The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Football Has First Scrimmage
August 16 | Football
The University of Akron football squad had its first scrimmage
of the preseason Thursday morning at Schrank Field. The 75-minute
session saw quarterbacks Chris Jacquemain and Carlton
Jackson complete 30-of-45 passes for 341 yards with four
touchdowns.
"I was pleased with the progress of our offense, but we still have
some concerns," said head coach J.D.
Brookhart. "Chris and Carlton both had good numbers, but are
still making some decisions to put us in difficult situations. The
offense also had too many penalties and turnovers. We have to be
more protective of the football. I was disappointed with the first
team defense. They are a veteran group. That may have been a
negative today because they might have thought they could just show
up and get it done."
Jacquemain, who was 14-of-22 for 168 yards with two touchdowns and
an interception, got the offense moving on the first drive,
connecting with Dennis Kennedy for a 27-yard pass on the first
play from scrimmage. Kennedy added a nice nine-yard run but a sack
by Chevin Pace would force a field goal attempt. Matt
Domonkos came in an converted a 44-yarder to cap the first
drive.
The defense responded on the next two drives. Davanzo
Tate had a pass break up on third down to force a
three-and-out. After that, the offense had success moving the ball,
getting first downs on Jacquemain passes to Kris
Kasparek and Jabari Arthur. On third down from the 10, Pace
tipped a pass that Doug Williams picked off to end the threat.
On the fourth series, Jackson took the reigns. Like Jacquemain, he
started well, completing a 20-yarder to Brian
Flaherty on his first attempt. However, he would have
incompletions on four of his next six attempts. The good news for
Jackson, he rallied from that point, completing 9-of-12 over one
stretch, and finished the day completing 16-of-23 for 173 yards and
two touchdowns.
Kennedy started the sixth series with a 21-yard run and a pass
interference call on the defense gave the offense a first and 10 on
the 20. The defense stiffened and would force a 36-yard field goal,
which Igor Iveljic would split the uprights for the
three points. On the ensuing drive, Jackson and tight end Jose Cruz
hooked up on back-to-back plays to get the offense in scoring
range. The offense stalled, could not convert on third and long and
a 52-yard field goal by Domonkos came up short.
Two series later, Jacquemain converted a third-and-10 with a
13-yard pass to Merce Poindexter. Jacquemain would then do the
rest himself with a 22-yard touchdown run. True freshman Zack
Campbell added the point after. Jacquemain stayed in at quarterback
for the next series and, on the first play, hit Stephon
Fuqua for a 35-yard touchdown.
Jackson kept the momentum for the offense, moving the team.
However, a sack would eventually force a 52-yard field goal by
Iveljic, which came up just short. Jackson remained at quarterback,
hitting Brandon Williams for a 20-yard pass to the 15. A
fumble on a handoff exchange, which transfer defensive back Mike
Thomas recovered, brought an end to the first half.
The offense struggled on its first possession to start the second
half. Jackson then righted the ship by hitting Arthur on an 11-yard
gain and, on third down, completing a pass to Poindexter for a
first down. Facing third and nine, Jackson completed a pass to
Arthur, who made a nice adjustment and stayed inbounds for a
36-yard TD.
Jacquemain, who completed his last seven passes of the scrimmage,
answered on the next drive, hitting Alphonso
Owen for a 16-yard pass on the first play and later completed a
short pass to Marcus Patterson on third-and-short for the first
down. Jacquemain followed with his second TD pass of the scrimmage
as Richard Sandilands came down with a 25-yard
score. On the play, it looked as if Manteo Jimenez was going to get
an interception, but Sandilands wrestled the ball away as the two
were falling to the ground in the endzone.
On Jackson's final series at QB, the offense had a three and out
– thanks to an offensive penalty. The group stayed out for a
final drive and Jackson had two nice runs, each shortened as the
defense only had to get near the QB to have the play whistled dead.
He additionally completed his last three passes of his day, a
16-yarder to Jerome Royal, a five-yarder to Fuqua and a 17-yard TD
to Poindexter. Of Poindexter's four catches, all were for over 13
yards, averaging 15.25 per catch, and each either gained a first
down or touchdown.
Matt Rodgers then got his turn at quarterback. While he did
complete all three of his passes and got the team in scoring range,
the drive ended with a missed 38-yard field goal by Domonkos. On
the final series of downs, under the direction of transfer
quarterback KC Patterson, a fumble on a handoff exchange was
scooped up by Ray Siler and returned 51 yards for a TD. The
scrimmage then concluded with a 45-yard field goal attempt, which
Iveljic could not convert.
Rushing Stats:
Dennis Kennedy 5-40; Joe Tuzze
6-17; Bryan Williams 7-6; Brandon Williams 1-2; Chris
Jacquemain 1-22, TD; Andre Walker 5-23; Carlton
Jackson 3-18; Bryant McMillon 2-8; Matt Harmon 2-8; Joe
McDaniel 1-4.
Passing Stats:
Chris Jacquemain 14-22, 168, 2 TDs, 1 Int; Carlton
Jackson 16-23, 173, 2 TDs; Matt Rodgers 3-3, 14.
Receiving Stats:
Dennis Kennedy 3-34; Jabari
Arthur 5-77, TD; Stephon Fuqua 3-45, TD; Jose Cruz
2-19; Marcus Patterson 4-24; Kris
Kasparek 2-11; Merce Poindexter 4-61, TD; Richard
Sandilands 3-37, TD, Alphonso Owen 1-16; Jerome Royal 1-5.
Defensive Big Plays:
Chevin Pace – sack and 2 PBUs; Davanzo
Tate 2 PBUs; Brion Stokes – TFL; Doug
Williams – INT; Mitchell Magloire – TFL, sack; Eric
Lively – PBU; Aaron Williams – sack; Michael
Alphonse – sack; Mike Thomas – fumble recovery; Ray
Siler – sack, 51-yard fumble recovery for TD.
