Akron Travels to Buffalo For MAC Action

Saturday, October 13

Buffalo, NY | UB Stadium

Noon

University of Akron

Buffalo

October 08 | Football

Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Bowden's Weekly Press Conference Video
MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio
MAC Weekly Release

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

AKRON (2-2, 0-1 MAC) at BUFFALO (5-1, 2-0 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 13

UB Stadium [29,013] | Buffalo, NY
Noon ET | CBS Sports Network

THIS WEEK
Akron makes its first road trip in Mid-American Conference play, visiting Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 13, for a Noon contest at UB Stadium.

The CBS Sports Network will televise the contest with Ben Holden (play-by-play) and Ross Tucker (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 seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron stands 2-2 overall and 0-1 in MAC play after a 41-17 loss to Miami (Ohio) in the MAC opener on Oct. 6. UA returns 58 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its spread offense and 4-3 defense.

Senior RB Van Edwards (Cape Coral, Fla.) is the Zips' top rusher, gaining 189 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries. Under center, sophomore Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) is 64-of-117 for 865 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore WR Andre Williams (Orlando, Fla.) is the top receiver with 242 yards and three touchdowns on 16 receptions. Defensively, junior LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) is the top Zip with 34 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and a break-up.

In the NCAA statistics, Akron is the national leader in red zone offense (1.000). The Zips also rank No. 2 in defensive touchdowns (4), No. 30 in fumbles recovered (5), and No. 34 in rushing defense (125.5).

Individually, junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is No. 1 in interceptions per game (1.3) and No. 1 in total interceptions (1). Sophomore Josh Ward (Delray Beach, Fla.) is No. 4 in forced fumbles (0.50, while Senior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) is No. 5 in fumbles recovered (2). Senior PK Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) is No. 13 in field goals (1.75).

The Bulls, under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Lance Leipold, stand 5-1 overall and 2-0 in MAC play after a 34-24 win at Central Michigan. Buffalo returns 51 letterwinners, including 14 starters, to its multiple offensive and 4-3 defensive schemes.

Redshirt senior RB Kevin Marks is Buffalo's top rusher with 466 yards and seven touchdowns on 82 carries. Redshirt senior QB Tyree Jackson is 98-of-170 for 1,331 yards and 17 touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore WR K.J. Osborn is the leading receiver with 490 yards and six touchdowns on 27 receptions. Defensively, senior DB Khalil Hodge, the MAC defensive leader, has 74 tackles, 3.0 TFL, two break-ups, and two hurries.

In the NCAA stats, Buffalo ranks No. 7 in turnovers gained (13), No. 9 in turnover margin (1.33), No. 13 in winning percentage (0.833), and No. 34 in red zone defense (0.765). Individually, senior DB Khalil Hodge is No. 3 in total tackles (12.3). Senior CB Cameron Lewis is No. 4 in interceptions per game (0.6) and total interceptions (3). Junior WR K.J. Osborn is No. 10 in receiving touchdowns (6) and No. 29 in receiving yards (490).

AKRON-BUFFALO CONNECTIONS
Akron has no players from the state of New York on its roster.

Buffalo has seven players from Ohio on its roster, including locals – freshman QB Kolston Brewster [Perry, Ohio | Perry HS], redshirt freshman OL Jacob Gall [Cincinnati, Ohio | Moeller HS], senior TE Andrew Gray [Chardon, Ohio | Chardon HS], redshirt freshman DE Jaylin Nolden [Euclid, Ohio | Euclid HS], sophomore WR Tito Overton [Lyndhurst, Ohio | Brush HS], freshman WR LeMaro Smith, Jr. [Cleveland, Ohio | Cleveland Heights HS], and sophomore QB Kyle Vantrease [Stow, Ohio | Stow-Munroe Falls HS].

Buffalo's 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 18th meeting between Akron and Buffalo in series history, which began in 1999. The Zips lead, 11-6, all in MAC play.

Last fall at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field, the Akron Zips claimed their fifth win of the season with a 21-20 victory over Buffalo in MAC action on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon.

Senior QB Thomas Woodson went 21-of-29 and threw for a season-high 286 yards and all three touchdowns. He moved into second place on Akron's career passing chart and now has 6,829 yards (second to Charlie Frye). Woodson is also second in career passing touchdowns with 53.

Senior A.J. Coney led the receivers with a career-high 91 yards on a career-high seven receptions. On the ground, sophomore Deltron Sands was the top rusher with seven carries for a career-high 70 yards. Defensively, DB Jordan George had a career-high 11 tackles and an interception.

In 2016, Buffalo senior RB Jordan Johnson rushed for a school record 282 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bulls to a 41-20 win over Akron in Mid-American Conference action on a rainy Thursday evening at UB Stadium. Despite two touchdowns from senior WR JoJo Natson and two field goals from redshirt sophomore PK Tom O'Leary, the Zips committed three turnovers and could not catch up to the Bulls on the scoreboard.

Natson led the Zips' receiving efforts with five catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore RB Van Edwards was the top rusher with 56 yards on 14 carries. Junior QB Thomas Woodson was 18-of-42 for 178 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, freshman CB Alvin Davis led the Zips with eight tackles, including six solo stops.

The last time at InfoCision Stadium, the Akron Zips posted their sixth win of the 2015 season, becoming bowl eligible for just the second time in school history (as an FBS program) and first time since 2005, with a 42-21 Mid-American Conference win.

Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson went 17-of-30 for 258 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Senior RB Donnell Alexander led all rushers with a career-high 143 yards and a career-best two touchdowns as a Zip. In the air, senior WR Imani Davis had seven receptions for a career-high 118 yards and a touchdown. It marked the first 100-yard receiving game of Davis' collegiate career. Defensively, senior LB Jatavis Brown led all defenders with 12 tackles and two hurries.

In the teams' meeting at UB Stadium on Nov. 11, 2014, Buffalo QB Joe Licata threw four touchdown passes en route to a 55-24 win over Akron in MAC play.

SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Buffalo: 11-6
Akron in games at Akron: 7-1
Akron in games at Buffalo: 4-5
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 1999, at Buffalo, W, 17-10
Last meeting in series: 2017, at InfoCision Stadium, W, 21-20

LAST GAME
Akron football opened Mid-American Conference play with a 41-17 loss to Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 6 at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field.

The loss snapped Akron's five-game home win streak. Miami forced five turnovers throughout the game.

For the Zips, sophomore QB Kato Nelson led the rushing efforts with 30 yards on 14 carries. Under center, he went 19-of-35 for 203 yards and a touchdown. He also threw three interceptions in the second half. Sophomore WR Andre Williams was the top receiver with seven catches for 66 yards. Defensively, senior S Jordan George had seven tackles, including six solo stops, and a break-up.

POSTGAME NOTES

Senior OL Undrea Bullard (St. Petersburg, Fla.) made his first appearance in the starting line-up at right tackle.
Sophomore WR Nate Stewart (Bethlehem, Pa.) put UA on the scoreboard in the second quarter with a 17-yard TD reception. The touchdown was the first of his career.
In the second quarter, junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had his fourth interception of the season.
Senior PK/P Nick Gasser had a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, senior LB Ulysees Gilbert III scored his second touchdown on the season, also on fumble recovery, and ran the ball 46 yards for the score, giving UA the lead in the game for the first time.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to cross-town rival Kent State on Saturday, Oct. 20, for a 3:30 p.m. game in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge.