The University of Akron Athletics
Football Returns Home to Face Louisiana on Saturday
September 20 | Football
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Pregame Coverage:
Louisiana at Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Terry Bowden – Louisiana Week Press Conference Video
Terry Bowden – MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio
MAC Weekly – Sept. 16
Gameday Coverage:
Listen to Free Audio Stream (SportsRadio1350.com)
Watch ESPN3 / WatchESPN.com
Follow Free Live Statistics
GAME 4
Louisiana (1-2) at Akron (1-2)
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013
6 p.m. ET
Akron, Ohio
InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (30,000)
Television: ESPN3 and WatchESPN.com – Frank Giardina (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (analyst).
Live Statistics: Available free of charge via GoZips.com.
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), Joe Dunn (sideline) (5 p.m. ET airtime). Free Audio stream at SportsRadio1350.com.
Akron Coach Terry Bowden (West Virginia, 1978): Is in his second season at the helm for the Zips and his 20th campaign as a collegiate head coach, owning a 142-75-2 record (2-13 at Akron). He was named the program's 27th all-time coach on Dec. 22, 2011, but is just the seventh person to hold the position since 1960. This is his first time facing Louisiana.
The Series: Saturday marks the first-ever meeting between the Zips and Ragin' Cajuns on the gridiron. Akron is 7-4-2 versus current members of the Sun Belt Conference, with its last contest against a team from that league coming versus Arkansas State at UA's Rubber Bowl on Oct. 8, 1988 (13-12 Akron loss). The Zips are 0-1 all-time against Arkansas State and 7-3-2 versus Western Kentucky. The Cajuns are 5-6 all-time versus the Mid-American Conference.
Up Next: Akron begins league play at Bowling Green on Sept. 28 at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
Streaks, Storylines, Sidebars
• Akron (1-2) wraps up the non-league portion of its schedule by playing host to Louisiana (1-2) on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. The contest will appear on ESPN3.
• The Zips enter the game after nearly upsetting then No. 11/12-ranked Michigan last Saturday. UA fell 28-24 to the Wolverines. Akron drove 71 yards during the final series of the game, advancing to the Michigan four-yard line. Under a heavy blitz, Kyle Pohl's pass to Zach D'Orazio was incomplete in the end zone as time expired.
• Against Michigan, the Zips posted 418 yards of offense (311 passing, 107 rushing) compared to 425 (248 passing, 177 rushing) by UM. UA owned a 33:16-26:44 advantage in time of possession and forced four turnovers (three INTs).
• Reigning Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week QB Kyle Pohl connected on 25-of-49 passes for a career-high 311 yards and two touchdowns at Michigan last Saturday. He was 16-of-27 passing for 229 yards and scored both TDs during the second half.
• This is the third-straight year UA has entered the season with a new starting quarterback. Sophomore starter Kyle Pohl is 55-of-92 passing for 552 yards and four TDs this season, while junior backup Nick Hirschman is 8-of-14 passing for 162 yards and three TDs. Hirschman, who did not play at Michigan due to injury, is a transfer from Colorado and has two years of eligibility remaining after completing his undergraduate degree early.
• 2013 marks year five for Akron playing at its on-campus stadium. The Zips are 7-13 at the venue in that time. Prior to 2009, UA competed at the Rubber Bowl, located approximately 10 miles off campus.
• There is a unique connection between the Zips and Cajuns. UA head coach Terry Bowden replaced UL head coach Mark Hudspeth at North Alabama in 2009 (Hudspeth went to Mississippi State). Additionally, Zips offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach A.J. Milwee was Hudspeth's starting QB at North Alabama in 2008. UA offensive line coach Alan Arrington served in that same capacity on Hudspeth's UNA staff and was promoted to offensive coordinator by Bowden.
News, Notes, Trends
• Akron has four interceptions this season, three of which came versus Michigan last Saturday. That number ties for 17th nationally.
• The Zips defense is tied for 14th nationally in tackles for a loss (8.3 per game) and tied for 24th in the country in turnovers forced, with six.
• The UA defense ranks 24th nationally in sacks, with eight (2.67 spg) (one sack at Michigan last Saturday) The team had 16 total sacks in 2012.
• The Akron offense has converted on 53.2 percent of its third down attempts this season (25-of-47), which ranks 21st nationally. The program converted on 39.7 percent of those opportunities last season (75-of-189).
• The Zips rank sixth nationally in net punting (43.59 yards per punt).
• Twelve different players have caught at least one pass through three games this year. Sophomore Zach D'Orazio leads the group with 11 receptions for 120 yards (6 for 97 and 1 TD at Michigan) and junior L.T. Smith is next with eight grabs for 166 yards (5 for 125 at Michigan). Four other Zips have six catches apiece.
• Junior LB Justin March's two interception performance at Michigan last Saturday was one of 20 two-INT games nationally this season and the second by a linebacker. He is the only player in the MAC with two picks in one game this year.
• Junior RB Jawon Chisholm's 87 yards rushing off 11 carries against James Madison (Sept. 7) made him the 12th player in school history to rush for at least 2,000 career yards (155 yards, 37 carries this season).
• Chisholm's 2,069 career rushing yards rank as the 11th most in school history (437 career attempts). He flirted with 1,000 yards rushing in each of the last two seasons (953 yards, 180 carries in 2012; 961 yards, 218 carries in 2011).
• Sophomore P Zach Paul's 45.8 punt average ranks eighth nationally. Five of his 17 attempts have gone 50-plus yards and seven have landed inside the 20-yard line.
• Sophomore PK Robert Stein has made 44-consecutive point-after attempts (9-for-9 this season). The school record for consecutive PATs made is 49 (Russ Klaus, 1984-85).
