Akron Football Travels to Northwestern on Sept. 15

Saturday, September 15

Evanston, IL | Ryan Field

7:30 PM ET

University of Akron

Northwestern

Akron Football Travels to Northwestern on Sept. 15

September 10 | 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
Watch on BTN2GO

AKRON (1-0) at NORTHWESTERN (1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 15

Ryan Field [47,130] | Evanston, IL
7:30 PM ET | 6:30 PM CT | Big Ten Network

THIS WEEK
Akron visits Northwestern on Saturday, Sept. 15 for a 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT) game at Ryan Field.

The Big Ten Network will televise the contest with Lisa Byington (play-by-play) and Dan Persa (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 1-0 after a 41-7 win over Morgan State in the home opener. UA returns 58 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its spread offense and 4-3 defense.

Senior RB Van Edwards (Cape Coral, Fla.) is top rusher, gaining 109 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Under center, sophomore Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) is 16-of-26 for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore WR Jonah Morris (Akron, Ohio) is the top receiver with 94 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. Defensively, two-time first-team All-MAC LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) and junior LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) are tied with six tackles each.

In the NCAA statistics, Akron is the national leader in pass efficiency defense (47.96) and red zone offense (1.000). The Zips also rank No. 4 in total defense (192.0) and scoring defense (7.0).

Individually, junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is No. 1 in forced fumbles (1.0). He and senior teammate DE Jamal Davis II (Canton, Ohio) are tied at No. 3 in interceptions (1.0) and No. 20 for total interceptions (1). Redshirt junior DL Andy Jean-Baptiste (Miami, Fla.) ranks No. 10 in fumble recoveries (1); senior PK Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) is No. 11 in field goals (2); senior RB Van Edwards is No. 13 in scoring (12.0).

The Wildcats, under the guidance of13th year head coach Pat Fitzgerald, stand 1-1 on the season after a 21-7 loss to Duke. Northwestern returns 61 letterwinners, including 17 starters, to its spread offensive and 4-3 defensive schemes.

Sophomore RB Jeremy Larkin leads the Wildcat rushers with 264 yards and three touchdowns on 50 carries. Under center, senior QB Clayton Thorson is 38-of-64 for 370 yards. Senior WR Flynn Nagel has 17 receptions for 191 yards. Defensively, sophomore LB Blake Gallagher is the top defender with 21 tackles, while sophomore LB Paddy Fisher follows with 20 tackles.

In the NCAA stats, Northwestern ranks No. 10 in fewest penalties per game (4.00). Individually, sophomore RB Jeremy Larkin is No. 11 in rushing (132.0), No. 12 in rushing yards (264), and No. 13 in rushing TDs (3). Senior WR Flynn Nagel is No. 7 in receptions per game (8.5). Junior DL Joe Gaziano in No. 16 in tackles for loss (2.0).

AKRON-NORTHWESTERN CONNECTIONS
Akron has two players from the state of Illinois on its roster– senior S Jamal Baggett [Oak Park, Ill. | Oak Park River-Forest HS] and redshirt senior QB Robbie Kelley [Springfield, Ill. | Rochester HS | Quincy University].

Northwestern has 18 players from the state of Ohio– freshman RB Isaiah Bowser [Sidney, Ohio | Sidney HS], sophomore DE Tommy Carnifax [Warren, Ohio | Howland HS], freshman OL Sam Gerak (Avon, Ohio | Avon HS], sophomore Jango Glackin [Lebanon, Ohio | IMG Academy (Fla.)], sophomore DE Mark Gooden [Reynoldsburg, Ohio | Reynoldsburg HS], senior LB Nate Hall [Toledo, Ohio | Southview HS], sophomore K Charlie Kuhbander [Springboro, Ohio | Springboro], sophomore RB Jeremy Larkin [Cincinnati, Ohio | La Salle HS], freshman QB Andrew Marty [Cincinnati, Ohio | Wyoming HS], freshman LB Peter McIntyre [Perrysburg, Ohio | Saint John's Jesuit HS], senior DL Ben Oxley [Avon Lake, Ohio | Avon Lake HS], sophomore SB Trey Pugh [Plain City, Ohio | Adler HS], sophomore DT Jake Saunders [Loveland, Ohio | Loveland HS], senior DL Jordan Thompson [Cincinnati, Ohio | La Salle HS], sophomore WR Jackson Tirmonia [Canton, Ohio | Jackson HS], sophomore OL Nik Urban [WIlloughby, Ohio | Willoughby South HS], sophomore OL Gunnar Vogel [Columbus, Ohio | Westerville South HS], and junior DB Trae Williams [The Plains, Ohio | Athens HS].

NU associate head coach and defensive backs coach Matt MacPherson is a native of Dayton, Ohio.

Did you know Northwestern has a position on the roster called Superback? It's NU's hybrid position for its tight ends, H-backs, and fullbacks.

AKRON-NORTHWESTERN: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the first game between Akron and Northwestern on the gridiron.

AKRON VS. THE BIG TEN
Since moving up to Division I-A {Football Bowl Subdivision] play in 1987, Akron has never beaten a Big Ten team. Actually, in their 118-year history, the Zips have only beaten one Big Ten team– regional rival Ohio State. On Sept. 5, 1894, under head coach John W. Heisman (yes, that Heisman!), Akron claimed a 12-6 win in Columbus. In the Terry Bowden era, the Zips have faced No. 11 Michigan (2013), No. 6 Penn State (2014 & 2017), and No. 10 Wisconsin (2016), all on the road.

LAST GAME
Akron recorded its first win of the 2018 campaign, defeating the Morgan State Bears 41-7 at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field on Sept. 8.

The Zips' offense exploded for five touchdowns, three in the air and two on the ground, while the defense limited the Bears to 192 yards of total offense with two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one sack, and one fumble recovery.

Akron's offense was paced by sophomore QB Kato Nelson and senior RB Van Edwards. Nelson connected on 16-of-26 pass attempts for 232 yards and three touchdowns, including a 35-yard strike to senior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.). Edwards finished the game with 109 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 17 attempts. It was his second career 100-yard rushing game.

Defensively, the Zips caused three turnovers as junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. and senior DE Jamal Davis II each recorded interceptions. Alvin Davis added a forced fumble, while junior DL Andy Jean-Baptiste recovered the loose ball. Junior LB John Lako and senior LB Ulysees Gilbert II led the squad with six tackles each.

POSTGAME NOTES

Six Zips made their first appearances in the starting line-up: redshirt freshman OL sophomore Hunter Corne (Dunnellon, Fla.), redshirt senior LB DeMarcus Lloyd (Vienna, Ga.), redshirt sophomore Jonah Morris (Akron, Ohio), redshirt sophomore Bryce Petersen (McKinleyville, Calif.), sophomore WR Nate Stewart (Bethlehem, Pa.), and sophomore WR Andre Williams (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).
In his Akron debut, sophomore WR Jonah Morris led UA with four receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown, the first of his collegiate career.
Senior DE Jamal Davis II made his first career interception in the second quarter.
Junior LB Josh Ward (Delray Beach, Fla.) had a sack for a loss of five yards. It was the second of his career.
Akron played 20 freshmen (11 true and nine redshirt) in the home opener.

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS
The members of the University of Akron football team are looking rather dapper this season, thanks to an alumnus and their friends at JCPenney.

For all road trips this fall, the Zips will don new travel attire, featuring navy blue blazers, white button-down shirts, khaki pants, and blue-and-gold striped ties.

"Thanks to the generosity of one of our most successful entrepreneurial football alums, former QB Matt Kaulig (1992-95), owner of LeafFilter and Kaulig Racing, we were able to purchase travel suits for our entire football team," head coach Terry Bowden said. "We call this program 'Dressed for Success' and one of our graduate assistants Sean Levy has been in charge of putting it together. Not only does it allow our players to represent the University of Akron in a very classy way on road trips, but I am amazed at how proud our players feel when they all dress so nicely for our trips. One of the rewards our players will receive is when they graduate, they will get to take their suit with them and hopefully wear on their first job interview."

ZIPS QUICK HITS

The players elected seniors CB Kyron Brown, LB Ulysees Gilbert III, and OL Kyle Ritz as team captains for the 2018 season.
Ten of Akron's starters on defense are seniors.
Five of Akron's 2018 opponents— Northwestern (Music City), Iowa State (Liberty), Central Michigan (Famous Idaho Potato), Northern Illinois (Quick Lane), and Ohio (Bahamas)— participated in bowls in 2017.
Akron has 37 student-athletes on its roster from the state of Ohio; 28 of those live within a 30-mile radius to campus.

POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE
Twelve Zips competing this fall already have their bachelor's degrees: S Jamal Baggett (sports management/marketing), LB Nathan Bischof (sport management), DE Walter Brady (leisure, sport & tourism from MTSU), CB Kyron Brown (political science/criminal justice), OL Nick Fazio (mechanical engineering), P/H Kyle Foster (sport management), QB Robbie Kelley (business management from Quincy), TE Darryl Long (sport management), WR Brandon Mitchell (criminal justice), TE Brian Reinke (sport management), OL Kyle Ritz (biomedical engineering), and WR Mykel Traylor-Bennett (organizational supervision). The 12 Zips rank fifth nationally with players with degrees. UAB leads the country with 19 graduated players on its roster.

UP NEXT
Akron visits Iowa State on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Noon ET (11 AM CT) on FSN.