The University of Akron Athletics
Football Readies for Saturday Afternoon Homecoming Tilt with FIU
October 07 | Football
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FIU at Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
MAC Digital Network – Week 6 Video Preview
Rob Ianello – FIU Week Press Conference Video
Rob Ianello – MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio
Game Day Coverage:
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GAME 6
FIU (3-2, 1-1 Sun Belt) at Akron (1-4, 0-2 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011
2 p.m. ET
Akron, Ohio
InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (30,000)
Television: None
Radio: Akron-IMG Sports Network – SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), 1420 WHK in Cleveland, 1440 WHKZ in Warren/Youngstown. Steve French (play-by-play), Brad Detwiler (analyst) and Joe Dunn (sideline) (1 p.m. ET airtime). Free audio stream via SportsRadio1350.com.
Akron Coach Rob Ianello (Catholic, 1987): Is in his second season at the helm for the Zips and as a collegiate head coach, owning a 2-15 (1-9 MAC) record in that time. He was introduced as the program's 26th all-time coach on Dec. 10, 2009, but is just the sixth person to hold the position since 1960. Ianello is one of 59 FBS coaches voting in this season's USA Today Top-25 poll.
The Series: Saturday marks the first-ever meeting between the Zips and Panthers on the gridiron. This is the start of a home-and-home series between the two programs, with UA scheduled to travel to FIU in September 2012. Akron holds an 11-11-2 all-time record versus current Sun Belt Conference members.
Up Next: Akron faces MAC East Division opponent Ohio in the middle game of a three-game homestand on Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m. ET. The contest is scheduled to be televised regionally by SportsTime Ohio. The Bobcats lead the all-time series 14-12-1 following a 38-10 win at home last season (Oct. 16, 2010), and have won three straight. The Zips are 11-4-1 in the series when playing in Akron. UA's last win versus Ohio was a 48-37 decision at home on Nov. 7, 2007.
Streaks, Storylines, Sidebars
• Akron (1-4) competes in its final non-league game of the season on Saturday when it plays host to FIU (3-2) at 2 p.m. ET. This is Homecoming week on the UA campus.
• Saturday's game marks the start of a three-game homestand for the Zips that spans four weeks as the program's off date is Oct. 15. UA's next away game comes on November 3 at Miami (Ohio).
• Akron is 5-9 in two-plus seasons at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (1-1 in 2011).
• The Zips defeated VMI 36-13 in their previous home game (Sept. 24) and look for consecutive home victories for the first time since November 2006 (35-28 versus Bowling Green on Nov. 4; 31-16 against Buffalo on Nov. 9). UA opened the 2007 season with a 22-14 win over Army at Browns Stadium in Cleveland (Sept. 1)and won its home opener on Sept. 22 versus neighborhood rival Kent State, 27-22.
• Akron's defense is allowing 163.0 passing yards per game, a number that ranks as the 10th fewest nationally and least by a MAC team.
• Including junior college transfer sophomore QB Clayton Moore, Akron's Week 6 depth chart features 29 underclassmen (13 offense, 10 defense, 6 specialists).
• Last Saturday at Eastern Michigan, UA started eight underclassmen (five offense, three defense), five of which are redshirt freshmen or true freshmen (LB Justin March [Fr.], OG Travis Switzer [Fr.], WR Tyler Williams [Fr.], RB Jawon Chisholm [RFr.], S L.T. Smith [RFr.]).
• Akron has called on the services of 13 true freshmen this season, a number that ranks tied for the eighth most nationally.
• Of the 76 scholarship players on the Zips' roster, 46 are listed as freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores.
Akron Player Notables
• LB Brian Wagner ranks tied for seventh nationally and first in the league in tackles (11.8 tpg). He has recorded 363 career tackles (team high 59 this season; 21 solo, 38 assisted) in 29 consecutive career starts. The school record for career tackles is 715 by Steve Cockerham (1974-77). Wagner recorded a career-best 17 tackles at Eastern Michigan last Saturday, which is the second most by a MAC player this season (18 by Central Michigan's Jahleel Addae). He is on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List – awarded to the nation's best defensive player.
• RB Jawon Chisholm has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last three games (122 on 25 carries at Eastern Michigan,188 on 27 carries versus VMI, 133 on 25 carries at Cincinnati). His 106.4 yards per game ranks 22nd nationally and third in the MAC. For the season, Chisholm has rushed 102 times for 532 yards (5.2 yards per carry) and has two touchdowns. He also competed a TD pass to QB Clayton Moore on a trick play at Eastern Michigan last Saturday.
• WR Keith Sconiers has a team-high 24 receptions for 420 yards and four touchdowns. His 84.0 receiving yards per game rank 47th nationally and fifth in the MAC. He had five catches for 81 yards and one TD last Saturday at Eastern Michigan, after having seven grabs for 154 yards and two TDs against VMI (Sept. 24).
• QB Clayton Moore has completed 47.7 percent of his passes, throwing 61 for 128 for 837 yards with six touchdowns (three TDs versus VMI on Sept. 24). At Eastern Michigan, he went 14 of 28 for 155 yards and one TD. After throwing five interceptions in the first three games (three at Cincinnati on Sept. 17) he has not done so in the last two outings.
• Junior college transfer WR A.J. Price has been a starter in the last two games and recorded his first Division I touchdown at Cincinnati on Sept. 17 – an 11-yard pass from Clayton Moore (Price made a one-handed grab). He has six catches for 77 yards and one TD (two receptions for 26 yards at Eastern Michigan last Saturday.)
• Freshman LB Jamar Williams has three starts this season (was sidelined for the Eastern Michigan game due to injury) and ranks second on the squad in tackles, with 30. He has recorded one forced fumble (against Temple on Sept. 10) and one fumble recovery (versus VMI on Sept. 24).
• Freshman FB Nick Rossi is listed first on the depth chart at that position. He has three catches for 27 yards (long of 14) and also logs time on special teams (seven tackles).
News, Notes, Trends
• After not recording a sack in its first three games, the Zips defense has posted five in the last two outings (three versus VMI on Sept. 24).
• The UA defense has forced five fumbles (one at Eastern Michigan last Saturday) and recovered four of them. DE John Griggs had one recovery at Eastern Michigan as well as one versus Temple (Sept. 10), LB Jamar Williams had one against VMI (Sept.. 24), and CB Emmanuel Lartey did so at Ohio State (Sept. 3).
• UA has yet to intercept a pass this season.
On This Day in Akron Football
• 2005: The Zips hit the road to Buffalo, N.Y., and left with a 13-7 victory on a day that saw temperatures in the mid 40s and winds blowing 15-20 mph. Akron, trailing 7-0 after UB's first drive, posted 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a touchdown run by Brett Biggs and field goals from Jason Swiger (25, 26) to cap the victory and improve to 3-2 on their MAC Championship season.
• 1988: Following two road wins the previous two weeks, Akron returned home to the Rubber Bowl and dropped a 13-12 nail-biter to Arkansas State.
• 1977: Akron improved to 4-1-1 on the season thanks to a 31-24 victory on the road at Dayton. The Zips staged two comebacks in the game, scoring the final 14 points in the fourth quarter for the win. Halfback Paul Winters had two rushing touchdowns in the game.
• 1966: After losing back-to-back road games following a season-opening win at home against Northern Michigan, the Zips got back in the win column with a 14-7 victory over Wittenberg. Sophomore quarterback Don Zwisler threw for two touchdowns in the first half to earn his first win as a starter. The Akron defense set up both scores thanks to two forced turnovers.
Eastern Michigan Postgame Notes
• Dominique White rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns to lead EMU to the 31-23 win.
• White had runs of 14 and 1 yards to give EMU an early 14-0 lead, and had a 2-yard scamper early in the third quarter.
• Akron created the final margin when Jawon Chisholm's 1-yard rush completed an 11-play, 55-yard drive with 3:18 to play. The Zips regained possession with 2:04 remaining, but were unable to find the endzone and Eastern Michigan (3-2, 1-0) ran out the clock on its final drive.
• Chisholm had his third-straight 100-yard rushing performance, posting 122 yards on 25 carries. He was responsible for the one touchdown and threw for another.
• Clayton Moore completed 14 of 28 passes for 155 yards and one TD – a 36-yard strike to Keith Sconiers to cut the EMU lead to 14-7 with 5:24 remaining in the second quarter. That 1-play scoring drive was set up when John Griggs recovered a fumble by Alex Gillett, which was forced by Brian Wagner. It was Wagner's first FF of the season and fifth of his career.
• T.J. Marchese converted a 29-yard field goal with 1:57 left before halftime to pull the Zips to within 14-10, but Kody Fulkerson made a 26-yard field goal as time expired to give the Eagles a 17-10 cushion at the break.
• Wagner led all players with career-high 17 tackles.
Captains Selected
Prior to the season, senior OT Jake Anderson, junior LS Adam Steiner and junior LB Brian Wagner were selected as this season's captains by a player vote. Additional players will be selected for each game.
Staff Experience
The Akron coaching staff is one of the more experienced staffs in the Mid-American Conference. Five of the Zips' 10 coaches have been on the sideline for 25-plus seasons, including head coach Rob Ianello (25th season), defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove (32nd season), offensive coordinator John Latina (32nd season), offensive line coach Mitch Browning (33rd season) and special teams coordinator Vince Okruch (33rd season). In all, the UA staff has coached in 46 bowl games, including 12 BCS bowl games.
Zips Live Coaches Show
Every Monday throughout the season from 7-8 p.m. ET Akron head coach Rob Ianello can be heard on the weekly radio program Zips Live. The show airs locally on 1350 AM (WARF) and is streamed online at SportsRadio1350.com. The show originates from the Winking Lizard Tavern in nearby Fairlawn (25 Ghent Road).
