Akron Football Travels to Toledo for MAC Contest

Saturday, October 21

Toledo, OH

Noon

University of Akron

Toledo

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Football Travels to Toledo for MAC Contest

October 17 | Football

Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Bowden's Weekly Press Conference Video
MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio (Bowden)
MAC Weekly Release – Oct. 16

Gameday Coverage:
Buy Single-Game Tickets
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn.com)
Follow Free Live Statistics

Akron (4-3, 3-0 MAC) at Toledo (5-1, 2-0 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 21
Glass Bowl [26,038] | Toledo, OH
Noon ET | ESPN3

THIS WEEK
Akron continues its two-game Mid-American Conference road swing. The Zips travel to Toledo for a Noon contest on Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Glass Bowl.

ESPN3 will televise the game with Al Pawlowski (play-by-play) and Jordan Strack (analyst) calling the game.

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 one hour prior to kickoff. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.

Under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron stands 4-3 overall and 3-0 in MAC play after a 14-13 win at defending MAC champion Western Michigan. UA returns 57 lettermen, including 15 starters. The Zips utilize a spread offense and a 4-3 defense.

Junior RB Van Edwards (Cape Coral, Fla.) is the team's leading active rusher with 190 yards and two touchdowns on 54 carries. Under center, senior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) is 115-of-202 for 1,251 yards and nine touchdowns. Redshirt senior WR Tra'Von Chapman (Cincinnati, Ohio) is the top receiver with 26 receptions for 208 yards. Defensively, junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) leads the defense with 68 tackles, four sacks, three hurries, two break-ups, and an interception.

The Zips lead the MAC in red zone defense (68.0). In the NCAA stats, Akron is No. 4 in defensive touchdowns (3), No. 11 in red zone defense (0.680), and No. 36 in third down conversions (0.440). Individually, junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III is ranked No. 14 in total tackles (9.7).

The Rockets, under the guidance of second-year head coach Jason Candle, stand 5-1 overall and 2-0 in MAC play after a 30-10 win at Central Michigan. Toledo returns 44 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its spread offensive and multiple defensive schemes.

Senior RB Terry Swanson is Toledo's top rusher with 500 yards and seven touchdowns on 100 carries. Senior QB Logan Woodside is 121-of-191 for 1,724 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sophomore WR Diontae Johnson is the leading receiver with 492yards and five touchdowns on 30 receptions. Defensively, sophomore S Jordan Williams has 31 tackles ,a break-up, and an interception .

In the NCAA stats, Toledo is ranked No. 7 in time of possession (34:11), No. 16 in total offense (484.2), No. 22 in passing efficiency (152.70), and No. 28 in passing (287.7). Junior PK Jameson Vest is No. 2 in field goals per game (2.33), No. 10 in scoring (10.3), and No. 17 in field goal percentage (0.875). Senior QB Logan Woodside is No. 13 in passing yards per completion (14.25), No. 15 in passing efficiency (157.1), and No. 19 in passing yards (1,724).

AKRON-TOLEDO CONNECTIONS
Akron has no players from the Toledo area.

Toledo has five players from the Akron vicinity on its roster, including sophomore QB Mitchell Guadagni (Hudson, Ohio | Hudson HS), sophomore OL Bryce Harris [Akron, Ohio | Firestone HS], junior DB Quincy Iverson [Copley, Ohio | Copley HS], freshman DB DeAmonte King [Akron, Ohio | St. Vincent-St. Mary HS], and junior DB Marcus Whitfield [Massillon, Ohio | Washington HS].

Zips' senior WR Kevin Gladney, junior DL Brennan Williams, and freshman OL Rueben Durkee were teammates at Akron's Firestone High School with Toledo's sophomore OL Bryce Harris.

UA junior DL Brian Reinke and Rockets' junior DB Quincy Iverson played together for coach Ron Viscounte at Copley HS.

Joining UT's freshman DB DeAmonte King as a St-Vincent-St. Mary High School alum as eight Zips– sophomore LB Youssef Barakat, senior WR Fransohn Bickley, junior DB Nathan Bischof, junior LB Travonte Junius, sophomore S Vince Lockett, freshman DE Justin Sampson, junior TE Newman Williams, and freshman WR Malik Wooldridge.

Toledo head coach Jason Candle served as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater– Mount Union– during the 2008 national championship season when Akron offensive line coach (C) Brett Ekkens and strength coach (WR) Matt Gildersleeeve were freshmen on that team.

AKRON-TOLEDO: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the 20th meeting between Akron and Toledo in series history, which began in 1923. Toledo leads, 10-9. In MAC games only (since 1992), Toledo leads, 8-3. In games at UA, the Zips lead, 7-5.

In the teams' last meeting on Nov. 2, 2016, Akron established an early lead, but couldn't stop a second-half scoring outburst by Toledo, falling 48-17 on a Wednesday evening at InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field.

Toledo used a balanced offensive attack, out-gaining the Zips 622-444 with 332 yards in the air and 290 yards on the ground.

Akron recorded 348 passing yards as senior QB Thomas Woodson accounted for 316 passing yards , completing 17-of-33 passes with two touchdowns. Junior QB Tra'Von Chapman added 32 yards on 1-of-3 throwing.

Junior WR Jerome Lane led all receivers with 177 yards and a touchdown on six targets that included a 91-yard reception, the second longest all-time. Senior WR JoJo Natson added a touchdown on three receptions and 44 yards. Senior RB Denzel Jones, Jr., was Akron's leading rusher with a career-high 72 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, freshman CB Alvin Davis led Akron with 11 tackles.

On Nov. 29, 2013, the Akron defense made several big plays in the fourth quarter as the Zips won their third straight game, defeating the Toledo Rockets, 31-29, on a Friday at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field, to finish the season with a Mid-American Conference record of .500 or better for the first time since 2005.

Akron (5-7, 4-4 MAC) also closed out the year by winning four of its last five games and posted a 3-3 mark at home.

The defense came through with 59 seconds left in the game as Bryce Cheek broke up a two-point conversion attempt after Toledo (7-5, 5-3 MAC) scored on a 3-yard TD run by Mark Remy to pull to within 31-29. The Rockets were forced to go for two after Cody Grice blocked the point-after attempt on their previous scoring drive.

It was the last in a series of big plays for the UA defense, as Johnny Robinson intercepted a Terrance Owens pass in the end zone to thwart a potential game-tying drive early in the fourth quarter and keep the Zips ahead 24-17.

SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Toledo:   9-10
Akron in games at Akron:   7-5
Akron in games at Toledo:   2-5
Akron in games at a neutral site:   0-0
First meeting in series:   1923, at Akron, W, 10-3
Last meeting in series:   2016, at InfoCision Stadium, L, 48-17

BEST MAC START
Opening the 2017 season with three consecutive wins in Mid-American Conference play is a first for Akron. While the Zips have opened MAC play with two wins seven times ['92, 93, 01, 07, 08, 14, 16] since joining the league in 1992, winning three consecutive MAC games to open this season is a first in program history. Akron longest MAC winning streak is six games [last four games from 2015 and first two in 2016].

OPENING DRIVE SUCCESS
In the first seven games, Akron has scored on its opening drive five times. Conversely, Akron's defense has kept its opponents from scoring at all, forcing four turnovers. [see chart on p. 6]

LAST GAME
Rain and flooding postponed the game, but didn't deter the teams, as Akron and Western Michigan took the football field for Mid-American Conference action on Sunday at Waldo Stadium. On a chilly and rainy afternoon, Akron upset the defending MAC champions 14-13.

Senior RB Manny Morgan led the Zips' rushing efforts with 12 carries for 53 yards. Senior QB Thomas Woodson went 13-of-24 for 127 yards and a touchdown. Senior captain WR A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) led the receivers with three receptions for 38 yards.

Defensively, sophomore CB Alvin Davis II (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led the Zips with 12 tackles, while junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III had 10 tackles and a sack that sealed the win with 12 seconds remaining.

POSTGAME NOTES

The game was re-scheduled due to weather (torrential rains, lightning, and flooding). The last Zips' game that was postponed was against Eastern Michigan in 2001. The game slated for the week of Sept. 11 was moved to the end of the season (Nov. 24) following the terrorist attacks. UA beat EMU, 65-62 in triple overtime.
The Zips opened MAC play with three consecutive wins for the first time in school history.
Junior CB Kyron Brown's (Boynton Beach, Fla.) interception on the opening drive was the fifth of his collegiate career and his second this season.
In his first career start, freshman TE Kobie Booker (Barberton, Ohio) had a 13-yard touchdown reception for his first collegiate touchdown.
Senior RB Manny Morgan one-yard rushing touchdown on a direct snap in the second quarter was his second career touchdown and his first score this fall.
Junior DL Brian Reinke (Akron, Ohio) had a four-yard sack in the second quarter, the first sack of his career.

UP NEXT
Akron returns home for its final Saturday game. The Zips host Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 11:30 a.m. at InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field on the CBS Sports Network.