The University of Akron Athletics
Akron FB Heads to Syracuse; EMU Time Set
October 20 | Football
Akron at Syracuse
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
3:30 pm - Carrier Dome
Akron Radio: 1350 AM and 106.9 FM as well as GoZips.com
TV: Time Warner in New York, SNY and ESPN Plus (Check local
listings)
Akronvs. Syracuse
Akron and Syracuse have only met on one previous occasion. In week two last season (Sept. 6) Akron traveled to the Carrier Dome and won 42-28, marking the program's second ever victory over a BCS program (the other being in 2006 at North Carolina State).
The Zips, who ran up 478 yards of total offense, jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and, with the score tied at 28-28 in the fourth, scored the final two TDs of the game to secure the victory.
Akron was successful on 10-of-14 third down conversions and converted 1-of-1 on fourth down. Leading the way was receiver Andre Jones (seven receptions for 98 yards and two TDs), while running backs Alex Allen had 21 carries for 103 yards and Dennis Kennedy had 11 for 89.
Syracuse was just 3-of-9 on third downs, but had standout performances from their backs as well. Curtis Brinkley rushed for 143 yards on 21 attempts with Delone Carter gaining 77 on 13. The Orange, down 14 at the break, came out and held the ball for all put four minutes of the third quarter to get back in the game.
Akron-Eastern Michigan Game Time Set
The Akron-Eastern Michigan game on Friday (Nov. 27) has been set for a 2:00 pm kickoff. The game, played at UA's InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field and televised on either ESPNU or ESPN360, will be the regular season finale for both teams. Later that day, the Zips men's basketball team will host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7:00 pm in Rhodes Arena.
Andre Jones in Select Company
Senior Andre Jones, who played wide receiver exclusively at Buffalo, will likely start at the position at Syracuse. If so, he and Oklahoma's Body Eldridge will be the only two players in the nation to have started at three different positions this season. However, Jones will be one of two players in the nation to not only start three positions, but be THE ONLY one to start on both sides of the ball. Eldridge has started at center, tight end and left guard this season.
This year, Vanderbilt's Jamie Graham and Cincinnati's Marcus Barnett are believed to be the only players currently to have started on both sides of the ball, both starting at defensive back and wide receiver.
Jones has played in 43 games and started 37 in his career. The first two years of his career, Jones started 20 games at free safety and he ranked among the UA top four in tackles each year. As a junior in 2008, he started 10 games at wide receiver, earning All-MAC honors with a team-high seven TDs. This season, Jones has started three games at safety and one at corner, while still seeing action at wideout. He is 11th on the team with 20 tackles and he caught four passes for 53 yards last week in his first full game at wideout last week at Buffalo.
Brian Wagner Among Nation's Best
University of Akron freshman linebacker is having an All-American-type season and is the early favorite to win MAC Freshman of the Year and was named midseason first team All-MAC by Phil Steele. Had the daunting task of replacing two-time All-MAC linebacker and four-year starter Kevin Grant. The Springfield native has already been named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week and ranks among the NCAA leaders in several categories, while being the top freshman in the NCAA in others.
BRIAN
WAGNER No./Avg. MAC Rank NCAA Rank NCAA Frosh Rank
Tackles 11.00 tpg 1 6-t 1
Fumbles Rec. 0.33/gm 3-t 16-t
2-t
Fumbles Forced 0.33/gm 4-t 34-t 3-t
Interceptions 0.33/gm 6-t 56-t
4-t
- Wagner leads all NCAA freshmen in total tackles (67) despite having played just six games to most people's seven. Not only does he lead the Zips, but he has 33 more tackles than the next closest on the team list (Aaron Williams with 34) and he is making one tackle for every six plays opponents run. He also has two picks, two forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered and two pass breakups.
- Wagner is 6th overall in the NCAA, FIRST overall in the MAC and FIRST among NCAA frosh in tackles (11.0 avg).
- Wagner is the ONLY Linebacker (any class) in the NCAA to rank among the nation's top 56 in tackles, interceptions, forced fumbles and fumbles recovered.
- Led the Zips in tackles in each of the first five games and has double-digits in tackles in four straight after getting nine in his collegiate debut at Penn State and nine in earning MAC Player of the Week versus Morgan State.
- Named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week versus Morgan State. Had nine tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and a 32-yard interception return for a TD (the first defensive TD at InfoCision Stadium).
- Posted 16 tackles, 10 of which were solo stops, at Central Michigan, including 0.5 for a loss. Also picked off CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour.
Injuries Mount; Bowser and Williams Lost for Season
Akron lost two more players (Deryn Bowser and Aaron Williams) for the season and another (Manley Waller) possibly for the Syracuse game.
Bowser suffered a fractured fibula in the first half at Buffalo. He is listed as out for four-to-six weeks, but it is likely he will not return. Bowser is the team leader in receptions (21), receiving yards (307) and is the only UA player to catch a touchdown pass this season, having five.
Williams broke his radius during the Buffalo game and he played over two quarters with injury, but did not realize the bone was broken. After complaining about the pain on Sunday, X-Rays reveled the multiple fractures, which required Williams to have season-ending surgery. Despite the injury, Williams still made seven tackles with a pass breakup. Williams ranks second on the team in tackles for the season with 34 with four TFL and a TD after recovering a blocked punt.
Waller was injured early in the second quarter. Feared to have the same fate as Bowser, X-Rays were negative and he was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain. Waller was very productive prior to the injury, getting three tackles, a TFL and an interception. His status for Saturday will be determined as the week progresses. If he can not play, redshirt freshman Marvase Byrd, who had five tackles as Waller's backup, will start at corner.
QB Matt Rodgers Out for the Season
Sophomore quarterback Matt Rodgers, who rushed for 80 yards in the first half versus Ohio and was starting to find his groove as the Zips' signal caller, was lost for the season just prior to halftime. Marching the Zips to the OU three, Rodgers attempted to run for a touchdown. However, he was tackled and fumbled into the endzone, which the Bobcats recovered. On the play, Rodgers suffered multiple injuries to his left knee, which will require surgery and keep him off the field for the remainder of 2009.
Rodgers was forced into the starting role one day prior to the Indiana game when UA head coach J.D. Brookhart dismissed three-year starter Chris Jacquemain from the team. Rodgers did not just inherit the position, but had earned the playing time thanks to an excellent off season and fall camp. In fact, Rodgers played the first series of the second quarter in each of the first two games.
Rodgers, who leads the Zips in rushing with 156 yards and a team-high three rushing TDs, finishes the season completing 39-of-69 passes for 405 yards. He threw one touchdown with six interceptions.
AkronTurns to Rookie QB - Déjà Vu?
True freshman Patrick Nicely is now the Zips starting quarterback. The Willoughby native did not see game action until starting the second half of the Ohio game in game five when Matt Rodgers went down with an injury. Nicely was praised for his performance, especially considering his lack of experience (game and even practice serving as the third-team QB most of the season with hopes of being redshirted).
Nicely is just the fourth true freshman quarterback to start for the Zips, joining Brian Magrill (1994), Mic Hutton (1969) and Ron Boruszkowski (1962).
In his inaugural game, Nicely completed 9-of-23 passes for 98 yards, leading the Zips to their lone TD. Also, he engineered a fourth-down conversion, completing a 38-yard pass to Jeremy LaFrance on 4th-and-15. The Zips, down 12, were forced to go for it on fourth and goal from the 13, but UA could not convert.
In game two, at Buffalo, Nicely completed 17-of-34 passes for 200 yards - the most by UA in 2009 - with two interceptions. He drove the team down for field goal midway through the fourth quarter, which gave Akron a 17-14 lead. After Buffalo scored to take a 21-17 lead, Nicely drove the Zips close, but was picked off on a deflected pass at the UB 22 with just over a minute to play.
The last time Akron turned to a rookie quarterback was 2001 when redshirt freshman Charlie Frye came off the bench for an injured QB versus Ohio in Akron to start a record-setting career. In game one of 2001 - a 31-29 win over the Bobcats - Frye subbed for Nick Sparks, who had a turf toe injury and started the game completing 6-of-8 passes for 72 yards. Overall, Frye was 13-of-16 for 146 yards in his debut. Fyre would hold on the starting job for the remainder of his career, finishing among the NCAA and MAC all-time leaders in completions and yards, and ended his freshman season completing 170-of-289 passes for 2,053 yards with six picks and nine TDs.
A MAC AND NCAA Trend
With so many teams using the spread punt formation, punt returns are way down. In fact no player in the MAC has the NCAA minimum 1.2 returns per game to qualify as a league leader, while only 62 players in the NCAA have reached the NCAA minimum.
Not So Fast; Zips Are Improving
Akron fell to 1-5 with a loss to Buffalo this past Saturday. However, there have been many positive signs over the past two weeks, along with a couple recurring factors.
Versus Ohio, the Zips committed five turnovers, missed two field goals and allowed Ohio to score on a blocked punt, but was only down six (13-7) to start the fourth quarter.
At Buffalo, Akron fumbled inside the UB five, threw an interception in the endzone from the UB 18 an missed a field goal, but lead 17-14 in the fourth quarter and had a final drive to try to win the game.
The following are things that have begun to go Akron's way:
1. Akron converted 13-of-31 third downs (41.9 percent) over the last two games, converting just 32 percent (16-of-50) in the first four games of the season.
2. Akron held Ohio and Buffalo to just 11-of-29 (37.9 percent) on third downs, allowing opponents to convert 29-of-55 (52.7 percent) in the first four games.
3. Akron out-gained Ohio in first downs (14-10) and total offense (346-292), while tying Buffalo in first downs (19-1) and out-gaining UB 334-312 in total offense. The 346 yards by Akron was the Zips best this season versus an FBS member and the 292 was the lowest by an FBS opponent.
4. Akron ran for 159 yards versus Ohio - its most versus a FBS member this season - and for 134 yards at Buffalo, averaging 146 yards over the two games after averaging just 113 over its first four contests. Akron completed a season-high 19 passes versus Ohio and threw for a season-high 200 yards at Buffalo.
Zips Tough Red Zone Defense
The Zips rank second in the MAC and 25th in the NCAA in Red Zone defense as opponents are scoring just 72 percent of the time (21-of-28) when getting inside the Zips' 20.
Penn State only scored 4 of the 7 times it entered the red zone, missing a field goal, having a ball intercepted and having the game end with PSU trying to tack on a late score.
Morgan State never reached the red zone. In fact, after missing a 40-yard field goal on the opening drive, the Bears never crossed midfield again.
Indiana and Buffalo are the only teams to have success. Indiana scoring all five times (4 TDs and a FG) and Buffalo scored TDs on each of its three trips. However, Indiana was given some short fields after interceptions, needing just 18, 25 and 19 yards to score three TDs in the second half.
Central Michigan helped the Zips out twice. Once by missing a field goal on their first drive and a second time by taking a knee of fourth down late in the game.
Ohio was just 3-of-5 inside the Zips' 20. Miguel Graham picked off an Ohio pass in the endzone in the first half and the Bobcats gave the ball up on downs late in the fourth quarter.
Zips Commit Few Penalties
Akron ranks 15th in the NCAA in fewest penalties (5.0 per game) and 22nd in fewest yards penalized (39.0). Versus Morgan State, Akron was only penalized once for five yards (an illegal procedure call in the second quarter).
On the Road Again
The Zips will traverse the northern half of the United States starting last weekend. The Zips traveled to Buffalo Oct. 17 and return to New York the following week (Oct. 24) to face Syracuse at 3;30 pm. Akron will then head west Oct. 31 to face Northern Illinois, the program's first trip to Dekalb since 2004.
On the flip side, Syracuse will only have one road game in its first eight. The Orange opened at home versus Minnesota then traveled to Penn State. From Sept. 19 to Oct. 31 - a span of six game - Syracuse will play in its own Carrier Dome where the Zips handed SU a 42-28 loss last season.
In J.D. Brookhart's first 66 games, Akron has only played 27 contests at home, going 14-13. Brookhart has taken his team on the road 39 times, going 12-24 in true road games and going 2-1 in neutral site games (twice at Ford Field in 2005 and once at Cleveland Browns Stadium in 2007).
