Akron Football Hosts Bowling Green on Senior Day

Saturday, November 17

Akron, Ohio

3:30 PM

University of Akron

Bowling Green

Akron Football Hosts Bowling Green on Senior Day

November 12 | 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:
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BOWLING GREEN (2-8, 1-5 MAC) at AKRON (4-5, 2-4 MAC)
SENIOR DAY
Saturday, Nov. 17

InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field [30,000] | Akron, OH
3:30 PM ET | ESPN3

THIS WEEK
Akron closes out its home slate on Senior Day with Bowling Green on Saturday, Nov. 17, with a 3:30 p.m. contest at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field.

ESPN3 will televise the contest with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and John Gregory (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 4-5 overall and 2-4 in MAC play after a 27-7 loss at Eastern Michigan on Nov. 10. UA returns 58 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its spread offense and 4-3 defense.

Senior RB Van Edwards, Jr. (Cape Coral, Fla.) is the Zips' top rusher, gaining 470 yards and three touchdown on 118 carries. Under center, sophomore QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) is 123-of-234 for 1,647 yards and 11 touchdowns, while redshirt freshman QB Alex Ramart (Richmond, Texas) is 9-of-32 for 61 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore WR Andre Williams (Orlando, Fla.) is the top receiver with 544 yards and five touchdowns on 37 receptions. Defensively, junior LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) is the top Zip with 102 tackles, 7.5 TFL, three break-ups, a fumble recovery, and a hurry.

In the NCAA statistics, Akron is ranked No. 3 in defensive touchdowns (4), No. 7 in red zone offense (0.938), and No. 36 in fumbles recovered (8). Individually, junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is No. 3 in interceptions per game (0.5) and No. 7 in total interceptions (4). Freshman Jeremiah Knight (Jefferson, Ohio) is No. 3 in punt return touchdowns (1). Junior LB John Lako is No. 7 in solo tackles (6.4) and No. 10 in total tackles (11.3). Senior PK Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) is No. 20 in field goals (1.44).

The Falcons, under the guidance of interim head coach/defensive coordinator Carl Pelini, stand 2-8 overall and 1-5 in MAC play after 24-13 win at Central Michigan on Nov. 10. Bowling Green returns 37 letterwinners, including 14 starters, to its multiple offensive and multiple defensive schemes.

Sophomore RB Andrew Clair is BGSU's top rusher with 577 yards and five touchdowns on 117 carries. Under center, sophomore QB Jarret Doege is 215-of-345 for 2,398 yards and 24 touchdowns. Senior WR Scott Miller is the leading receiver with 933 yards and seven touchdowns on 61 receptions. Defensively, senior LB Brandon Harris has 108 tackles, 3.5 TFL, two hurries, a break-up, and a sack.

In the NCAA stats, Bowling Green ranks No. 20 in blocked punts (1) and No. 36 in fumbles recovered (8). Individually, sophomore QB Jarret Doege is No. 10 in passing touchdowns (24), No. 16 in points per game (16.2), and No. 16 in points responsible for (162). Senior LB Brandon Harris is 11 in solo tackles (6.0) and No. 14 in total tackles (10.8).

SENIOR STATUS
Prior to the home finale with Bowling Green, Akron will honor the 29 members of its Senior Class– S Jamal Baggett, LB Brian Bell, LB Nathan Bischof, DL Brock Boxen, DE Walter Brady, CB Kyron Brown, OL Undrea Bullard, DB Denzel Butler, CB Darian Dailey, DE Jamal Davis II, RB Van Edwards, Jr., CB Mark Ellis, OL Nick Fazio, PK James Fonseca, H/P Kyle Foster, PK/P Nick Gasser, DB Jordan George, LB Ulysees Gilbert III, RB Caleb Green, LB Travonte Junius, QB Robbie Kelley, WR Brandon Mitchell, PK Tom O'Leary, TE Brian Reinke, OL Kyle Ritz, WR Kwadarrius Smith, WR Mykel Traylor-Bennett, DL Brennan Williams, and TE Newman Williams.
This is the third five-year graduating class to play under head coach Terry Bowden at Akron. The 2018 Senior Class may leave campus as the all-time most productive class in program history. In the past three-plus seasons, they were a part of the re-building process, helping the Zips to at least five wins [2015 (8), 2016 (5), 2017 (7), 2018 (4) = 24 total] each year. The Zips became bowl eligible twice in three seasons, a program first. They claimed the 2017 MAC East title and four consecutive Wagon Wheel trophies.

Twelve of the seniors have already earned their undergraduate degrees and are pursuing master's degrees.

Individually, the Zips have re-written the record books and climbed the career charts while racking up weekly honors. Off the field, they've represented UA in the community with several activities, including game week visits to Akron Children's Hospital. Congratulations, Seniors!

AKRON-BGSU: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the 25th meeting between Akron and Bowling Green in series history, which began in 1941. The Falcons lead, 16-8. In MAC games only (since 1992), BGSU leads, 15-6.

Last fall, 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.

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 (Lebanon, Ohio) followed 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.

In 2016, erasing an 18-point deficit in the second half wasn't enough as the Akron Zips fell short to Bowling Green, 38-28, on Senior Night at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field.

Bowling Green controlled the first half. However, Akron scored 18 unanswered points, tying the game 28-28 with 10:48 left in the fourth quarter. Seven minutes later, the Falcons regained the lead with a 27-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, BGSU recovered a fumble, which led to a 22-yard touchdown run by Donovan Wilson.

Because of two injuries in the first half, Akron was forced to use three quarterbacks on the final showing at InfoCision Stadium. QB Thomas Woodson opened the game behind center, but was injured on the final play of the first series.

Junior QB Tra'Von Chapman took over the duties, throwing for 58 yards on 7-of-14 attempts while gaining 14 yards on the ground on six attempts with a touchdown. On the final offensive play of the first half, Chapman left the field and never returned.

The last time at Perry Stadium on Oct. 17, 2015, Akron fell to Bowling Green, 59-10, as the Falcons posted 31-unanswered second-half points.

Woodson completed 13-of-28 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Senior RB Conor Hundley was the top rusher with 15 carries for 69 yards. Sophomore WR Jerome Lane led all Zip receivers with four catches for 45 yards.

Defensively, senior LB Dylan Evans was the team leader with 11 tackles, while senior LBs Jatavis Brown and Darryl Monroe had nine tackles each.

SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Bowling Green: 8-16
Akron in games at Akron: 4-8
Akron in games at Bowling Green: 4-8
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 1941, at Akron, W, 8-0
Last meeting in series: 2017, at Perry Stadium, W, 34-23

LAST GAME
Akron football dropped a 27-7 decision at Eastern Michigan in Mid-American Conference action on a frigid Saturday afternoon at Rynearson Stadium.

The Eagles racked up 384 yards of total offense, while the Zips struggled offensively, gaining just 90 yards playing without their starting quarterback sophomore Kato Nelson.

On the ground, senior RB Van Edwards, Jr. led UA with 53 rushing yards. In his first collegiate start, redshirt freshman QB Alex Ramart went 4-of-15 for 29 yards. In the air, senior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla) was the top receiver with two receptions for 22 yards.

Defensively, senior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) was the top Zip with 11 tackles, including a TFL.

For the Eagles, RB Ian Eriksen ran for 96 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. QB Tyler Wiegers went 15-of-23 for 129 yards. Mathew Sexton led the EMU receivers with 55 yards on five catches.

In the second quarter, freshman Jeremiah Knight (Jefferson, Ohio) returned a punt 70 yards for his first career touchdown. UA came within three, 10-7, at intermission despite just one first down and 14 yards of total offense.

POSTGAME NOTES

Redshirt freshman QB Alex Ramart made his first collegiate start under center. On the day, he went 4-of-15 for 29 yards.
Senior DE Jamal Davis II (Canton, Ohio) had a sack in the first half for a loss of three yards. It was his fourth sack this fall.
Freshman WR Jeremiah Knight scored his first collegiate touchdown in the second quarter with a 70-yard punt return. The last time UA returned a punt for a TD was in 2016 as JoJo Natson returned a punt 79 yards at Buffalo (10-27-16).
On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, junior DB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) forced a fumble, the third of his career, while redshirt junior Hugh Cade (Akron, Ohio) recovered, the first time in his career.

AKRON ADDS GAME WITH SOUTH CAROLINA
The University of Akron and the University of South Carolina have agreed to play a football game on Dec. 1, 2018, at Noon in Williams-Brice Stadium.

The game replaces UA's Sept. 1 contest at Nebraska, which was canceled due to lightning, and USC's Sept. 15 contest against Marshall, which was canceled due to Hurricane Florence.

The game will be televised on the SEC Network Alternate channel and can be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN App on connected devices. The game will be broadcast on the Akron-IMG Sports Network (radio).

This is the first meeting between the schools on the gridiron.

POWER-FUL SCHEDULE
For the first time in its FBS history (since 1987), Akron (MAC) has scheduled four Power 5 schools in one season. The Zips, who have played two Power 5 teams in one season several times since 1987, have faced Northwestern (Big Ten) and Iowa State (Big 12) so far, going 1-1. UA upset Big Ten West champion Northwestern, 39-34 in Evanston, Ill.
Because the season opener at Nebraska (Big Ten) was cancelled due to lightning, the Zips scheduled a game at South Carolina (SEC) for the end of the season [Dec. 1]. Playing three Power 5 teams in one season will be a program first.

UP NEXT
Akron closes out the regular season with two road games. The first stop is Ohio on Friday, Nov. 23. The Zips then travel to South Carolina on Saturday, Dec. 1, for a Noon game.