The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Host Buffalo on Saturday as Teams Battle for Bowl Eligibility
November 17 | Football
Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Terry Bowden – Weekly Press Conference Video
Terry Bowden – MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio
MAC Weekly – Nov. 16
Gameday Coverage:
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn.com)
Follow Free Live Statistics
Buffalo (5-5, 3-3 MAC) at Akron (5-5, 3-3 MAC)
Saturday, Nov. 21
InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field [30,000] | Akron, Ohio
3:30 p.m. ET | CBS Sports Network
THIS WEEK
Akron returns home for its final two games of the regular season. First the Zips host Buffalo on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 3:30 p.m. ET at InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field.
The CBS Sports Network will televise the game nationally with Jason Knapp (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst), and Cassie Gallo (sideline) calling the action.
CBS Sports Network: University of Akron Cable channel 63, Time Warner channels 322 & 1323(HD), DirecTV channel 221, DISH Network channel 158, and AT&T U-Verse channel 643 &1643(HD).
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 report. The pregame show starts at 2:30 p.m. ET. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Terry Bowden, the Zips stand 5-5 overall and 3-3 in MAC play after a 37-28 MAC win at Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 14. Akron returns 47 lettermen, including 12 starters. The Zips utilize a spread offense and a 4-3 defense.
After 10 games, senior RB Conor Hundley (Hamilton, Ohio) is the team's leading rusher with 761 yards and nine touchdowns on 157 carries. Under center, sophomore QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) leads the Zips with 119-of-229 for 1,636 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior WR Imani Davis (Miami, Fla.) is the top receiver with 39 catches for 475 yards and two touchdowns. Senior LB Jatavis Brown (Belle Glade, Fla.) is the top defender with 88 tackles, a team-best 16.0 TFL, a team-best 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.
In this week's national rankings, Akron is ranked No. 3 in rushing defense (93.7), No. 28 in total defense (341.5), No. 35 in sacks (2.50), and No. 40 in red zone defense (0.800). Individually, junior CB DeAndre Scott (Frederick, Md.) is No. 3 in total interceptions (6), No. 8 in interceptions per game (0.6) and No. 16 in passes defended (1.4). Senior LB Jatavis Brown (Belle Glade, Fla.) is No. 4 in sacks (1.05). Sophomore WR Jerome Lane (Akron, Ohio) is No. 4 nationally in yards per reception (22.88).
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Lance Leipold, Buffalo stands 5-5 overall and 3-3 in MAC play after a 41-30 loss to Northern Illinois on Nov. 11. The Bulls return 43 letterwinners, including 12 starters, to their multiple offense and 4-3 defense.
After 10 games, junior FB Jordan Johnson leads the rushers with 701 yards and nine touchdowns on 143 carries. Under center, senior QB Joe Licata is 229-of-358 for 2,420 yards and 14 touchdowns. Senior TE Matt Weiser is the top receiver with 53 catches for 514 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, senior LB Nick Gilbo has 95 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, and five hurries.
In the NCAA stats, the Bulls are No. 1 in defensive touchdowns (7), No. 8 in fumbles lost (6), and No. 16 in punt returns (14.13). Individually, junior CB Boise Ross is No. 3 in passes defended (1.9), sophomore WR Jacob Martinez is No. 7 in punt return touchdowns (1), and senior LB Nick Gilbo is No. 23 in solo tackles (9,5).
AKRON-BUFFALO CONNECTIONS
Akron has two players from the state of New York on its roster, but none from the Buffalo area.
Buffalo has 12 players from Ohio on its roster, including locals – sophomore LB Ishmael Hargrove (Cleveland, Ohio | Gilmour Academy HS), senior WR Devin Campbell (Youngstown, Ohio | Boardman HS), sophomore DL Chris Ford (Medina, Ohio | Medina HS), junior WR Malcolm Robinson (Canton, Ohio | Canton McKinley HS), and junior TE Mason Schreck (Medina, Ohio | Medina HS).
Buffalo associate head coach and wide receivers coach Rob Ianello was the Zips' head coach for two seasons (2010-11), recording a 2-22 record.
AKRON-BUFFALO: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the 15th meeting between Akron and Buffalo in series history, which began in 1999. The Zips lead, 9-5, all in MAC play.
In the teams' last meeting on Nov. 11, 2014, Buffalo QB Joe Licata threw four touchdown passes en route to a 55-24 win over Akron in Mid-American Conference play at UB Stadium.
Junior QB Kyle Pohl went 15-for-29 for 128 yards on the night. Senior RB Jawon Chisholm led the Akron rushers with 40 yards on 12 carries.
Senior LB Justin March and junior LB Dylan Evans led the Akron defense with seven tackles each.
Akron finished the game with 229 yards and two turnovers while Buffalo posted 536 yards of offense and committed two turnovers.
SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Buffalo: 9-5
Akron in games at Akron: 5-1
Akron in games at Buffalo: 4-4
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 1999, at Buffalo, W, 17-10
Last meeting in series: 2014, at Buffalo, L, 55-24
ZIPS QUICK HITS
- Five of Akron's 2015 opponents—Oklahoma (Russell Athletic), Pittsburgh (Armed Forces), Louisiana (R+L Carriers), Bowling Green (Camellia), and Central Michigan (Bahamas)— participated in bowls in 2014. With two weeks left in the 2015 season, four Zips' opponents are already bowl eligible– Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Bowling Green, and Ohio.
- In 2015, Akron opens its seventh season playing on-campus in InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. The Zips have a 14-25 record at the venue (4-2 in 2014). The stadium opened in 2009.
- Since 1979, Akron has faced 25 nationally ranked teams, going 1-24. The Zips' sole victory was a 34-20 win over No. 25 Marshall at the Rubber Bowl on Nov. 2, 2002.
- The 2015 season marks the 10th Anniversary of the Zips' 2005 Mid-American Conference championship. Under coach J.D. Brookhart, UA defeated Northern Illinois, 31-30, in the MAC title game before participating in the Motor City Bowl, its first bowl appearance as an NCAA Division I-A member (FBS).
- Akron has 51 student-athletes on its roster from the state of Ohio; 37 of those live within a 30-mile radius to campus.
- The Zips features experienced players on the roster, including 14 transfers– senior RB Donnell Alexander (Colorado State), senior OL Tommy Brown (Ohio State), sophomore QB Tra'Von Chapman (Pittsburgh), r-junior CB Wedley Charles (Hiram), r-senior DL Rodney Coe (Iowa State), r-sophomore WR A.J. Coney (Weber State), junior DB Larry Hope (Miami [Fla.]), r-senior DB Bryce Jones (Boston College), sophomore OL Josh Krok (Kentucky), r-junior DL Jamal Marcus (Ohio State), senior LB Darryl Monroe (Washington State), junior DL Se'Von Pittman (Ohio State), junior OL Xavier Quigley (Western Iowa), and sophomore ATH Anthony Young (Indiana).
The players elected seniors LB Jatavis Brown, RB Conor Hundley, and NT Cody Grice as team captains for the 2015 season. - Senior WR Michaelee Harris (Achilles), junior OL Michael Casimos (ankle), and junior WR Mykel Traylor-Bennett (hand) are out for the season with the injuries.
TALKING ABOUT THE "B" WORD
With two games remaining and a 5-5 overall record, the Akron Zips are poised to become bowl eligible. Since jumping up to Division I-A play (FBS) in 1987, Akron has appeared in just one bowl game– the 2005 Motor City Bowl.
MAC ADDS SIXTH BOWL GAME FOR 2015
The Mid-American Conference announced on Nov. 12 that it will send one football program to appear in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23 at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN against an opponent from the Mountain West Conference.
The MAC's participation in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl will be the Conference's sixth guaranteed bowl appearance the 2015 bowl season. The MAC will fill this position in San Diego as the backup to Army, which will not be bowl eligible this season.
In 2013 the MAC and the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl announced a six-year partnership. The MAC will be a primary bowl partner in San Diego in the 2017 and 2019 bowl seasons, while serving as a secondary bowl partner for four seasons, including the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018 bowl seasons. The MAC will play an opponent from the Mountain West Conference as the games will be played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif. [Bowl information is on page 15]
LAST GAME: AKRON 37, MIAMI (OHIO) 28
Senior placekicker Robert Stein (Cincinnati, Ohio) nailed a 50-yard field goal with less than three minutes to play to seal the Zips' 37-28 Mid-American Conference victory at Miami (Ohio) at Yager Stadium on Nov. 14.
Despite a 27-7 halftime lead, the Zips allowed 21 MU second-half points, including two touchdowns less than a minute apart in the fourth quarter.
Akron racked up 432 yards of total offense, including 211 yards on the ground. Senior RB Conor Hundley, playing before a huge hometown crowd, rushed for 110 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson went 13-of-28 for 221 yards. Senior WR Imani Davis led the receiving corps with seven catches for 64 yards, while sophomore WR Jerome Lane had four receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior LB Jatavis Brown had a game-high 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, 4.5 TFL for a loss of 25 yards, two sacks, an interceptions, and a forced fumble.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The win was Akron's third consecutive win over Miami (Ohio) and fourth road victory this fall. The Zips have now won five games this season, equaling the wins from 2013 and 2014.
- The Zips are a perfect 4-0 when leading at the half.
- Senior RB Conor Hundley finished with 21 carries for 110 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, marking the fourth 100-yard performance of his career and third this season.
- Senior NT Cody Grice's two-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter was his fourth this season (eighth of his career).
- Senior LB Jatavis Brown's interception in the third quarter was the first of his career. He finished with 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, 4.5 TFL, two sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. With his sacks, Brown set the season record for sacks. He now has 10.5 sacks. The previous record was 10.0 sacks, held by Jason Williams (1996) and Ken Williams (1993).
- Junior CB DeAndre Scott's (Frederick, Md.) interception in the third quarter was his sixth this season, ninth of his collegiate career.
MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior LB Jatavis Brown was tabbed the MAC Defensive Player of the Week for the East Division on Nov. 16. Additionally, Brown was named the Zips' Student-Athlete of the Week, presented by The University of Akron, Ohio's Polytechnic University, for the second consecutive week.
In the 37-28 win at Miami (Ohio), Brown had a very busy day. He led all defenders with 11 tackles, two sacks, a career-high 4.5 TFL, a forced fumble, a break-up, and the first interception of his career.
With his two sacks, Brown set the school record for sacks in a season [the previous record was 10.0 sacks, held by Jason Taylor (1996) and Ken Williams (1993)]. He now has 10.5 sacks with two regular-season games remaining.
Brown is the third Zip to earn MAC honors this fall. On Sept. 28, sophomore LS Michael Buddenberg (Massillon, Ohio) earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors, while senior PK Robert Stein earned the honor on Oct. 5.
UP NEXT
Akron closes out the regular season with cross-town rival Kent State on Black FryeDay, Nov. 27, at Noon on ESPN3. The Senior Class will be honored during a pregame ceremony. Former QB Charlie Frye (2001-04) will be inducted into the Ring of Honor.
