Akron Closes Non-Conference Play at Iowa State This Week

Saturday, September 22

Ames, Iowa | Jack Trice Stadium

Noon ET

University of Akron

Iowa State

Akron Closes Non-Conference Play at Iowa State This Week

September 17 | 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 (2-0) at IOWA STATE (0-2)
Saturday, Sept. 22

Jack Trice Stadium [61,500] | Ames, Iowa
Noon ET | 11 AM CT | FSN

THIS WEEK
Akron hits the road for the third time in the opening month of the season for a Noon ET (11 a.m. CT) game at Iowa State on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Jack Trice Stadium.

Fox Sports Network [FSN] will televise the contest with Mark Followill (play-by-play), Brian Baldinger (analyst), and Lesley McCaslin (play-by-play) 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 2-0 after a 39-34 win at Northwestern. 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 162 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. Under center, sophomore Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) is 33-of-54 for 509 yards and five touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore WR Jonah Morris (Akron, Ohio) is the top receiver with 145 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions. Defensively, junior LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) is the top Zip with 18 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. 11 in rushing defense (81.0), No. 18 in turnover margin (1.00), No. 21 in redzone defense (0.667), and No. 32 in scoring offense (40.0).

Individually, junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is No. 1 in interceptions per game (1.5), No. 1 in total interceptions (3), and No. 11 in passes defended (2.0). Senior LB Brian Bell (Valdosta, Ga.) is No. 4 in passes defended (2.5). Sophomore QB Kato Nelson is No. 13 in passing yards per completion (15.42) and No. 17 in yards per pass (9.43). Junior LB Josh Ward is No. 18 in sacks (1.00).

Senior PK Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) is No. 13 in field goals (2.0).

The Cyclones, under the guidance of third-year head coach Matt Campbell, stand 0-2 on the season after a 37-27 loss to No. 5 Oklahoma. Iowa State returns 46 letterwinners, including 20 starters, to its multiple offensive and base 4-3-4 defensive schemes.

Junior RB David Montgomery is ISU's top rusher with 126 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries. Redshirt sophomore QB Zeb Boland is 29-of-46 for 403 yards and two touchdowns. Junior WR Deshaunte Jones is the leading receiver with 97 yards on 10 receptions. Defensively, redshirt sophomore DB Greg Eisworth has 20 tackles, 1.0 TFL, and a forced fumble.

In the NCAA stats, Iowa State ranks No. 1 in red zone offense (1.000) and No. 31 in kickoff returns (31.0). Individually, redshirt sophomore PK Connor Assalley is No. 1 in field goal percentage (1.000). Redshirt junior WR Hakeem Butler is No. 4 in receiving yards per reception (26.13) and No. 20 in receiving yards (104.5); redshirt sophomore QB Zeb Noland stands No. 26 in passing yards per completion (13.90).

AKRON-IOWA STATE CONNECTIONS
Akron has no players from Iowa on its roster. However, former OL Xavier Quigley [Ankeny, Iowa | Ankeny HS] is now an offensive graduate assistant coach with the Zips.

Iowa State has nine players from Ohio on its roster– redshirt sophomore DB Jatairis Grant [Akron, Ohio | Garfield HS], junior WR Deshaunte Jones [Cincinnati, Ohio | Colerain HS], sophomore DB Keontae Jones [Cincinnati, Ohio | Colerain HS], redshirt senior QB Kyle Kempt [Massillon, Ohio | Washington HS], junior RB David Montgomery [Cincinnati, Ohio | Mount Healthy HS], redshirt freshman OL Jeff Nogaj [Johnstown, Ohio | Johnstown-Monroe HS], freshman LB Mike Rose [Brecksville, Ohio | Brecksville-Broadview HS], freshman WR Joseph Scates [Dayton, Ohio | Dunbar HS], redshirt freshman DE Dan Sichterman [Cincinnati, Ohio | Kings HS], and redshirt sophomore TE Zach Silbermann [Chagrin Falls, Ohio | Kenston HS].

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is a familiar face. The former Toledo head coach grew up in Massillon, Ohio, and attended Perry High School. Campbell earned his degree at Mount Union (2002) while helping the Purple Raiders to the NCAA Division III national titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Campbell and Terry Bowden faced each other twice when Toledo and Akron met, going 1-1.

Akron OL coach Brett Ekkens '12 and UA director of strength & conditioning Matt Gildersleeve '12 are also Mount Union graduates.

AKRON-IOWA STATE: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is just the second meeting between the schools on the gridiron.

Last fall in Akron, Iowa State claimed a 41-14 win at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

Senior QB Thomas Woodson carried the offense with 240 yards of the Zips 331 yards of total offense. He completed 25-of-40 passes with two touchdowns.

Junior WR Kwadarrius Smith led the receiving corps with 76 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. Senior WR Tra'Von Chapman followed, catching eight passes for 53 yards, while senior WR A.J Coney had four receptions for 52 yards.

The rushing attack was led by senior RB Warren Ball with 11 carries for 46 yards. Ball also had four receptions for eight yards with his first career receiving touchdown.

The Zips' defensive unit was led by junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III, who posted a team-best with 12 tackles. Junior LB Jamal Davis II recorded six tackles, including a team-high 1.5 tackles for a loss, and senior S Zach Guiser and junior CB Darian Dailey also recorded six tackles.

SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Iowa State: 0-1
Akron in games at Akron: 0-1
Akron in games at Iowa State: 0-0
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 2017, at InfoCision Stadium, L, 14-41
Last meeting in series: 2017, at InfoCision Stadium, L, 14-41

SERIES HIGHS
Akron Zips
Rushing: Warren Ball, 11-40, 0 TD (2017)
Passing: Thomas Woodson, 24-40-1-240, 2 TDs (2017)
Receiving: Tra'Von Chapman, 8-53, 0 TDs (2017)

Iowa State Cyclones
Rushing: David Montgomery, 22-127, 1 TD (2017)
Passing: Jacob Park, 24-33-0-317, 2 TDs (2017)
Receiving: Trever Ryen, 6-80, 0 TD (2017)

Year Site Result Akron Coach Iowa State Coach
2017 InfoCision Stadium L, 14-41 Terry Bowden Matt Campbell

LAST GAME
For the first time in Akron's FBS football history, the Zips defeated a Big Ten opponent as Akron held on to a 39-34 victory over Northwestern on Sept. 15 at Ryan Field.

Whatever Zips' head coach Terry Bowden said to the team at halftime worked as the Akron offense nearly doubled its yardage output in the third quarter. The Zips only managed to gain 123 yards of total offense in the first half, but the next 30 minutes proved to be the game changer.

"Obviously when you're coming to a Big Ten team like Northwestern, and you're three touchdown underdogs, everyone doubts," Bowden said. "The first thing is to get your kids to believe that they can win."

Akron put up 213 yards of total offense alone in the third quarter, starting with the initial drive. The Zips opened the final 30 minutes with a nine-play, 68-yard drive that ended on the foot of senior P Nick Gasser. Senior WR Kwadarrius Smith caught two passes during the run, worth 11 yards and 40 yards, from sophomore QB Kato Nelson. Akron trailed 21-6 at that point, but not for long.

On Akron's next possession, Nelson orchestrated a nine-play, 80-yard drive that ended with the Zips' first touchdown of the game. Akron picked up 25 yards in back-to-back plays, 13 yards on the ground from Nelson and 12 yards in the air to Smith. Next, a defensive pass interference call gave Akron 15 more yards and setup a 25-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to sophomore WR Andre Williams. With 6:44 remaining in the quarter, Zips trailed 21-13.

The defense had a strong first half and continued to challenge Northwestern offense in the second half. In fact, Zips' junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr., let his presence be known when he picked-off an errant pass from NU QB Clayton Thorson. Alvin Davis returned the interception 97 yards for six points to put Akron within two points of Northwestern, 21-19.

Northwestern battled back with a touchdown, but that didn't rattle the Zips as Akron immediately returned the favor. Northwestern traveled 74 yards in nine plays, taking 2:01 off the clock, but the Zips only needed two plays for 75 yards in 50-seconds to stay within two points. Akron trailed 28-26 at the end of the third quarter.

The Zips added seven more points with a defensive takeaway as Alvin Davis recorded his second pick-six for the game. He intercepted the ball at the 50-yard line and finished with his second touchdown of the game to give Akron a 39-28 lead with 7:24 left to play.

POSTGAME NOTES

The win was Akron's first win over a Big Ten team since 1894 (Ohio State) and second win all-time. UA's only win came Ohio State in 1894, 12-6. The win was Akron's first since moving up to Division I-A [FBS] in 1987.
The last time Akron opened the season at 2-0 was in 1993 (25 years) under head coach Gerry Faust.
Akron trailed 21-3 at halftime and scored 23 points in the third quarter to come within two, 28-26.
In the fourth quarter, the defense scored two touchdowns—a recovered fumble in the endzone by senior LB Ulysees Gilbert and a 50-yard interception return by junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr., his second INT TD of the game.
Redshirt freshman TE Maverick Wolfley (Morgantown, W.Va.) scored the first touchdown of his young career. He caught a 24-yard TD pass to end the third quarter.

WEEKLY HONORS
Several Zips earned national recognition following the victory over Northwestern.

Sophomore QB Kato Nelson was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's "Great 8" list for week 3. He joined Anthony Brown (Boston College), Alan Bowman (Texas Tech), Taylor Cornelius (Oklahoma State), Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State), Kelvin Hopkins, Jr. (Army), Kyler Murray (Oklahoma), and Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama). At Northwestern, Nelson guided the Zips to their second victory and their first win over a Big Ten team since 1894. He went 17-of-28 for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson also rushed for 37 yards.

Junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week and the Zips' Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 17. At Northwestern, he returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the second half, propelling UA to the come-from-behind road victory. The win was Akron's first win over a Big Ten team since 1894 (Ohio State) and second win all-time. Davis finished the game with 10 tackles, two interceptions for 147 return yards, and two touchdowns.

College Sports Madness has named Akron senior LB Brian Bell (Valdosta, Ga.) its Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week. At Northwestern, Bell tied his career-high with 11 tackles, including a career-best eight solo stops. He also had a career-high and team-best five break-ups.

UP NEXT
Akron enjoys a bye week (Sept. 29) before returning home to InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field for its annual Homecoming game. The Zips host Miami (Ohio) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. The 2018 UA Sports Hall of Fame inductees will be introduced during the game.