Football Hosts Ball State in Homecoming Game

Saturday, October 7

Akron, OH

3:30 PM

University of Akron

Ball State

Tickets

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

October 02 | 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. 2

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

Ball State (2-3, 0-1 MAC) at Akron (2-3, 1-0 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 7
InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field [30,000] | Akron, OH
3:30 PM ET | ESPN3

THIS WEEK
Akron entertains Ball State in its annual Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 3:30 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field. The 2017 Hall of Fame Class, including the Team of Distinction– the 1986 Men's Soccer Team, will be inducted prior to the game and introduced during the first half.

ESPN3 will televise the game with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Jerod Cherry (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 2-3 overall and 1-0 in MAC play after a 34-23 win at Bowling Green in the conference opener. UA returns 57 lettermen, including 15 starters. The Zips utilize a spread offense and a 4-3 defense.

Senior RB Warren Ball (Columbus, Ohio) is the team's leading rusher with 332 yards and four touchdowns on 75 carries. Under center, senior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) is 85-of-148 for 913 yards and six touchdowns. Redshirt senior WR Tra'Von Chapman (Cincinnati, Ohio) is the top receiver with 22 receptions for 171 yards. Defensively, junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) leads the defense with 45 tackles, two sacks, and an interception.

In the NCAA stats, Akron is No. 17 in fourth down conversions (0.750) and No. 20 in third down conversions (0.474). Individually, junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III is ranked No. 32 in total tackles (9.0).

The Cardinals, under the guidance of second-year head coach Mike Neu, stand 2-3 overall and 0-1 in MAC play after a 55-3 loss at Western Michigan. Ball State returns 34 letterwinners, including 11 starters, to its up-tempo pro style offensive and 4-3 defensive schemes.

Freshman RB Caleb Huntley is Ball State's top rusher with 259 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries. Junior QB Riley Neal is 67--of-99 for 659 yards and six touchdowns. Freshman WR Justin Hall is the leading receiver with 431 yards and two touchdowns on 35 receptions. Defensively, junior LB Damon Singleton has 31 tackles , three break-ups, two hurries, and an interception.

In the NCAA stats, Ball State is ranked No. 14 in sacks (3.00), No. 17 in punt returns (14.50), and No. 23 in tackles for loss (7.6). Senior WR Corey Lacanaria is No. 11 in punt returns (14.8), while sophomore RB Malik Dunner is No. 12 in kickoff returns (32.0).

HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS
The 43rd Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame Class will be honored during Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 7. The Class of 2017 features: Eugene Alfred '73 (Soccer), Danielle Beland Aubin '07 (Swimming & Diving), Tim Dobos '89 (Baseball), Ashley Kaufman '07 (Track & Field), Tracee McCoy '03 (Softball), Ron Pasquale '87 (Football), Barron Pringle '99 (Track & Field). The Team of Distinction— the 1986 men's soccer team, the Kenneth "Red" Cochrane Meritorious Service Awardee, Kevin O. Thompson '75, and the Mike Krino Varsity "A" Achievement Awardee, David J. Brubach '63 (Wrestling), will also be honored.

The banquet festivities on October 7 will begin at 10:30 a.m., with a brunch buffet followed by the induction program at 11:15 a.m. The cost of the banquet is $40 per person and $20 for children (12 and under). For further information about the Varsity "A" Hall of Fame, contact Tim Faix at (330) 972-8502 or via email at tfaix@uakron.edu.

HOMECOMING
Under head coach Terry Bowden, the Zips stand 2-3 in Homecoming games. Last fall, Akron claimed a 35-13 win over Miami (Ohio) in its MAC home opener on Oct. 8. In 2015, Akron dropped a 14-12 decision to Oho on Oct. 3. In 2014, the Zips claimed a 31-6 win over Eastern Michigan on Oct. 4. In 2013, UA fell to Ohio, 43-3, on Oct. 5. In 2012, Akron fell to Bowling Green, 24-10, on Oct. 6.

AKRON-BALL STATE CONNECTIONS
Akron has no players on its roster from the state of Indiana.

Ball State has 16 player on its roster from Ohio with one from the local area– freshman LB Jimmy Daw (Media, Ohio | Medina HS).

Akron tight ends/H-backs coach Trent Boykin served as Ball State's running backs and special teams coach during the 2003-04 seasons.

AKRON-BALL STATE: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the 23rd meeting between Akron and Ball State in series history, which began in 1964. The series is tied at 11-11-1. In MAC games only (since 1992), BSU leads 8-5.

Last fall in Muncie, Ind., junior QB Thomas Woodson returned to the starting line-up as the University of Akron football team pulled out a come-from-behind 35-25 win at Ball State at Scheumann Stadium.

Woodson finished with two touchdowns on 27-of-40 throwing for 338 yards. Trailing 17-7 at halftime, Woodson guided the Zips to 21 unanswered points to open the second stanza.

Sophomore RB Van Edwards led the Zips on the ground with a career-high 16 carries for a career-high 112 yards and a touchdown, his first 100-yard rushing performance.

Senior WR JoJo Natson had his second 100-yard receiving game, finishing with 109 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.

Defensively, sophomore LB Ulysees Gilbert led the defense with a career-high 17 tackles, including a career-best 12 assists, while CB Alvin Davis added a career-high 15 tackles.

On Oct. 25, 2014, Akron gave up 29 unanswered points (after leading 21-6 late in the second quarter) to fall 35-21 at Ball State in Mid-American Conference play 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 led the defense with 11 tackles.

On Oct. 26, 2013, at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field, Akron used its rushing game to combat the wind on a blustery afternoon, but it was not enough to offset the effects of Ball State's signature passing style in a 42-24 loss.

UA racked up over half of its total offense on the ground, tallying a season-high 226 rushing yards on 44 carries. Jawon Chisholm led the charge, rushing for 166 yards on 26 attempts. He scored the Zips' first touchdown of the day at the 5:49 mark of the second quarter, when he broke free for a career-long 65-yard run.

Quarterback Kyle Pohl threw for 211 yards in the game, 159 of which came in the second half, split among nine different receivers. The signal caller registered one TD through the air and one of his own on the ground.

Ball State was paced by quarterback Keith Wenning, who threw 25 completions in 35 attempts for five touchdowns.

Back-to-back BSU touchdowns before intermission set UA back 28-10 to start the second half, until Pohl marched in for a TD from 15 yards out with 8:04 on the clock in the third quarter.

SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Ball State:                11-11-1
Akron in games at Akron:                    4-6
Akron in games at Ball State:              7-5-1
Akron in games at a neutral site:         0-0
First meeting in series:                        1964, at BSU, W, 25-14
Last meeting in series:                        2016, at Scheumann Stadium, W, 35-25

BROWN NAMED MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior CB Kyron Brown (Boynton Beach, Fla.) was tabbed the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the East Division on Oct. 2.

Brown scored the game-winning touchdown in Akron's 34-23 win at Bowling Green in the MAC opener, snapping the Falcons' eight-game series winning streak over the Zips. The corner back, who finished with four tackles and a break-up, intercepted a BG pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 38 yards for the winning score. The interception was the fourth of Brown's career and his first this season. It was his first career touchdown.

The MAC honor is the first of Brown's career. He is the second Zip to earn conference recognition this fall. Junior linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III earned the honor on Sept. 11.

LAST GAME
The Akron Zips led all but 2:36 en route to a 34-23 win over Bowling Green in the Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday evening at Doyt Perry Stadium. With the win, Akron snapped BGSU's eight-game series winning streak while moving to 1-0 in league play and 2-3 overall.

The Zips reached the end zone five times as senior QB Thomas Woodson led the offense with 168 yards in the air, completing 13-of-24 passes with two touchdowns. He added an 11-yard touchdown run and totaled 24 yards on the ground on eight attempts.

Woodson's main target was senior WR A.J. Coney who caught five passes for 42 yards with a touchdown. Senior WR Austin Wolf followed with three catches and 68 yards receiving, including a 43-yard long touchdown reception.

On the ground, junior RB Van Edwards, Jr., carried the load. Edwards gained 70 yards on 14 attempts with a touchdown, while senior RB Manny Morgan picked up 51 yards on 11 rushing attempts. In addition, senior RB Warren Ball left the game with an injury after three carries.

The Akron defense also put points on the scoreboard as junior CB Kyron Brown recorded a pick-six for his first career touchdown. The Zips won the turnover battle, 4-3, which included three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III and sophomore LB John Lako led the Zips in tackles. Gilbert recorded 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss and a sack, while Lako registered 10 takedowns.

POSTGAME NOTES

Akron captured its first win over Bowling Green since 2006, snapping an eight-game MAC series win streak.
On the opening drive, redshirt senior LB Andrew Hauser (Mason, Ohio) forced a fumble, the first of his career. It was recovered by sophomore CB Alvin Davis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), his second recovery. His previous recovery came against Bowling Green in 2016.
Senior WR Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio) scored his first touchdown of the season on a 43-yard pass from Thomas Woodson. It marked Wolf's first touchdown this season and the ninth of his career. Wolf finished the game with three receptions for 68 yards.
Redshirt sophomore Deltron Sands (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had a career-high three kickoff returns for a career-high 79 yards, including a career-long return of 34 yards.
Senior RB Warren Ball left the game in the first quarter with an injury. Following the game, it was announced that the captain suffered a broken ankle and will miss the rest of the season.

ZIPS QUICK HITS

The players elected seniors RB Warren Ball, WR A.J. Coney, and S Zach Guiser as team captains for the 2017 season.
Six of Akron's 2017 opponents— Penn State (Rose), Troy (Dollar General), Western Michigan (Cotton), Toledo (Camelia), Miami (St. Petersburg), and Ohio (Dollar General)— participated in bowls in 2016.
Since 1979, Akron has faced 29 nationally ranked teams, going 1-28. The Zips' sole victory was a 34-20 win over No. 25 Marshall at the Rubber Bowl on Nov. 2, 2002.
Akron has 46 student-athletes on its roster from the state of Ohio; 33 of those live within a 30-mile radius to campus.

UP NEXT
Akron begins a two-game road swing with a stop at Western Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 14, for a 3:30 p.m. contest on CBS Sports Network. The next home contest is Saturday, Oct. 28, against Buffalo with an 11:30 a.m. kickoff on CBS Sports Network.