The University of Akron Athletics
#ZipsBlackout: Akron Hosts Bowling Green in MAC East Showdown on Tuesday Night
October 30 | Football
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Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Terry Bowden – Weekly Press Conference Video
Terry Bowden – MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio
MAC Weekly – Oct. 27
Gameday Coverage:
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn.com)
Watch on ESPN3 / WatchESPN
Follow Free Live Statistics
Game 9: Bowling Green (5-3, 3-1) at Akron (4-4, 2-2)
Tuesday, Nov. 4
InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (30,000)
Akron, Ohio
8 p.m.
THIS WEEK
Akron opens November play with four Tuesday evening contests. The Zips return home to InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field to host defending MAC champion Bowling Green in Mid-American Conference action on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m.
ESPN2 will televise the game nationally with Mark Neely calling the action, Ray Bentley providing color commentary, and Quint Kessenich with sideline reports.
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron-IMG Sports Network [SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), 1420 WHK in Cleveland, 1440 WHKZ in Warren/Youngstown] with Steve French calling the action, Brad Detwiler providing analysis, and Joe Dunn with sideline reports. The pregame show starts at 7 p.m. ET. A free audio stream is available at GoZips.com/TuneIn.
Tuesday's game is the #ZipsBlackout game. The Akron team will don its all-black uniforms and gold chrome helmets. The first 5,000 fans will receive a free long-sleeve black shirt upon entry, and all fans are encouraged to wear black to the game. The Blackout game also will serve as Greek Night and the Resident Hall Challenge, and gold paper helmets will be distributed to students.
Additionally, four UA students will have the opportunity to win FREE tuition for the 2015 spring semester. For rules and details, visit www.GoZips.com.
Under the guidance of third-year head coach Terry Bowden, the Zips stand 4-4 overall and 2-2 in MAC play after a 35-21 loss at Ball State on Oct. 25. The 2014 Akron squad returns 48 lettermen, including 14 starters. The Zips utilize a spread offense and a 4-3 defense.
After eight games, junior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio) is the Zips' leading rusher with 407 yards and three touchdowns on 69 carries. Under center, junior QB Kyle Pohl (Farmersville, Ohio) is 119-of-210 for 1,289 yards and seven touchdowns. Redshirt freshman QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) is 72-of-137 for 773 yards and five touchdowns in seven appearances. Junior WR Zach D'Orazio (Avon Lake, Ohio) is the top receiver with 41 catches for 455 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, junior LB Jatavis Brown (Belle Glade, Fla.) is the team leader with 62 tackles, including a team-best 43 solo stops, 9.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, and a forced fumble.
In this week's national rankings, Akron is ranked among the nation's best, including No. 20 in scoring defense (20.3), No. 21 in fumbles recovered (8), No. 30 in red zone defense (0.778), and No. 36 in sacks (3.63). Individually, junior PK Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio), is ranked No. 1 in field goal percentage (100.0, 7-7), and junior P Zach Paul (Broadview Heights, Ohio) is No. 13 in punting (44.9).
Bowling Green, under the tutelage of first-year head coach Dino Babers, stands 5-3 overall and 3-1 in MAC play after a 26-14 loss to Western Michigan on Oct. 18. The Falcons, who return 12 starters to their #FalconFast offense and 4-3 defense, have a 16-day break before visiting Akron.
After eight games, redshirt junior RB Travis Greene is the Falcons' top rusher with 636 yards and eight touchdowns on 126 carries. Redshirt sophomore QB James Knapke is 179-of-302 for 1,958 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight starts. Freshman WR Roger Lewis has 706 yards and three touchdowns on 53 receptions. Defensively, redshirt senior LB Gabe Martin leads the Falcons with 71 tackles, three breakups, 1.5 sacks, and a 37-yard interception return.
In the NCAA stats, Bowling Green is ranked No. 6 in fumbles recovered (10), No. 11 in punt returns (15.33), No. 12 in tackles for loss (7.6), No. 22 in red zone defense (.744), and No. 25 in first downs (191). Senior CB Bryan Thomas is No. 4 in forced fumbles (0.50), and Taylor Royster is No. 13 in fumbles recovered (2). Senior DE Herve Coby and sophomore LB Ryan Burbrink are tied at No. 6 in punt return touchdowns (1).
AKRON-BOWLING GREEN CONNECTIONS
BGSU defensive coordinator Kim McCloud served as Akron's defensive backs coach during the 2011 season.
Bowling Green has four players from the Akron area– freshman DB Nick Johnson (Canton, Ohio/Timken HS), redshirt freshman LB Nate Locke (Canton, Ohio/Massillon HS), junior TE Vito Sosic (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius/Akron), and freshman OL De'Angelo Ware (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights).
AKRON-BOWLING GREEN: THE SERIES
Tuesday's game is the 21st meeting between Akron and Bowling Green in series history, which began in 1941. The Falcons lead, 13-7. In MAC games only (since 1992), BGSU leads, 12-5. Bowling Green has won the last five outings against the Zips.
In the teams' last meeting on Sept. 28, 2013, Akron jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter, but was shut out from that point and gave up a 31-14 decision to Bowling Green in MAC play at Doyt Perry Stadium.
Akron QB Kyle Pohl was responsible for both of the Zips' touchdowns. The first came off a 51-yard pass to L.T. Smith III with 12:38 to go in the opening stanza and the second was a three-yard rush of his own with 5:39 left in the first period to give UA a 14-3 edge.
Pohl ended the day 22-of-37 passing for 199 yards, and rushed six times for 26 yards. Smith was the Zips' leading receiver, catching five balls for 89 yards. Jerrod Dillard had five catches for 50 yards for UA.
Bowling Green scored its first points on a 29-yard field goal by Tyler Tate 9:31 into the game, and closed the margin to 14-10 when Matt Johnson hit Shaun Joplin with a 22-yard TD pass with 1:41 to go before halftime.
The Falcons took a 17-14 lead when William Houston found the endzone from two yards out with 6:47 to go in the third quarter. Travis Green caught a 30-yard pass from Matt Johnson for a score with 1:41 to go in the third and Green's 11-yard TD run with 4:49 left in the game provided the final margin.
Johnson completed 18-of-29 passes for 229 yards and was sacked six times, all coming during the first half. Green rushed 24 times for 142 yards and Joplin had five catches for 78 yards for the Falcons.
SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Bowling Green: 7-13
Akron in games at Akron: 4-6
Akron in games at Bowling Green: 3-7
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 1941, at Akron, W, 8-0
Last meeting in series: 2013, at Doyt L. Perry Stadium, L, 31-14
LAST GAME: BALL STATE 35, AKRON 21
Leading 21-6 late in the second quarter, the Akron football team gave up 29 unanswered points to fall 35-21 at Ball State in Mid-American Conference play on Oct. 25 at Scheumann Stadium.
Akron turned the ball over six times in the game, all coming in the second half, and was held to just 103 yards of offense in the second half (325 yards overall). Ball State posted 380 yards of offense and did not turn the ball over.
Redshirt freshman QB Thomas Woodson finished the game 21-of-39 for 200 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted four times. Junior RB Conor Hundley scored two first-half touchdowns, carrying the ball 14 times for 72 yards.
Senior LB C.J. Mizell (Tallahassee, Fla.) led the defense with 11 tackles.
BOWDEN EARNS 150th CAREER WIN
With a 29-19 win over Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 11, the Zips gave head coach Terry Bowden the 150th victory in his career. In his 21 season overall, he stands 150-84-2.
TOP OF THE MAC
Akron and Bowling Green are atop the MAC East standings. The Zips lead all conference schools in several statistical categories: scoring defense (20.2), sacks (21), and pass efficiency defense (115.5).
UP NEXT
Akron continues Tuesday night MAC action on Nov. 11 as the Zips travel to Buffalo for an 8 p.m. game before a national television audience on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
