The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Take Aim at Four Straight
October 03 | Football
AKRON - Through September, the Zips are living up to their own expectations, but there's still a lot of football left to play.
At 3-2 overall, and 2-0 in Mid-American Conference East play, the Zips have established themselves as contenders for a league championship. Coach Lee Owens, his staff and his players realize that six hurdles remain between them and playing for the MAC title Dec. 2 in Huntington, W. Va.
"I'm proud of our guys," exclaimed Owens after Akron dispatched Miami, 37-20, Saturday evening at the Rubber Bowl. "They played real hard, with lots of energy and enthusiasm."
Just the opposite of how they played Sept. 9 during a 17-7 loss at Central Michigan. And maybe that loss, as much as anything, has fueled the success the Zips now are experiencing. It was a painful, yet valuable, lesson in mental preparation, focus and it what means to go from being the hunter to being the hunted.
The Zips redoubled their efforts and played inspired football in wins over Central Florida (35-24), Ohio (23-20) and Miami - the most impressive three-game win streak in recent Akron history.
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Dwight Smith |
UA has rolled up 1,355 yards of total offense in the three games, an average of 451.7 per contest. On the other side of the ball, senior defensive back Dwight Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central) picked off seven passes in the trio of wins (eight for the season) and leads the nation in that department. The Zips have committed eight TOs to their opponents 14.
This week's opponent, Bowling Green (1-4, 1-1 MAC East), is playing with emotion as coach Gary Blackney's tenure draws to a close. The Falcons are limiting opponents to 2.9 yards per rush attempt and topped Kent, 18-11, last Saturday at Dix Stadium.
Game Day Information
Date: Oct. 7, 2000
Site: Bowling Green, Ohio
Stadium: Doyt Perry (30,599)
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. ET
Team Records: UA is 3-2, 2-0 in the MAC East; BG is 1-4, 1-1 in MAC
East
Last Week: Akron 37, Miami 20; Bowling Green 18, Kent 11
Radio: ESPN 1350-AM. Steve French and Joe Dunn are the talent
TV: None
Series: 7-4, Bowling Green
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: 22-38
Overall: same
1999: 7-4, 5-3 MAC (3rd East)
HS Record: 89-32-2 (11 yrs.)
Offense: Offset-I
Defense: Flex 50
BG Coach: Gary Blackney
At BG: 59-45-2, 10th season
Overall: same
Zip Sports Information
Phone: (330) 972-7468
FAX: (330) 374-8844
Web Site: www.GoZips.com
MEDICAL UPDATE: The Zips came out of the Miami game in good shape physically. Junior starting DT Chris Smith (shoulder) did not play at Ohio, but saw action against Miami. Reserve DE Josh Hill (sprained ankle vs. CMU) did not play vs. UCF or Ohio, but saw time against Miami. Reserve QB Ryan Uhlenhake (broken right ankle Aug. 14) out six weeks may practice this week.
MAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Three Zips were
nominated for MAC Player of the Week, after Saturday's 37-20 win
over Miami:
OFFENSIVE- Brandon Payne (career-high 188 rushing yards, 226
all-purpose, 3 rushing TDs),
DEFENSIVE- DB Dwight Smith (two INTs, two pass break-ups, huge TFL
on fourth-down play) and
SPECIAL TEAMS- PK Zac Derr (career-high 13 kicking points). Derr
won the award last week at Ohio and this week moved into eighth
place on the all-time Akron scoring chart (155 career points).
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.
RECORD WATCH: Wide receiver Lavel Bailey caught his 114th career pass vs. Miami and trails all-time leader Dan Ruff by 13 receptions. His career totals for receptions (114), yardage (2,085) and touchdowns (16) 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 eighth career 100-yard receiving game against UCF (6 recs, 131 yds, 2 TDs). He had six grabs for 92 yards against the Bobcats, including a finger-tip touchdown grab that was waived off because of a penalty.
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Brandon Payne |
Vs. Miami, tailback Brandon Payne scored his 21st career touchdown in 16 college games. Payne piled up a career-high 188 yards (24 carries) on the ground, with seven runs of more than 10 yards. With his career-rushing total at 1,301 yards (81.3 yds/game), Payne's career point total stands at 128 (14th place on the UA career scoring list). Currently at 91.2 rushing yds/game, he is on pace to become Akron's first Div. I-A 1,000-yard rusher.
Vs. Miami, quarterback Butchie Washington, already the UA record holder for career completions (393), passing yardage (5,411) and career total offense (5,661), enjoyed his 20th career 150-yard passing game against Miami and will make his 33rd consecutive start vs. Bowling Green the second longest streak in Division I-A (35, Jason McKinley, Houston). His 22 career TD passes are six shy of the Akron mark of 28 set by Tom Boggs (1955-57).
Also vs. Miami, junior PK Zac Derr, with his career-high 13 kicking points, moved into eighth place on the all-time Akron scoring chart (155 points). He's had 24 points in his last two games and has drilled six consecutive field goals.
SERIES: 7-4, Falcons. The Zips have one win at Bowling Green in 1989 by a 38-24 count. Akron won last October, 55-25, at the Rubber Bowl. The Zips have lost their last three trips to Bowling Green by a combined 157-40 margin.
POINT ME TO THE BURGH: Both are 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 283 points.
SACK TIME: The Zips are #1 in the MAC for fewest sacks allowed at five for 24 yards lost. On the flip side, the Zips have sacked opposing quarterbacks just four times for 31 yards lost, which ranks tied for 11th in the MAC.
1-2 PUNCH I: Two Zips running backs are ranked among the top five rushers in the Mid-American Conference.
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 91.2 yards per contest (third in the MAC) and also has 10 receptions for 84 yards.
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Jimmie Gray |
Senior Jimmie Gray (Cleveland Heights), having had a career-best effort of 111 rushing yards on 16 carries vs. UCF, is fifth at 70.2 yards/game. Gray's 5.3 yards/carry is tied for third in the MAC. He had three straight 80-yard games to open the season.
This tandem is averaging more than 161 rushing yards and over 257 all-purpose yards (Gray 130.2, Payne 127.4) per game. Toledo's Chester Taylor (134.6) and Western Michigan's Robert Sanford (94.2) rank 1-2 among MAC rushing leaders. NIU's Thomas Hammock is fourth (77.8).
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 37 catches, 697 yards and four TDs.
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Doug Sutton |
BY COMMITEE: With earlier injuries to defensive linemen Chris Smith (shoulder) and Josh Hill (sprained ankle), both out of Massillon, Lee Owens made the decision to activate true freshman #92 Doug Sutton (Warren G. Harding HS). The rookie had his first sack late in the Miami game. Another freshman defensive lineman Dwayne Lefall (Oakland, Calif.) also saw increased action against UCF and Ohio. A product of McClymonds HS (Bill Russell's alma mater) in the Bay Area, Lefall committed to Utah State upon graduation in 1999, but changed his mind after a coaching change at the school. Another rookie who jumped into the fray against the Golden Knights , but has seen limited action since, is Euclid grad Quentin Murdock. A defensive tackle, Murdock earned a scholarship during preseason camp. Sophomore DT Ryan Schulz (Uniontown/Lake) earned his first college start vs. UCF. Schulz played his high school ball for former Zip assistant coach Jeff Durbin at Lake. Defensive coordinator Joe Palmisano is determined to rotate fresh legs on the defensive line as these four players are going to make an impact as the season unfolds. This foursome joins veterans Jermaine Williams, Ade Edwards, Derek Wilborn, Jason Wiggins and first-year starter Ryan Gargasz.
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.
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Tim Ritley |
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.
Linebacker Louis Mackey (Richmond, Calif.) is working to be a mid-season addition to the Butkus Award Watch List. In addition, senior captain Rich Reliford (Bolingbrook, Ill.) has been nominated for the National Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship Awards.
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 are expectd to travel to Bowling Green this week. Taylor and rookie DL Doug Sutton are both out of Warren G. Harding HS.
POOCH KICK: The biggest question mark the Zips had coming into the 2000 season was who's going to punt?
Five weeks into season, Zip coaches have been thrilled with the work of redshirt freshman Andy Jerdon (Eaton). Originally a walk-on, Jerdon earned a scholarship during preseason camp and continues to impress. Matched against Ohio's All-America candidate punter Dave Zastudil, Jerdon more than held his own. He had a 67-yarder with no return and averaged 43.4 yards on five punts. Punting out of his own end zone early in the game vs. UCF, he unloaded a 55-yarder which skipped out -of-bounds for no return. Jerdon dropped four punts inside the 10-yard line at Central Michigan. His average to date: 41.5.
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Rich Reliford |
THINK YOU'RE BUSY?: Akron senior captain Rich Reliford learned on August 28 that he and his wife, LaTonya, 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.
THROWBACK: Dwight Smith started both ways against Miami ... Smith had a 33-yard reception at Ohio ... Sophomore corner Corvin Amos (Akron/East) made his first collegiate start at Ohio ... 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 to from Rover to MLB.
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Jeremiah Danielson |
SENIOR MEMBER: Zip offensive guard Jeremiah Danielson (American Samoa/City College of San Francisco) turned 28 last Thursday. 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 Scores
Akron 37, Miami 20
No. Illinois 43, Ball State 14
W. Michigan 23, Ohio 10
Central Florida 31, E. Michigan 10
Bowling Green 18, Kent 11
Marshall 47, Buffalo 14
Toledo 41, C. Michigan 0
This Week's Schedule
Thursday (10/5)
W. Michigan at Marshall, 8:00 ESPN
Akron at Bowling Green, 1:30
Kent at C. Michigan, 1:00
UCF at No. Illinois, 1:05 CT
Ball State at Miami, 2:00
Toledo at E. Michigan, 4:00
Buffalo at Ohio, 7:00
Next 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.
2000 MAC Standings
East Division Conf* Overall
Akron 2-0 3-2 Marshall 1-0 2-2 Miami 1-1 3-2 Bowling Green 1-1 1-4 Buffalo 1-1 1-4 Ohio 0-1 2-3 Kent 0-2 0-5
West Division Conf* Overall
W. Michigan 1-0 4-1 Northern Illinois 1-0 2-2 Toledo 1-1 4-1 E. Michigan 0-0 1-4 C. Michigan 0-1 1-4 Ball State 0-1 0-4 *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. 16, 1999
Akron 55, Bowling Green 25
Homecoming - Akron Rubber Bowl
Falcons 3 0 6 16 25 Zips 14 7 13 21 55
AKRON - The Akron Zips used a relentless attack both offensively and defensively to defeat Bowling Green, 55-25, and in the process win their third straight Mid-American Conference football game.
"Akron is making plays they wouldn't have made a few years ago," said BG head coach Gary Blackney. "There's confidence in Akron's players."
As has become their tradition at home, the Zips jumped on the opponent early, built a 21-3 halftime lead and led 34-3 with 5:00 to play in the third quarter.
"I thought it was one of our better games on both sides of the ball," remarked Zip head coach Lee Owens.
The Zips put up the program's highest point total in 30 years, since racking up 69 against Youngstown State in 1969. Akron is off to its best start to a season since 1986 (7-2 start, finished 7-4). With one more win, the Zips clinch their first winning season since '92.
Akron achieved a near perfect offensive blend against the MAC's seventh rated defensive unit. The Zips tallied 530 yards of total offense -- 263 rushing and 267 passing -- and did not commit a TO. QB "Butchie" Washington connected on 13-of-19 passes for 241 yards and two TD strikes to Lavel Bailey. On the defensive side, DT Ron Smith registered three TFLs for the second straight week. The 6-4, 285-pounder is having an All-MAC year.
Zip captain Jon Eaton fielded an on-sides kick by the Falcons and rambled 42 yards for Akron's final TD. The Zips also scored on a botched FG attempt which resulted in holder Ryan Uhlenhake lobbing a 5-yard scoring pass to Ryan Schulz to make it 14-3. Said Uhlenhake, "It's good that we are finally getting bounces like that."
Scoring Summary
UA McCray 13 run (Derr kick), 11:21
BG Strasser 22 FG, 8:01
UA Schulz 5 pass from Uhlenhake (Derr kick), 2:57
UA Bailey 15 pass from Washington (Derr kick), 12:09
UA Gray 32 run (Derr kick), 8:05
UA Bailey 71 pass from Washington (run failed), 5:31
BG Lewis 3 run (run failed), 2:04
UA Morgan 5 run (Derr kick), 14:06
BG Gerling 4 pass from Schneider (Gerling pass), 12:45
UA Fortener 21 pass from Gromek (Derr kick), 8:10
BG Bunsey 7 pass from Schneider (Bunsey pass), 1:13
UA Eaton 42 KO return (Derr kick), 1:04
Team Stats
First Downs: BG - 25; UA - 27
Rushing yards: BG - 34-117; UA - 47-263
Passes: BG - 22-44-0; UA - 15-21-0
Passing yards: BG - 336; UA - 267
Total offense: BG - 78-453: UA - 68-530
Punts-avg: BG - 6-42.7; UA - 5-43.4
Fumbles-lost: BG - 1-1: UA - 0-0
Penalties-yards: BG - 12-87; UA - 9-109
Possession time: BG - 27:52; UA - 32:08
Individual Leaders
Rushing UA: Gray: 8-77, Payne 13-58; BG: Holmes 9-61.
Passing UA: Washington 13-19-0-241; BG: Sahm 9-22-0-144, Schneider
13-22-0-192.
Receiving UA: Bailey 5-112, Schifino 5-59, Ritley 2-52; BG:
Gerling 9-183, Alexander 7-105.
Sept. 30, 2000
Akron 37, Miami 20
Rubber Bowl
RedHawks 0 14 3 7 23 Zips 14 14 7 0 20
AKRON - Sophomore tailback Brandon Payne rushed for a career-high 188 yards (24 carries) and three scores and senior defensive back Dwight Smith intercepted two more passes to lead Akron to a 37-20 Mid-American Conference East Division win over Miami. The Zips improved to 3-2, 2-0 MAC East.
"All the credit goes to Akron," said Miami coach Terry Hoeppner. "They played a great football game. We made some key mistakes in the first half and dug ourselves a hole. Then, when we had some momentum early in the second half, they took it away from us."
Rather Dwight Smith took it away. Smith's second INT just minutes into the fourth quarter deflated the RedHawks, who two weeks earlier had given the homestanding Ohio State Buckeyes fits in a 27-16 loss. The national I-A leader with eight interceptions in five games, Smith seemed to be all over the field against Miami. His first pick and 26-yard return to the Miami 14 set up Akron's first TD.
"(Dwight Smth) made some unbelievable plays," commented Zip coach Lee Owens. "And he's good at returning those too. That last interception gave the team the spark we needed."
After building a 23-6 half-time margin in impressive fashion, the Zips faltered in the third quarter. Miami scored two touchdowns and pulled to within 23-20.
The Zips answered with a five-play, 79-yard march, capped by Payne's 13-yard scoring jaunt, and took charge again at 30-20. Miami got the ball back and Smith immediately picked Miami senior quarterback Mike Bath again. The RedHawks appeared to sense that they were not going to beat Akron. Payne added a 20-yard scoring run with 9:44 to play.
Scoring Summary
MU Brumbergs 19 FG, 4:21
UA Derr 38 FG, 0:28
UA Payne 1 run (Derr kick), 14:20
UA Derr 34 FG, 13:11
UA Derr 38 FG, 8:44
UA Schifino 66 pass from Washington (Derr kick), 1:27
MU Brumbergs 43 FG, 0:00
MU Little 5 run (Brumbergs kick), 9:05
MU Dooley 2 run (Brumbergs kick), 0:54
UA Payne 13 run (Derr kick), 14;13
UA Payne 20 run (Derr kick), 9:28
Team Stats
First Downs: MU - 23; UA - 20 Rushing yards: MU - 43-256; UA -
43-243 Passes: MU - 20-49-2; UA - 9-19-1 Passing yards: MU - 174;
UA - 214 Total offense: MU - 92-430: UA - 62-457 Punts-avg: MU -
5-38.0; UA - 5-39.0 Fumbles-lost: MU - 1-1; UA -1-1
Penalties-yards: MU - 6-59; UA - 6-61 Possession time: MU - 33:33;
UA -26:27
Individual Leaders
Rushing UA: Payne 24-188, Gray 10-51; MU: Little 17-128, Murray
14-63, Bath 7-50.
Passing UA: Washington 9-19-1-214; MU: Bath 20-49-2-174.
Receiving UA: Schifino 3-123, Bailey 2-49, Ritley 2-27, Payne
2-15; MU: Johnson 9-72, Branch 4-69.
2000 Zips' Football Schedule (3-2, 2-0 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 at Bowling Green* 1:30 pm
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
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