a career day throwing a personal best three touchdown passes. In the process, he tied the Akron career mark for scoring passes, 28, set by Tom Boggs from 1955-57. The Zips' defense also added a huge play when senior linebacker Mike Hughes returned an interception 26 yards for Akron's second TD.
Scoring Summary
UA Schifino 25 pass from Washington (Derr kick), 9:15
BG Bautista 5 pass from Sahm (Knapp kick), 4:43
UA Hughes 26 INT return (Derr kick), 0:00
BG Gibson 1 run (Knapp kick), 11:44
UA Ritley 14 pass from Washington (Derr kick), 2:44
UA Bailey 21 pass from Washington (kick failed), 12:19
UA Gerling 34 pass from Sahm (Knapp kick), 5:20
Team Stats UA BG
First Downs 17 22 Rushing yards 34-85 50-159 Passes 17-27-0 15-24-1 Passing yards 259 185 Total offense 61-344 74-344 Punts-avg 5-38.8 4-34.5 Fumbles-lost 2-0 0-0 Penalties-yards 8-88 2-10 Possession time 24:39 35:21
Individual leaders
Rushing UA: Payne 17-66, Washington 7-18; BG: Gibson 35-149,
Harris 4-30.
Passing UA: Washington 16-26-0-242, Faler 1-1-17-0; BG: Sahm
15-24-1-185.
Receiving UA: Bailey 6-108, Schifino 5-87, Ritley 2-33, Payne
2-18, McCray 2-13; BG: Bautista 8-104.
2000 Zips' Football Schedule (4-2, 3-0 MAC-East)
Sept. 2 Virginia Tech 52, Akron 23 Sept. 9 Central Michigan 17, Akron 7 Sept. 16 Akron 35, UCF 24 Sept. 23 Akron 23, Ohio 20* Sept. 30 Akron 37, Miami 20* Oct. 7 Akron 27, Bowling Green 21* Oct. 14 No. Illinois at Akron 7:00 pm Oct. 21 Connecticut at Akron 7:00 pm Oct. 28 Marshall at Akron* (HC)(TV) 7:00 pm Nov. 11 Buffalo at Akron* 7:00 pm Nov. 18 Akron at Kent* 2:00 pm *MAC East game All Times are Eastern
(In Mid-American Conference play)
UA 100-Yard Rushing Games
Rusher Att Yds Opponent
Brandon Payne 24 188 v. Miami, 00 Brandon Payne 34 161 v. Kent, 99 Mike Lagasse 26 139 v. Miami, 98 Greg Lomax 21 174 at C. Michigan, 98 Greg Lomax 16 100 at Kent, 98 Greg Lomax 11 125 v. Ball St., 98 Greg Lomax 18 173 v. Kent, 97 Greg Lomax 15 150 v. Ohio, 97 Greg Lomax 15 117 at Marshall, 97 Yasin Reeder 23 201 at E. Michigan, 96 Yasin Reeder 15 140 v. Bowling Gr., 96 Chris Rooney 10 102 at Kent, 96 Greg Lomax 29 105 at Toledo, 95 Tommy Dunn 26 132 v. Kent, 95 Terrel Dixon 23 136 v. Ohio, 95 DeShawn Brown 29 146 v. Ohio, 94 DeShawn Brown 20 122 v. C. Michigan, 94 DeShawn Brown 10 177 at Ohio, 93 Symeon Floyd 20 124 v. Miami, 93 Marcel Weems 23 124 at C. Michigan, 93 Marcel Weems 12 146 at Ohio, 92 Marcel Weems 25 149 at W. Michigan, 92
UA 200-Yard Passing Games
Passer C-A Yds Opponent
B. Washington 16-26 242 AT BG, 00 B. Washington 9-19 214 v. Miami, 00 B. Washington 20-32 258 at Ohio, 00 B. Washington 11-23 233 at Miami, 99 B. Washington 13-19 241 v. BGSU, 99 B. Washington 22-41 284 v. EMU, 98 B. Washington 16-38 304 at Ohio, 98 B. Washington 18-31 243 v. Marshall, 98 Greg Gromek 16-24 263 v. C.Michigan, 97 Brian Magrell 17-25 202 v. EMU, 95 Brian Magrell 25-40 347 v. Ball St., 94 Marcel Weems 10-19 244 v. Kent, 93
UA 100-Yard Receiving Games
Receiver Rec Yds Opponent
Lavel bailey 6 108 at BG, 00 Jake Schifino 3 123 v. Miami, 00 Lavel Bailey 4 153 at Miami, 99 Lavel Bailey 4 145 v. W. Michigan, 99 Lavel Bailey 5 112 v. BGSU, 99 Lavel Bailey 5 122 v. EMU, 99 Lavel Bailey 8 124 v. EMU, 98 Lavel Bailey 12 201 v. Marshall, 98 Willie Spencer 8 106 at Marshall, 97 Willie Spencer 5 102 v. C. Michigan, 97 Devon Scott 5 122 v. Bowling Gr., 96 Eddie Alford 11 135 at W. Michigan, 95 Eddie Alford 9 141 v. E. Michigan, 95 DeShawn Brown 10 154 at Ball State, 94 Kenny Chapman 3 124 v. E. Michigan, 93 Kenny Chapman 7 123 at W. Michigan, 93 Kenny Chapman 6 137 v. Kent, 93 Jeff Blakely 3 103 v. Kent, 93
UA 250-Yard All-Purpose Games
Player Yds Opponent
Greg Lomax 259 at C. Michigan, 98 Yasin Reeder 255 at E. Michigan, 96
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