The University of Akron Athletics
Football Takes a Break This Week
October 09 | Football
Saturday, Oct. 14 - Bye Week
Akron
(2-4, 0-2 MAC)
In the Red Zone...
• Akron heads into a much-needed bye week on a two-game losing
streak after dropping a tough 20-14 nonconference decision Saturday
to Cincinnati. The Zips jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but the Bearcats
rallied thanks to a solid defensive effort and 20 unanswered
points. UC quarterback Dustin Grutza passed for 230 yards and
rushed for a team-high 72 yards. The Zips got 183 yards passing
from
Luke Getsy, but could not
generate a rushing attack, managing just 36 yards on the ground.
Sophomore RB
Dennis Kennedy was held to
a season-low 29 yards on 13 carries. The all-time series between
the two schools is now tied at 2-2. Akron's loss snaps a two-game
win streak against the Bearcats.
• The Zips will enjoy their first bye week since the 2004
season as Akron played 11-straight regular-season games last year.
Akron hopes to get back on the winning track on Oct. 21 when Miami
visits the Rubber Bowl to begin a string of four of its final six
games at home. All six contests will be versus conference
opponents, including four vs. the MAC East. The Zips have won 10 of
their last 12 league games at the Rubber Bowl.
• Akron is coming off one of its most successful seasons in
school history and is the consensus preseason choice to win the MAC
East Division crown. The Zips dropped their 2006 season opener
(Sept. 2) to No. 19 Penn State, 34-16, before notching a 20-17
victory over NC State (Sept. 9) on Kennedy's 1-yard TD plunge on
the final play of the game. Akron fell to Central Michigan, 24-21,
on the road despite rallying from a 21-0 deficit. The Zips got back
on track with a 33-13 win over North Texas (Sept. 23), before
hitting their current two-game skid.
• The UA defense held its first four opponents under 300 yards
of total offense and rank 69th nationally in total defense (339.2
yards per game). They held the high-powered Nittany Lions offense
to 282 total yards, including just 76 on the ground. The defense
followed that up by limiting NC State to 290 total yards (81
rushing).
• The Zips have eight defensive starters back from last year's
squad, including All-MAC performers
Kiki Gonzalez and
Brion Stokes, as well as
freshman All-American
Kevin Grant, who had a
career-high 15 tackles vs. Kent State (Sept. 30) and followed that
performance up with 13 stops vs. Cincinnati (Oct. 7). The defense
is an opportunistic group having forced eight fumbles and gained 14
turnovers which ranks tied for 13th nationally.
• Getsy, one of eight offensive starters back from last
season, ranks 40th nationally in total offense (218 yards per
game). Kennedy is 65th nationally (65.8 ypg) in rushing. The Zips
rank 81st in the country in total offense (312.2 ypg).
• True freshman wide receiver
David Harvey has been a
pleasant surprise for the Zips offense. He is averaging 83.0
receiving yards per game (No. 19 nationally) and 127.8 all-purpose
yards (24th nationally). Harvey is also fourth in the country in
yards per catch (23.71).
Quick Hitters...
• With Saturday's loss to Cincinnati, the Zips are now 4-41
overall vs. schools which are currently members of the BCS, with
two of those wins over Cincinnati (1989, 1992). Akron is 3-15
against BCS schools since the system came into play prior to the
1998 season (1998 at Temple; 1999 vs. Temple; 2006 at NC
State).
• The Zips have not started 0-2 in league action since opening
2002 0-4 in the MAC.
•
Luke Getsy, a member of the
Davey O'Brien Award watch list, leads an offense with eight
starters back from 2005. Getsy threw for 3,455 yards and a
school-record 23 TD passes in 2005. He ranks 40th nationally in
total offense (218.0 ypg) this year. RB
Dennis Kennedy has taken
over for All-MAC back Brett Biggs and is averaging 65.8 yards per
game (No. 65 nationally).
• Akron won its first-ever league title in 105 years of
football last season with a thrilling 31-30 victory over Northern
Illinois in the conference title game in Detroit. That win secured
a berth in the Zips' first-ever Division I-A bowl game, the Motor
City Bowl.
• The Zips opened 2006 with five of their first six games on
the road, which is the toughest stretch to open a season since the
1992 campaign when they also had five of the first six away from
home. UA had its first two MAC games on the road for the first as a
member of the league (1992).
• Getsy, holder of 23 school records, needs one yard of
total offense to move from fourth to third on the UA career list.
Vernon Stewart (1983-86/4,735) is currently third. Getsy passed
Mike Johnson (1988-89/4,649), the quarterbacks coach with the
Baltimore Ravens, with 175 yards of total offense vs. Cincinnati
(Oct. 7). Getsy has 4,734 career yards of total offense (see chart
on page 8). His 3,426 total yards last season was the
second-highest tally in school history (3,837 by Charlie Frye in
2003). Getsy is currently third on the UA career passing yards
chart (see page 3).
• Akron's touchdown on its opening drive vs. Cincinnati (Oct.
7) was the first score allowed by the Bearcats in the first quarter
this season. It is the second time this season Akron has scored on
its opening drive (vs. North Texas). Those are also the only two
games where the Zips have scored in the first quarter this
season.
• With the defeat at Cincinnati (Oct. 7), Akron lost for the
first time since 2004 when winning the turnover battle. The Zips
had won eight-straight contests when getting more miscues than
their opponents. The last time Akron won with more turnovers came
vs. Ball State (Oct. 23, 2004) when the Zips were victorious, 35-23
at the Rubber Bowl.
• The Zips wasted little time putting points on the board
against North Texas (Sept. 23) with three first-quarter touchdowns.
It was the first time all season UA has scored in the first quarter
and just the second time it has held a lead (33-7) in the first
half until the Cincinnati game (Oct. 7). The first two UA scoring
drives of the UNT game - both TDs - took all of three plays and
2:10. Akron did not score in the first quarter of the Kent State
game (Sept. 30) and tallied just seven first-half points. Akron has
out-scored its opponents 34-12 in the opening quarter this
season.
• The Zips rank 13th nationally in turnover margin (+1.00 pg).
They collected three North Texas miscues (Sept. 23), but had two
turnovers vs. Kent State (Sept. 30). They rebounded by collecting
three turnovers vs. Cincinnati (Oct. 7), but not committing a
miscue.
• Getsy's 375 passing yards vs. Central Michigan (Sept. 16)
ranks eighth on the UA single-game chart and is the eighth-highest
single-game total in the nation this season.
• The UA defense has held the opposition under 300 total yards
of offense in seven of the last 11 games.
• Akron has blocked a kick in three of the last nine games,
dating back to last season. The Zips blocked a FG vs. Kent State
(Sept. 30) and Northern Illinois (Dec. 1, 2005), and a punt vs. the
Flashes last season (Nov. 24, 2005).
• Counting last week's Cincinnati game, UA has appeared on a
regional or national telecast nine of the last 10 games.
• UA has an all-time record of 470-446-36 (.511) in 105-plus
years of football. Head coach
J.D. Brookhart is 15-15
(.500) in two-plus seasons with the Zips.
Akron in The MAC...
• The Zips have a 53-60 all-time record in Mid-American
Conference games, including a 19-10 mark in their last 29
contests.
• UA has won six of its last 11 on the road in the league
and is 10-2 in its last 12 MAC home games. A 37-27 loss to Miami in
the 2004 season finale, snapped a six-game MAC home winning
streak.
• Akron's record of 12-7 against MAC competition since the
begining of 2004 ranks fifth among its peers (see chart on pg.
10).
Offensive Notes...
• Akron currently ranks 81st nationally (seventh in the MAC)
in total offense (312.2 ypg). The Zips have eclipsed 300 total
yards three times in six contests (381 at N.C. State; 436 at
Central Michigan; 334 at Kent State) in 2006. Last season, Akron
ranked 54th nationally (seventh in the MAC) in total offense (384.3
ypg).
• The Zips passing offense has generated 241.8 yards per game,
which is third in the MAC and 35th nationally.
• QB
Luke Getsy, a consensus
preseason first-team All-MAC selection, ranks 40th nationally
(fifth in the MAC) in total offense (218.0 ypg). Getsy, named to
the Davey O'Brien Award watch list prior to the start of the
season, is also ranked 24th nationally in completions (18.4 pg).
Getsy had one of his best games of 2005 in the Motor City Bowl
(Dec. 26), when he threw for career-highs in completions (34),
attempts (59) and yards (455). The attempts and yards rank No. 1 in
UA history. In Akron's first-ever MAC title game (Dec. 1 against
NIU), Getsy went 30 for 50 with 413 yards (No. 3 in school
history). He completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and three TDs
vs. North Texas. His pass efficiency rating of 192.16 was a
career-high.
• Junior RB
Andre Walker, a high school
running back who played DB in his first two seasons with the Zips,
stepped into the spotlight with a career-high 80 yards and two
touchdowns against North Texas (Sept. 23). The opportunity
presented itself after a pair of injuries to the Zips backfield.
Sophomore
Alex Allen was lost for the
season after injuring his knee in the preseason and sophomore
Dennis Kennedy was forced
to sit out the UNT game because of a shoulder injury. Redshirt
freshman
Bryant McMillon and true
freshman
Aaris Reed have also seen
time in the Zips' depleted backfield.
• RB
Dennis Kennedy has appeared
in five of six games for Akron and has rushed 329 yards on the
season, despite missing most of the second half of the CMU (Sept.
16) and all of the North Texas (Sept. 23) games with a shoulder
injury. He recorded his first career 100-yard game at NC State
(Sept. 9) with 117 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.
Kennedy also catches the ball well out of the backfield. He posted
14 catches a year ago and had a career-high eight vs. Penn State
(Sept. 2). He is currently tied for 44th nationally with an average
of 5.0 receptions per game.
• Junior
Jabari Arthur is averaging
59.5 yards per game (80th nationally). Arthur snagged three balls
for 21 yards against North Texas (Sept. 23) to surpass 1,000 career
yards (1,109 yards in two-plus seasons). Against N.C. State, Arthur
tallied two catches for 42 yards, but both those grabs came on
Akron's final drive of the game as the Zips came up with the
winning touchdown. He matched a career-high with eight catches (for
137 yards) vs. CMU (Sept. 16).
• Freshman WR
David Harvey has emerged as
the go-to option for the Zips. He has caught 21 passes and is
averaging 83.0 receiving yards per game, which ranks 19th
nationally and No. 1 among freshmen. Harvey had just two catches
for 15 yards against UNT (Sept. 23) but one resulted in six points.
Moreover, in his first stint as the Zips kickoff return man in that
game, Harvey electrified the crowd and jump-started the offense
with two long returns of 78 and 79 yards. At Kent State, Harvey
hauled in four passes for 98 yards and a TD, and returned two kicks
for 59 yards. Harvey is also 24th nationally (third among freshmen)
in all-purpose yards (127.8 pg).
• Getsy and OL
Andy Wills have each
started 18-straight games, tops on the offense, while LT
Tim
Crouch has started at left tackle in 39 of the last 41 games.
Crouch did not play against Cincinnati (Oct. 7).
• The Zips are 58.8 percent (10 of 17) in fourth-down
efficiency, which ranks 48th nationally. Akron was unsuccessful on
both its attempts vs. Cincinnati, including a key one during the
first quarter.
Defensive Notes...
• The Zips' defense is 69th nationally in total yards
surrendered (339.2 pg) and is 72nd nationally in pass defense (204
pg). This unit set the tone early in the win over NC State (Sept.
9) as Akron held the Wolfpack to just 23 yards on 11 plays and one
first down, as a result of a personal foul, in the first quarter.
The defense turned the intensity up a notch in the second quarter
thanks to a pair of spectacular plays in consecutive series by
sophomore DB
Andre Jones. Jones, who is
third on the team with 38 tackles, forced a fumble at the Wolfpack
8-yard line that led to the Zips first touchdown of the game then
picked off a pass to end NC State's following drive, the first to
reach Akron territory. Overall in the first half of that game, the
Zips defense forced four three-and-outs and two turnovers from
eight NC State drives as the Akron offense held a total yards
advantage of 223 to 105 and led 7-0 at the end of the first
half.
• It was old hat again for the defense against North Texas
(Sept. 23). After the Zips' quick score to start the game, the
defense forced a three-and-out and
Brandon Anderson recorded
his first interception of the season to halt the Mean Green's
following series. By the time the UA defense took the field for its
next series, the Zips had jumped out to a 20-0 lead. For the game,
Akron held UNT to 287 yards of total offense, marking the fourth
time in as many games the Zips have held a foe under 300 yards.
• The defense turned in a pair of key goal-line stands that
helped preserve the victory against North Texas (Sept. 23). UNT
started a drive on the Akron 5-yard line after a blocked punt in
the fourth quarter and Akron leading 33-13. An incomplete pass
brought up second-and-goal, but the Zips' defense stuffed the Mean
Green running back on consecutive plays and forced an incomplete
pass on fourth-and-goal from the Akron 4-yard line to end the
threat. UNT's ensuing drive began from the Akron 22-yard line after
a poor punt and ended at the UA 6 after the defense held up once
again. After a 1st-and-10 from the Akron 11, the Zips' D forced an
incomplete pass and stopped three consecutive runs. On the season,
UA has allowed just five fourth-down conversions (out of 12
chances), the 43rd-most efficient percentage in the nation.
• Jones was a key figure in two instant replay-challenged
plays against UNT (Sept. 23). The playmaker forced a fumble in the
first quarter that was overturned after review and forced (and
recovered) another fumble in the third quarter that was later
upheld. Jones has forced two fumbles through six games this season
for an average (0.33) that is tied for 36th nationally.
• CB
Reggie Corner recorded his
second interception in as many weeks with a second-quarter pick
against North Texas (Sept. 23). Corner's two picks lead the team
and match his total from a year ago. He has six in his career.
• The defensive unit came up with a crucial stand late in the
NC State game to give the offense the opportunity to pull off the
dramatic comeback. With the Zips trailing 10-7 and 9:53 remaining
in the game, N.C. State began a drive at the Akron 23 following a
blocked punt. A 10-yard run set up 1st-and-10 from the Akron 13 and
three consecutive runs brought up fourth-and-1 from the 4-yard
line. After a timeout, NCSU attempted to rush for the first down
with a QB sneak, but was stuffed for no-gain thanks to a big tackle
Grant. Akron took the lead with a touchdown in its subsequent
drive.
• Akron has recorded at least one interception in 11 of the
last 16 games. Corner had two picks last season for a pass defense
that was ranked No. 16 in the country (180.8 ypg).
• Sophomore
Kevin Grant leads the team
with 51 tackles. Junior linebacker
Brion Stokes, who had a
career-high 12 stops vs. CMU (Sept. 16), leads the team with 6.5
tackles-for-loss. Mackey is the active career leader in tackles
with 145. Stokes is second with 141 and Grant third with 124.
• Senior LB
Mark Groza recorded the
first sack of the season for UA midway through the third quarter of
the NC State contest (Sept. 9). In addition to the sack, Groza
recorded a team-high eight stops (five solo), recovered a fumble
that ended an N.C. State drive on Akron's 37-yard line and broke up
a pass. Groza also recorded his first career interception against
Cincinnati (Oct.7) and returned it 26 yards. Senior DL
Jermaine Reid led the team
and ranked seventh in the MAC with seven sacks a year ago. He
recorded Akron's second sack of the season at Kent State (Sept.
30).
• DL
Kiki Gonzalez, a consensus
preseason first-team All-MAC choice, leads the defense with
29-straight starts. Reid is second with 20. Corner had his 25-game
starting streak snapped vs. NC State (Sept. 9).
• Despite losing its two starting safeties (
Chevin Pace / Dion
Elie) to injury last season, Akron ended 2005 second in the
MAC in total defense (339.8 ypg) and showed major progress on that
side of the ball. In 2004, UA ranked 10th in the league (and 98th
in the nation) in total defense (425.9 ypg). The Zips finished 2005
ranked 32nd nationally in total defense. In 2005, the jump of 66
spots in the rankings over one year was tied for fourth nationally
with Rutgers. UA hadn't finished better than 59th overall since
1996 when they ended the year tied for 26th. Miami's Jason Taylor
was a senior on that team. Akron is off to a solid start this
season, as its 322.2 yards allowed per game is tied for 40th
nationally.
Special Teams Notes...
• The Zips have had to overhaul their kicking game this season
due the loss of Jason Swiger and Billy Sullivan. Swiger, who ranks
fourth on the UA all-time scoring list (229 points) and fourth on
the career field goals made chart (38), and Sullivan, who holds the
record for single-season punting yards (3,034 in 2005) each spent
the last three seasons starting. No one on the roster had kicked in
a collegiate game prior to the season opener.
• The kicking game has struggled through five games this
season. PK
Matt Domonkos, a back-up
last season, is just 1-for-4 on field goal attempts, though he
nailed a 46-yarder on his first career attempt at Penn State (Sept.
2). Domonokos has also had problems in extra-point attempts hitting
7 of 11 this season. True freshman PK
Igor Iveljic was injured
during preseason and has yet to see the field. Senior Jon McClain,
also a member of the UA soccer team, handled place-kicking duties
the last two games. He nailed his only extra-point attempt vs. Kent
State (Sept. 30). McClain was also a perfect 2-for-2 in PAT tries
against the Bearcats (Oct. 7).
• P
John Stec has had an
up-and-down performance in 2006, but looks to be improving.
Overall, the true freshman has recorded 25 punts for 900 yards
(37.3). Following his debut at Penn State, Stec had two punts
blocked at NC State before registering his best punt of the season
in a crucial situation. With Akron holding on to a 7-0 lead late in
the first quarter, Stec boomed a 52-yard punt from Akron's 3-yard
line and the defense followed with a three-and-out to preserve the
halftime shutout. Against CMU (Sept. 16) he averaged a respectable
36.8 yards per punt and placed two inside the 20. He averaged 39.0
yards per punt vs. KSU (Sept. 30). Stec's best performance of the
season came against UC, covering 294 yards on seven punts to post a
season-best 42 yards per punt average.
• The kickoff return unit was key to UA's victory against UNT
(Sept. 23). WR
David Harvey, who hadn't
returned a kickoff all season, sparked the offense and nearly raced
into the UA record books with two long kick-off returns. The true
freshman returned the opening kickoff 78 yards to set up a
touchdown and returned a second-quarter kickoff for 79 yards to set
up another score. Harvey's 157 return yards in just two returns
nearly broke the school record of 180 set by Matt Carter on eight
returns during the 2001 season. Harvey was denied a chance to break
the record in the second half as North Texas attempted an on-side
kick on its only other kickoff. Against the Bearcats Harvey had two
returns cover 48 yards, including one that went for 34 yards.
Harvey is averaging 44.0 yards per kickoff return which would lead
the nation if he had enough attempts.
• The Zips jumped 74 spots nationally in kickoff return
average thanks to the spectacular performance against UNT two
weekends ago. UA is currently ranked first in the MAC and 10th in
the nation with an average of 26.3 ypr.
• DB
Andre Jones has been UA's
primary punt returner this season and is averaging 3.7 yards per
return.
Cool Hand Luke...
Luke Getsy, a member of the
Davey O'Brien Watch list, bounced back from a three-INT performance
vs. Central Michigan (Sept. 16) with three touchdowns and no
turnovers in a 33-13 win over North Texas (Sept. 23). Getsy was 14
of 20 (70 percent) for 173 yards and recorded a career-best 192.16
pass efficiency rating. The week prior he was 25 of 46 for 375
yards to go along with three scores and three INTs vs. Central
Michigan (Sept. 16). With the Zips down 21-0 to Central Michigan,
he led Akron to three scoring drives (9-95, 5-48, 11-69) over the
last four possessions of the game to get UA within three points. He
was 12 of 31 for 243 yards vs. the Wolfpack, but over the last 8:00
of the game (two TD drives and one three-and-out) he had 155 yards
of total offense. He went 4 of 6 for 126 yards and had three rushes
for 29 yards, including a 10-yard scramble, which set up Kennedy's
1-yard game-winning TD. The consensus preseason first-team All-MAC
choice has been solid in the clutch for the Zips. Over the last
eight games, Getsy has engineered two come-from behind wins (NIU in
2005 MAC Championship and NC State) and almost two others, when he
nearly brought the Zips back from 21 down late in the fourth
quarter vs. Memphis in the Motor City Bowl and at Central Michigan.
He set a single-quarter school record with 230 yards passing in the
fourth quarter vs. Memphis.
Taking A Stand…
The play of the Akron defense is one of the big reasons the Zips
came away with a 20-17 victory at NC State. With Akron trailing
10-7 and the WolfPack looking to run out the clock, sophomore LB
Kevin Grant made a critical
stop on a fourth-and-one play on the Akron 4-yard line, stuffing
NCSU quarterback Marcus Stone for no gain to get the ball back with
7:35 to play. That set up a 96-yard touchdown drive to put the Zips
back up 14-10. The Wolfpack were just 3-of-15 on third-down
conversions and the Zips allowed just 23 yards of total offense in
the first quarter, and 33 yards in the third quarter. Akron held NC
State to just 81 yards rushing, the second-straight game that the
defense limited an opponent to less than 100 yards on the ground
(Penn State-76 yards). In comparison, Notre Dame allowed 158 yards
on the ground to the Nittany Lions. Currently Akron ranks 65th
nationally and third in the Mid-American Conference in rushing
defense (135.2 ypg), and 69th nationally and sixth in the MAC in
total defense (339.2 ypg). The Zips finished the 2005 season 71st
nationally in rushing defense (159.0 ypg) and 32nd in total defense
(339.8 ypg). Against North Texas (Sept. 23), Akron allowed 287
yards on 72 plays (4.0 ypp) to UNT. It was the fourth-straight game
that Akron held an opponent to under 300 yards of total
offense.
Kennedy for President…
If an election were held on campus last month, you can be sure that
sophomore running back
Dennis Kennedy would
receive a few votes from the Akron faithful. Having taken over the
starting spot with the graduation of All-MAC performer Brett Biggs,
Kennedy has used the early part of this season to show he is ready
to run (and pass) with the big boys. In the season opener at Penn
State on Sept. 2, Kennedy ran the ball a workman-line 25 times for
59 yards and a touchdown. In two previous meetings with the Nittany
Lions, no Akron rusher had been able to top the 50-yard mark. At NC
State, it was Kennedy's 117 yards and three scores that spurred the
Zips to a 20-17 win. On the Zips' first scoring drive, Kennedy
single-handedly gave Akron the lead, opening the drive with a
24-yard completion to quarterback
Luke Getsy, then taking the
ball in one play later for the 1-yard score. The Zips turned to
Kennedy again to get the job done with another 1-yard run to put
Akron back on top at 14-10 with just over five minutes to play.
With just three seconds remaining and Akron trailing by three with
the ball on the 1-yard line, Getsy put the ball back in Kennedy's
hand and a second effort propelled him into the end zone for the
win. Not just a threat with his feet, Kennedy is a perfect 2-for-2
for 56 yards on pass attempts, with both throws setting up Akron
scores. Despite missing most of the second half at Central
Michigan, and all of the North Texas game due to injury, the Ft.
Lauderdale, Fla. native currently ranks 65th nationally in rushing
with an average of 65.8 ypg.
Big Plays...
In the season opener, the Zips held Penn State to 282 yards of
total offense, but surrendered five big plays (over 20 yards) to
the Nittany Lions, while posting just two of their own. Three of
PSU's big plays came in the return game. In the win over NC State,
the Zips turned the tables, posting seven plays of 20 or more
yards, while holding the Wolfpack to just four, with none longer
than 27 yards. The two biggest offensive plays may have come from a
true freshman. Down 14-10 and backed up to the endzone midway
through the fourth quarter, WR
David Harvey caught passes
of 21 and 63 yards from Getsy to set up Kennedy's second 1-yard TD
rush. It was Harvey who was responsible for Akron's two longest
plays in a 33-13 win over North Texas (Sept. 23), posting
back-to-back kickoff returns of 78 and 79 yards. Those were the
first two KO returns of his career. Harvey, who has 21 receptions
for 498 yards on the season, ranks second nationally among freshmen
with 83.0 receiving yards per game and is 19th in the nation
overall.
First Win Over BCS Team…
The win over NC State (Sept. 9) was Akron's first triumph over a
team currently from a BCS Conference since the alignment came into
play prior to the 1998 season. Akron is 4-41 overall vs. schools
that are currently members of the BCS, with a pair of victories
over Cincinnati (1989, 1992), and a win over Ohio State (1894). The
Zips were also 0-3 all-time vs. the ACC before that win.
Making Their Debut...
Eleven players made their first-ever appearance in a blue and gold
uniform in the season opener at Penn State on Sept. 2, including
three true freshmen. WR
David Harvey was impressive
with three receptions for 41 yards, with a TD catch in the fourth
quarter. P
John Stec had to contend
with a wet ball and was backed up on his own goal line several
times, but did an admirable job with a 33.3 punting average. DB
Wayne Cobham got in on the
action as a member of the special teams unit. After sitting out
last year, sophomore DB
Andre Jones has earned the
starting spot a free safety and finished with six solo stops in the
game. He also returned three kickoffs for 67 yards, including a
long of 26. Junior
Matt Domonkos took over the
place-kicking duties for the Zips and got his career off to a fast
start with a 46-yard field goal on his first-ever collegiate kick.
Although he did see limited action as a backup last season,
sophomore
Dennis Kennedy made his
starting debut at tailback, finishing with 59 yards on 25 carries,
including a punishing 4-yard TD run to bring Akron back to within
eight in the third quarter. At NC State, running back
Andre Walker recorded his
first-ever carry after being converted from a defensive back over
the summer. Walker finished the game with 12 yards on three
carries. He had 42 rushing yards vs. CMU. True freshman DB
Amin Kabir and redshirt
freshman DL Wallace Pendleton made their first appearances vs.
Central Michigan (Sept. 16). With a 33-13 lead over North Texas
(Sept. 23), several Akron players got to make their first-ever
appearance including backup QB
Carlton Jackson. Redshirt
freshman OL
Elliott Bates also saw
action for the first time, and true freshman RB
Aaris Reed carried the ball
five times for 26 yards in the win. At Kent State (Sept. 30),
senior Jon McClain, a member of the UA soccer team, nailed his
first-career extra-point attempt after the Zips' second-quarter
touchdown. He also nailed a pair of PATs vs. Cincinnati (Oct.
7).
Brookhart In Third Season...
Head coach
J.D. Brookhart is in his
third season at the helm of the UA football program, after leading
the team to a 7-6 record last year, which included a MAC East
title, MAC Championship game victory and first-ever berth in a
Division I-A bowl game, the Motor City Bowl. That earned him the
MAC Coach of the Year Award by College Football News. A year
earlier, the Zips posted a school-record six MAC wins and came
within one game of their first-ever MAC East Division title.
Brookhart, the 2004 MAC Coach of the Year, spent the previous seven
years with the Pittsburgh Panthers, including the final four as
offensive coordinator. This is his first head coaching job at any
level and he is just the fifth Zips head coach since the 1960
season. Brookhart's record in 2004 ranked third among the 14 new
Division I-A head coaches.
Position Changes...
There have been a few positions changes with the Zips this
season:
• Sophomore
Kevin Grant moved from
bandit to middle linebacker during the preseason and sophomore
Doug Williams was elevated
from Grant's backup to the starting role. Williams, who impressed
the staff back in the spring with his athleticism, had a pair of
tackles in his first career start. Grant had just one tackle, but
was a force in the run defense, which held Penn State to just 76
yards, including only 10 in the second half. At NC State, it was
Grant who came up with the stop on a fourth-and-1 that got the Zips
the ball back, setting up a 96-yard touchdown drive. Grant tallied
a career-high 15 tackles (eight solo) at Kent State (Sept. 23). He
now leads the team in tackles (51).
• Sophomore
Andre Jones, seeing his
first collegiate action this season, entered preseason camp in the
mix for time at cornerback, but quickly showed the staff his
all-around athletic ability by moving to free safety. He locked up
a starting spot midway through camp and impressed in his first
career start, posting six tackles, including one for a loss, vs.
Penn State. At NC State he came up with his first career
interception, while coming up with a forced fumble, fumble recovery
and a pass break up vs. North Texas. He also returns punts.
•
Andre Walker moved to
running back prior to preseason camp. He did not play in the
opener, but has seen action in four games, including posting a
career-high 80 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns in the 33-13
win over North Texas (Sept. 23). In Akron's MAC opener he ran for
42 yards on 16 carries vs. Central Michigan (Sept. 16). He showed
flashes in the preseason with 75 rushing yards rushing in the Zips'
lone scrimmage. Walker was a reserve defensive back and special
teams player his first two seasons, but was an all-state running
back in high school.
Did You Know...
The Zips are one of three schools in the nation (also Indiana and
Kansas State) this season to post two kickoff returns over 75
yards. Freshman
David Harvey had returns of
78 and 79 yards vs. North Texas (Sept. 23), setting up a pair of
touchdowns. His 157 kickoff return yards in that game are tied for
sixth on the 2006 NCAA single-game list.
By The Numbers...
0...Number of times Akron was forced to punt over the first
three quarters vs. North Texas.
0.20...Percentage of third downs converted by NC State against the
Akron defense (3 of 15).
1...Number of Akron wins (NC State this season) over schools
currently in BCS conferences since the setup came into play prior
to the 1998 season.
4...Number of points senior PK Jon McClain has combined to scored
both on the soccer field and on the football field. A starter on
the Akron men's soccer team, McClain has one assist on the season.
He picked up his first career extra point at Kent State on Sept. 23
and had two vs. Cincinnati on Oct. 7.
4...Number of sacks by the Zips defense this season. Akron was
credited with a sack at NC State (-2), two at Kent State (-10; -1)
and one at Cincinnati (-5).
5...Number of true freshmen who have seen action this season. WR
David Harvey, DB
Wayne Cobham and P
John Stec all saw their
first career action in the season opener vs. Penn State (Sept. 2),
while DB
Amin Kabir first played vs.
Central Michigan (Sept. 16), and RB
Aaris Reed made his debut
vs. North Texas (Sept. 23). They are the only true freshmen to play
this season.
10...Number of rushing yards recorded by Penn State in the second
half of the season opener. The Nittany Lions had 76 yards on the
ground in the game.
23...Number of school records held by
Luke Getsy.
44.0...WR
David Harvey's kickoff
return average. Harvey recorded kickoff returns of 78 and 79 yards
vs. North Texas. He returned two kicks for 59 yards at Kent State
and 2 for 48 vs. Cincinnati. He would rank first nationally, but
has not averaged the required 1.2 returns per game
50...WR
David Harvey has accounted
for 50 percent of Akron's touchdowns through the air, having been
on the receiving end of 5 of
Luke Getsy's 10 TD
passes.
192.16...QB
Luke Getsy career-best pass
efficiency rating, set in the 33-13 win over North Texas. Getsy was
14 of 20 with three TDs.
335.2...RB
Dennis Kennedy's pass
efficiency rating. Kennedy is a perfect 2-for-2 for 56 yards.
Gonzalez On the Lombardi Watch List...
Senior defensive lineman
Kiki Gonzalez was one of
101 players named in August to the Rotary Lombardi Award watch
list, which honors the top lineman in college football. This year's
list is almost evenly divided between offensive and defensive
players, with 54 defenders and 47 offensive players currently
listed. Gonzalez joined five other Mid-American Conference players
on the list, including Central Michigan's Dan Bauzin, Northern
Illinois' Doug Free, Toledo's John Greco, Western Michigan's Ameer
Ismail and Ohio's Matt Muncy. Gonzalez, one of the top run-stoppers
in the league, was a second-team All-MAC choice in 2005. He is a
consensus 2006 preseason first-team All-MAC selection.
Getsy Named to O'Brien Watch List...
Senior quarterback
Luke Getsy was one of 34
student-athletes named to the preseason watch list on Tuesday, Aug.
28 for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, presented
annually to the nation's top college quarterback. Getsy, the holder
of 23 school records, is just one of two Mid-American Conference
players on the list (Phil Horvath- Northern Illinois), and it is
just the second time in school history that an Akron player has
been named to the watch list, joining Charlie Frye in 2004.
Semifinalists will be announced in early November as voted upon by
a selection committee, with the field narrowed to three finalists
before announcing a winner on ESPN's Home Depot College Football
Awards Show on Dec. 7. The O'Brien Award is the oldest and most
prestigious award in the country for college quarterbacks and is
named in honor of the late Davey O'Brien. Last year's winner was
Vince Young from The University of Texas who led the Longhorns to
the national championship.
Getsy Named to Unitas Watch List...
Quarterback
Luke Getsy was one of 15
student-athletes named to the preseason watch list on Wednesday,
Aug. 29 for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually
to the nation's top senior college quarterback. Getsy, the holder
of 23 school records, is the only Mid-American Conference
signal-caller on the list, and it is just the second time in school
history that an Akron player has been named to the watch list,
joining Charlie Frye in 2004. The nation's top senior quarterback
is selected for the award from a list compiled by a select
committee of football experts from across the United States. The
committee will choose five finalists plus any ties and announce
that list on Oct. 31, 2006. The 2006 recipient will be announced
Dec.1 2006, with the award presentation to be made on December 8,
2006 at the Tremont Grand Hotel in downtown Baltimore, Maryland.
This prestigious award bears the name of who many refer to as the
finest quarterback to ever play the game of football. Established
in 1987, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award has previously honored
19 outstanding young men. USC quarterback Matt Leinart won the
award last year.
Zips On the National Stage...
Akron picked up one of its biggest wins in school history on
Saturday, Sept. 9 in defeating NC State, 20-17 on
Dennis Kennedy's third
touchdown of the game, a 1-yard plunge as time expired. After both
teams scored 10 points in the opening three quarters, they combined
for 27 in the final period with senior QB
Luke Getsy leading the Zips
on TD drives of 96 and 67 yards over the final 8:00. The Zips,
under the direction of third-year head coach
J.D. Brookhart, have posted
two of their biggest wins in school history over the last six
games. Akron earned its first-ever league title by defeating
Northern Illinois in the 2005 MAC Championship when Getsy connected
with Domenik Hixon with 10 seconds left in a 31-30 win. That
victory enabled the Zips to advance to their first-ever Division
I-A bowl game, the Motor City Bowl. The win over NC State was
Akron's first triumph over a team currently in a BCS Conference
since the alignment came into play prior to the 1998 season. Akron
is 4-40 overall vs. schools that are currently members of the BCS,
with a pair of victories over Cincinnati (1989, 1992), and a win
over Ohio State (1894). The Zips were also 0-3 all-time vs. the
ACC. The victory over the Wolfpack placed the Zips in the national
spotlight. Kirk Herbstreit, an analyst on ESPN's College GameDay
crew, gave Akron the nod for his "Most Surprising Performance of
the Day," while Rece Davis, host of ESPN's College Football
Scoreboard show, handed out a "Helmet Sticker" to Kennedy for his
game-winning 1-yard TD run. Davis, Lou Holtz and Mark May each
recognize a team, player or coach by issuing "Helmet Stickers" to
close the last recap show of the day. In addition, Getsy's 10-yard
scramble, which set up Kennedy's game-winning score, was one of
four plays chosen from the day's action to be nominated for the
Pontiac's Game Changing Performance. The winning school receives
$5,000 towards its general scholarship fund and becomes a finalist
for the $100,000 Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year.
Kennedy was also one of five nominees for USA Today's Player of the
Week. The Zips were one of three nominees for the Tostitos Fiesta
Bowl team of the week. Ohio State won for its victory over Texas.
New Hampshire (victory over Northwestern) was the other
nominee.
Trends Since the Start of 2005...
• UA is 6-1 when winning the turnover battle. They ended 2005
90th in the country in turnover margin (-0.54) and rank tied for
18th (+1.00) this season. Akron's perfect record was snapped when
Cincinnati turned the ball over three times but still won the game
(Oct. 7).
• Akron is 9-0 when rushing for over 100 yards. The Zips had a
2005 season-high 228 yards on the ground in the win over Ohio (Nov.
15), rolled up 161 in the victory over KSU (Nov. 24) and had 105
vs. Northern Illinois (Dec. 1). In the Sept. 9 win at NC State, the
Zips netted 114 yards.
• The Zips are 6-1 when posting three or more sacks.
Akron posted a 2005 season-high five sacks three times (vs. NIU,
Sept. 24; at Buffalo, Oct. 8; at Ball State, Nov. 5).
• UA is 4-8 when the opposition rushes for over 100 yards,
including its last two losses (Kent State, 156 yards; Cincinnati,
194 yards). The Zips came out victorious over Bowling Green (Oct.
29, 2005) when the Falcons rolled up 193 yards on the ground.
The Zips surrendered an opponent-high 250 rushing yards to NIU
(Dec. 1), but came out victorious.
Three Zips Earn MAC Player of the Week
Honors...
Senior quarterback
Luke Getsy and freshman
wide receiver
David Harvey were named the
Mid-American Conference Offensive and Special Teams Players of the
Week, respectively, the league office announced Monday, Sept. 25,
giving the Zips three recipients this season. Sophomore running
back
Dennis Kennedy was named
the MAC East Division Co-Offensive Player of the Week, the league
office announced Sept. 11. He shared the award with QB Austen
Everson of Ohio. Kennedy rushed for 117 yards, passed for 24, and
was responsible for all three Akron touchdowns in a 20-17 win at NC
State (Sept. 9). On the ground, Kennedy ran the ball 30 times with
a long gain of 20 yards. He also caught four passes for 28 yards.
On Akron's first scoring drive, Kennedy played a direct roll in
both plays, opening up the possession with a 24-yard pass to QB
Luke Getsy, and finishing
things off one play later with a 1-yard TD run. With Akron trailing
10-7 in the fourth, Kennedy ran the ball three times on a six-play,
96-yard scoring drive, capping things off with a 1-yard score.
Finally, with just three seconds remaining and the Zips trailing by
three with the ball on the 1-yard-line, Getsy put the ball back in
Kennedy's hands, and a second effort by Kennedy propelled the him
into the end zone for the game-winning score. Getsy had one of the
most efficient games of his career in leading Akron to a 33-13 win
over North Texas (Sept. 23), completing 14 of 20 passes (70
percent) for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Harvey was honored for
his special teams work vs. North Texas as he returned two kickoffs
for 157 yards. He took the opening kickoff back 78 yards, setting
up a 21-yard touchdown run by
Andre Walker on the very
next play. On the second UNT kickoff of the night, Harvey returned
the kick 79 yards, setting up another Akron score.
Twenty-Three and Counting...
Senior QB
Luke Getsy has a ways to go
to catch four-year (2001-04) starter Charlie Frye, but he did
eclipse a number of the former UA standout's 54 school records last
season. Getsy currently holds 23 UA marks (see list on pg. 7),
including single-season completions (278 in 2005), single-season
touchdowns (23 in 2005), single-game TD passes (5 vs. Northern
Illinois, Sept. 24, 2005) and single-game yardage (455 vs. Memphis,
Dec. 26, 2005). Frye was one of five players to toss four TDs in a
game. Getsy also matched Frye's mark for reaching 1,000 passing
yards in the fewest number of games. The transfer from Pittsburgh
had 1,008 passing yards over the first three contests of 2005
directing second-year head coach
J.D. Brookhart's west-coast
offense, and Frye had 1,082 in the opening three games of 2003. He
also leads in passing yards per game (259.2) and total yards gained
per contest (253.3).
