The University of Akron Athletics
Zips FB To Face No. 11 Ohio State
September 04 | Football
Radio: Akron-ISP Sports Network (Steve French, Frank Stams, Joe
Dunn)
• Sports Radio 1350 AM, Akron
• WERE 1490-AM, Cleveland
• GoZIPS.com, worldwide internet broadcasts
TV: Big Ten Network
Thom Brennaman (play-by-play)
Charles Davis (color analyst)
Charissa Thompson (sideline)
Akron vs. Ohio State
Akron and Ohio State have met on six previous occasions,
but only twice since 1895. The Buckeyes hold a 5-1 advantage in the
series, including a 4-1 mark in Columbus.
The last time the schools met was, ironically, Sept. 8, 2001 in
what was Jim Tressel's first game as OSU head coach and the
rededication of Ohio Stadium following a $187 million upgrade.
Akron lost that game, 28-14, thanks to two first quarter TDs by the
Buckeyes. However, the game marked the official start of the
Charlie Frye era with the Zips as he completed 15-of-31 passes for
134 yards and a TD. (The previous week the then redshirt freshman
Frye came off the bench for an injured Nick Sparks.)
There were two key plays leading the OSU victory. First, and with
Ohio State up 14-0, Zip punt returner Brandon Payne lost the ball
in the sun, fumbling the ball, which the Buckeyes recovered on the
one. One play later, Jonathan Wells scored his second TD of the
game for the 21-0 lead.
Second, late in the third quarter, OSU quarterback Steve Bellasari
lofted a pass for wideout Chris Vance. Akron's John Fuller looked
as if he would come down with an interception, but the ball tipped
off his hands to Vance for a 61-yard TD.
Akron's Lone Win in the OSU Series Features Famous Coach
for Zips
Akron's only win in the series with Ohio State deserves
special mention. The event took place Sept. 5, 1894, which was
Akron's only football contest played that season. The score was
12-6. The coach for Akron was college football icon John W.
Heisman, who played quarterback for Akron in the game. It was the
second of his two years with Akron - then known as Buchtel College
- where he went 6-2 over two years as coach.
REG-GIE, REG-GIE
The Yankees had Mr. October Reggie Jackson. Akron has Mr.
September Reggie Corner because of his effort in the Sept. 1
opener. Corner was named Mid-American Conference East Division
Defensive Player of the Week.
The Canton McKinley product and preseason All-MAC selection helped
the Zips to a 22-14 victory over Army in the 2007 season opener,
snapping a streak of five straight losses in season openers for the
program. Corner had four tackles in the win, as Akron held the
Black Knights to just 58 yards rushing. However, his biggest
contribution came late in the first quarter.
With Army driving, Corner picked off a David Pevoto pass and
returned it 74 yards for Akron's first TD of the season, giving the
Zips an early 9-0 lead. The interception return for a score was the
first by a Zip since Dwayne LeFall returned a pick 60 yards for a
TD at Ohio on Nov.. 13, 2004. Also with the pick, Corner now has
nine for his career with the Zips, moving him into a tie for ninth
on the school's all-time list.
This marked the first individual honor Corner has received by the
MAC in his career.
Corner, who was listed as a senior in 2006, was granted a fifth
year of eligibility by the NCAA this season for reaching
satisfactory progress towards his degree.
King Arthur
Senior wide receiver Jabari Arthur is poised to have an
excellent senior season, especially if the young season is an
indication.
First, the Montreal native returns for his fifth year despite being
a first-round pick in the 2007 Canadian Football League draft,
going as the sixth overall pick to the Calgary Stampeders. Later,
he was tabbed preseason second team All-Mid-American Conference by
MAC Report Online.
Second, Arthur opened ‘07 by hauling in a career-high 11
catches (125 yards) versus Army. While that is impressive, it is
even more so considering UA only completed 17 passes for 154 yards.
In particular, Arthur was THE go-to guy during the Zips' lone
offensive TD drive at the end of the first half. He caught four
balls for 53 yards during the nine-play, 80-yard drive, including a
19-yard TD.
Arthur now has 109 career receptions, moving from ninth to sixth on
the Akron all-time list, and 1,607 receiving yards. He now needs 19
more receptions to move into the top five with the school record
standing at 149, set from 2000-03 by Matt Cherry.
Arhtur has caught eight career touchdown passes and averages an
impressive 14.7 yards per catch for his career.
Akron-Ohio State Ties
There are two ties between the Akron and Ohio State football
programs.
One, Zip running back Dennis Kennedy originally signed with Ohio
State coming out of high school. However, a transcript error for
the NCAA Clearinghouse occurred and the Buckeyes had to let him out
of the commitment. After the error was fixed, Kennedy would join
the Zips just prior to the 2004 season, a year he would redshirt.
After gaining 131 yards in 2005, he showed his why he was highly
recruited in high school, rushing for 914 yards in just over 10
games on a team that threw the ball 384 times to earn second team
All-MAC.
Two, Buckeye head coach Jim Tressel began is coaching career with
the Zips. After his playing career at Baldwin-Wallace, Tressel
started as a graduate assistant at Akron for the 1975 season. He
was later promoted to full-time assistant for the 1976 season,
staying until 1978. While with the Zips, Tressel, described in the
UA media guide for 1977 as "one of the brightest young coaches in
the profession," coached the offensive backs and coordinated the
kicking game.
Zips Win Inaugural First Merit Patriot Bowl
This past spring, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission announced
its newly created, owned and operated event, The First Merit
Patriot Bowl. The Patriot Bowl is an annual college football game
featuring a Mid-American Conference (MAC) University from Ohio and
one of the Service Academies – Army, Navy or Air Force. Each
year, the game will take place over Labor Day weekend at Cleveland
Browns Stadium.
In the inaugural event, Akron defeated Army 22-14 and took home the
"Cleary Trophy" named for Michael Cleary, long-time Executive
Director of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of
Athletics (NACDA) in recognition of his lasting service to the
Cleveland community, collegiate athletics and the Greater Cleveland
Sports Commission.
In winning the Patriot Bowl...
• Akron head coach J.D. Brookhart opened a season for the
first time in his four years, falling at Penn State twice and
Purdue once.
• Akron snapped a streak of losing five straight season
openers and 12 of its last 13.
• Since joining the MAC in 1992, Akron is now 4-12 in season
openers and is 5-16 in such contests since joining the NCAA
Division I-A, now Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), in 1987.
• Akron is now 56-46-5 all-time in season openers.
Kennedy Goes Under the Radar
Lost in Saturday's game - with Jabari Arthur, Reggie Corner, a new
Zip quarterback and a number of big plays - was the solid play of
junior running back Dennis Kennedy. The preseason All-MAC selection
had 13 rushes for 72 yards, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Key
among the rushes included one for 14 yards one play after Bryan
Williams' 70-yard kickoff return to start the game and two, each
covering 10 yards, during the Zips' lone offensive TD drive.
Stokes Also Goes Under the Radar
While Reggie Corner was named MAC East Defensive Player of the
Game, senior linebacker Brion Stokes may have been the team's MVP
on defense. The Charlotte native recorded six tackles, four of
which went for losses totaling 14 yards. Among the TFLs was one of
Akron's four sacks for minus 10 yards with Stokes adding a forced
fumble.
Andre the Giant
Akron junior free safety led the Zips in their 22-14 win over Army,
recording eight tackles. The Forestville, Md., native had just as
impressive game in his role as the team's punt returner. During the
third quarter, Jones returned a punt 63 yards (from the Akron 23 to
the Army 14). Not only was that a career-long, but it surpassed his
total from the previous year, when he returned nine punts for 52
yards. Jones finished the Army game returning three punts for 96
yards.
What a Debut
Akron junior running back Bryan Williams, who hails from Akron and
graduated from Buchtel HS, had quite the debut with the Zips as he
scooped up the opening kickoff, darted to the middle of the field
and broke to the left sideline for a 70-yard return to start the
game. Williams additionally had five carries for 28 yards, an
average of 5.6 yards per game.
Others to make their debut and/or have a "first" included:
• Senior corner back Davanzo Tate recorded his first career
interception.
• Starting quarterback Chris Jacquemain saw his first action
as a Zip, completing 14-of-24 passes for 125 yards and TD.
• True freshman Almondo Sewell started at defensive end and
recorded a TFL.
• Junior wide receiver Stephon Fuqua caught his first pass as
a Zip, getting two receptions for seven yards.
• Placekicker Igor Iveljic made his debut after taking a
medical redshirt during his freshman year last season. He made
field goals of 23, 32 and 28 yards and added a PAT with his 10
points leading the MAC.
• Making their debuts were Alphonso Owen (junior WR and KOR
who transferred from Malone College), redshirt freshman TE Jose
Cruz, redshirt freshman LG Mike Ward, redshirt freshman RT Corey
Woods, true freshman DL Shawn Lemon, redshirt freshman DL Viktor
Rajek, junior transfer DL Mitchell Magloire, JuCo transfer CB
Miguel Graham, true freshman CB Jalil Carter and redshirt freshman
transfer OL Jason Sekinger.
Welcome Back
One of those returning nine starters, Jared Cecchetti, missed the
Army game and was set to miss up to two-to-three more contests
after suffering a foot fracture during the final week of preseason
camp. However, after consulting with several doctors, Cecchetti
will return to practice this week and is expected to play versus
Ohio State.
