The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, September 8
Akron, Ohio
3:30 PM
University of Akron
vs
Morgan State
Akron Football Hosts Morgan State in Home Opener
September 03 | 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 ESPN+
HOME OPENER
MORGAN STATE (0-1) at AKRON (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 8
InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field [30,000] | Akron, OH
3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
THIS WEEK
Akron hosts Morgan State in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 3:30 p.m. ET at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field.
ESPN+ will televise the contest with Jonathan Yardley (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (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 opens the 2018 season with Morgan State after last week's game at Nebraska was cancelled due to weather. UA returns 58 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its spread offense and 4-3 defense.
Akron returns senior RB Van Edwards (Cape Coral, Fla.) who rushed for 343 yards and two touchdowns on 94 carries in 2017. Under center, sophomore Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) went 70-of-140 for 989 yards and eight touchdowns last fall. Senior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.) is the top returning receiver with 726 yards and seven touchdowns on 34 receptions. Defensively, two-time first-team All-MAC LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) returns for his senior season after leading the Zips with 141 tackles, 9.5 TFL, five sacks, five hurries, four break-ups, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 2017.
The Bears, under the guidance of interim head coach/defensive coordinator Ernest T. Jones, stand 0-1 on the season after a 31-10 loss to Towson. MSU returns 37 letterwinners, including 16 starters, to its spread offensive and 4-3 defensive schemes.
Junior QB DeAndre Harris is the top rusher with 31 yards on 12 carries. Under center, he is 12-of-21 for 101 yards. Junior WR Deontaye White has four receptions for two yards, while freshman TE Jack McCracken follows with three receptions for 43 yards. Defensively, senior LB Damare Whitaker is the top defender after finishing with nine solo tackles and a sack.
Morgan State is tied as the national leader in red zone offense (1.000). The Bears also rank No. 12 in sacks (4.0) and No. 18 in fumbles recovered (1.0). Individually, freshman Nicholas O'Shea is No. 1 in field goal percentage (1.000) and No. 20 in punting (42.8). Freshman Zach Castano is No. 3 in fumbles recovered (1).
AKRON-MORGAN STATE CONNECTIONS
Akron has one player from the state of Maryland on its roster– junior OL Trevor Brown [Clinton, Md. | Wise HS]. Morgan State has two players from the state of Ohio– redshirt freshman RB Demerius Goodwin [Cleveland, Ohio | Glenville/Ginn Academy] and freshman TE Jack McCracken [Cincinnati, Ohio | Archbishop Moeller].
MSU sophomore TE Idahota Akojie, redshirt freshmen DB Ahmari Benjamin, and DL Willie Mabry also attended Wise HS.
Additionally, Akron junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), redshirt junior RB Deltron Sands, and sophomore DB Zaire Jacobs as well as MSU's senior WR Corey Holmes attended St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Florida.
Other Florida connections include Dillard HS graduates– UA freshmen OL Devin Jordan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and RB Keyondre White and MSU junior LB Rico Kennedy.
Morgan State interim head coach Ernest T. Jones served as the associate head coach at MAC rival Buffalo (2010-11).
The Bears' co-defensive coordinator Antonio James earned first-team All-Ohio accolades at Massillon Washington HS as a senior in 2005.
Akron head coach Terry Bowden (1978) and Morgan State defensive line coach Logan Williams (2016) earned degrees from West Virginia University.
AKRON-MORGAN STATE: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the third meeting between Akron and Morgan State in series history which began in with the opening of InfoCision Stadium in 2009. The Zips hold a 2-0 advantage over the Bears.
In the teams' last meeting in on Sept. 15, 2012, head coach Terry Bowden got win No. 1 in the Blue and Gold in record fashion as the Zips set or tied six team and two individual school records, in addition to one conference mark, in a 66-6 win over Morgan State at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
Akron's 66 points and 753 yards of total offense broke a nine-year mark set on Sept. 20, 2003. The Zips also finished with a program-best 43 first downs, also in that contest against Howard. UA set a school record for completions as well with 44.
Akron also set the program and Mid-American Conference mark for passing yards (565) and posted the third-most offensive yards in league history with 753. Akron's 59 pass attempts tied the UA school mark.
Dalton Williams finished the game connecting on 37-of-48 passes for 446 yards and three touchdowns. His 94 completions over the last three games broke Charlie Frye's school record in that category (89). He also set the single-game completions mark.
Jawon Chisholm led all rushers with 129 yards on 18 carries. It was his fifth-career 100-yard game on the ground (four in 2011). Conor Hundley added two rushing touchdowns, while Marquelo Suel had 99 yards on six catches.
In the first meeting on Sept. 12, 2009, the teams played before a sold-out crowd of 27,881 fans in the inaugural game at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. UA jumped out to a 24-0 edge at halftime en route to a 41-0 victory. Deryn Bowser had eight receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns. QB Chris Jacquemain went 13-of-22 for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Morgan State: 2-0
Akron in games at Akron: 2-0
Akron in games at Morgan State: 0-0
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 2009, at InfoCision Stadium, W, 41-0
Last meeting in series: 2012, at InfoCision Stadium, W, 66-6
SERIES HIGHS
Akron Zips
Rushing: Jawon Chisholm, 18-134, 0 TD (2012)
Passing: Dalton Williams, 37-44-1-446, 3 TDs (2012)
Receiving: Deryn Bowser, 8-86, 3 TDs (2009)
Morgan State Bears
Rushing: Travis Davidson, 19-77, 0 TD (2012)
Passing: Carlton Jackson, 10-19-2-87, 0 TD (2009)
Receiving: Winfred Diggs, 6-47, 0 TD (2009)
Year Site Result Akron Coach Morgan State Coach
2009 InfoCision Stadium W, 41-0 J.D. Brookhart Todd Bozeman
2012 InfoCision Stadium W, 66-6 Terry Bowden Todd Bozeman
LAST GAME
Akron's season opener at Nebraska on Sept. 1 was cancelled. Thunderstorms moved into the Lincoln area during pregame festivities. After the opening kickoff which was a touchback, the officials discontinued play due to lighning. Following a three-hour weather delay, the game was cancelled by officials from both schools.
For the record, sophomore PK Jerry Fitschen's (Orange, Calif.) kickoff, the second of his young career, went a career-long 65 yards.
ZIPS QUICK HITS
SENIOR STATUS
Akron's 31 members of the 2018 Senior Class may leave campus as the all-time most productive class in program history. In the past three seasons, they were a part of the re-building process, helping the Zips to at least five wins (20 total) each year. The Zips became bowl eligible twice in three seasons, a program first. They claimed the 2017 MAC East title and three consecutive Wagon Wheel trophies.
UP NEXT
Akron visits Northwestern on Saturday, Sept. 15, for a 7:30 p.m. ET contest that will air on the Big Ten Network.
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 ESPN+
HOME OPENER
MORGAN STATE (0-1) at AKRON (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 8
InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field [30,000] | Akron, OH
3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
THIS WEEK
Akron hosts Morgan State in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 3:30 p.m. ET at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field.
ESPN+ will televise the contest with Jonathan Yardley (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (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 opens the 2018 season with Morgan State after last week's game at Nebraska was cancelled due to weather. UA returns 58 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its spread offense and 4-3 defense.
Akron returns senior RB Van Edwards (Cape Coral, Fla.) who rushed for 343 yards and two touchdowns on 94 carries in 2017. Under center, sophomore Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) went 70-of-140 for 989 yards and eight touchdowns last fall. Senior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.) is the top returning receiver with 726 yards and seven touchdowns on 34 receptions. Defensively, two-time first-team All-MAC LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) returns for his senior season after leading the Zips with 141 tackles, 9.5 TFL, five sacks, five hurries, four break-ups, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 2017.
The Bears, under the guidance of interim head coach/defensive coordinator Ernest T. Jones, stand 0-1 on the season after a 31-10 loss to Towson. MSU returns 37 letterwinners, including 16 starters, to its spread offensive and 4-3 defensive schemes.
Junior QB DeAndre Harris is the top rusher with 31 yards on 12 carries. Under center, he is 12-of-21 for 101 yards. Junior WR Deontaye White has four receptions for two yards, while freshman TE Jack McCracken follows with three receptions for 43 yards. Defensively, senior LB Damare Whitaker is the top defender after finishing with nine solo tackles and a sack.
Morgan State is tied as the national leader in red zone offense (1.000). The Bears also rank No. 12 in sacks (4.0) and No. 18 in fumbles recovered (1.0). Individually, freshman Nicholas O'Shea is No. 1 in field goal percentage (1.000) and No. 20 in punting (42.8). Freshman Zach Castano is No. 3 in fumbles recovered (1).
AKRON-MORGAN STATE CONNECTIONS
Akron has one player from the state of Maryland on its roster– junior OL Trevor Brown [Clinton, Md. | Wise HS]. Morgan State has two players from the state of Ohio– redshirt freshman RB Demerius Goodwin [Cleveland, Ohio | Glenville/Ginn Academy] and freshman TE Jack McCracken [Cincinnati, Ohio | Archbishop Moeller].
MSU sophomore TE Idahota Akojie, redshirt freshmen DB Ahmari Benjamin, and DL Willie Mabry also attended Wise HS.
Additionally, Akron junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), redshirt junior RB Deltron Sands, and sophomore DB Zaire Jacobs as well as MSU's senior WR Corey Holmes attended St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Florida.
Other Florida connections include Dillard HS graduates– UA freshmen OL Devin Jordan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and RB Keyondre White and MSU junior LB Rico Kennedy.
Morgan State interim head coach Ernest T. Jones served as the associate head coach at MAC rival Buffalo (2010-11).
The Bears' co-defensive coordinator Antonio James earned first-team All-Ohio accolades at Massillon Washington HS as a senior in 2005.
Akron head coach Terry Bowden (1978) and Morgan State defensive line coach Logan Williams (2016) earned degrees from West Virginia University.
AKRON-MORGAN STATE: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the third meeting between Akron and Morgan State in series history which began in with the opening of InfoCision Stadium in 2009. The Zips hold a 2-0 advantage over the Bears.
In the teams' last meeting in on Sept. 15, 2012, head coach Terry Bowden got win No. 1 in the Blue and Gold in record fashion as the Zips set or tied six team and two individual school records, in addition to one conference mark, in a 66-6 win over Morgan State at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
Akron's 66 points and 753 yards of total offense broke a nine-year mark set on Sept. 20, 2003. The Zips also finished with a program-best 43 first downs, also in that contest against Howard. UA set a school record for completions as well with 44.
Akron also set the program and Mid-American Conference mark for passing yards (565) and posted the third-most offensive yards in league history with 753. Akron's 59 pass attempts tied the UA school mark.
Dalton Williams finished the game connecting on 37-of-48 passes for 446 yards and three touchdowns. His 94 completions over the last three games broke Charlie Frye's school record in that category (89). He also set the single-game completions mark.
Jawon Chisholm led all rushers with 129 yards on 18 carries. It was his fifth-career 100-yard game on the ground (four in 2011). Conor Hundley added two rushing touchdowns, while Marquelo Suel had 99 yards on six catches.
In the first meeting on Sept. 12, 2009, the teams played before a sold-out crowd of 27,881 fans in the inaugural game at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. UA jumped out to a 24-0 edge at halftime en route to a 41-0 victory. Deryn Bowser had eight receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns. QB Chris Jacquemain went 13-of-22 for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Morgan State: 2-0
Akron in games at Akron: 2-0
Akron in games at Morgan State: 0-0
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 2009, at InfoCision Stadium, W, 41-0
Last meeting in series: 2012, at InfoCision Stadium, W, 66-6
SERIES HIGHS
Akron Zips
Rushing: Jawon Chisholm, 18-134, 0 TD (2012)
Passing: Dalton Williams, 37-44-1-446, 3 TDs (2012)
Receiving: Deryn Bowser, 8-86, 3 TDs (2009)
Morgan State Bears
Rushing: Travis Davidson, 19-77, 0 TD (2012)
Passing: Carlton Jackson, 10-19-2-87, 0 TD (2009)
Receiving: Winfred Diggs, 6-47, 0 TD (2009)
Year Site Result Akron Coach Morgan State Coach
2009 InfoCision Stadium W, 41-0 J.D. Brookhart Todd Bozeman
2012 InfoCision Stadium W, 66-6 Terry Bowden Todd Bozeman
LAST GAME
Akron's season opener at Nebraska on Sept. 1 was cancelled. Thunderstorms moved into the Lincoln area during pregame festivities. After the opening kickoff which was a touchback, the officials discontinued play due to lighning. Following a three-hour weather delay, the game was cancelled by officials from both schools.
For the record, sophomore PK Jerry Fitschen's (Orange, Calif.) kickoff, the second of his young career, went a career-long 65 yards.
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.
SENIOR STATUS
Akron's 31 members of the 2018 Senior Class may leave campus as the all-time most productive class in program history. In the past three seasons, they were a part of the re-building process, helping the Zips to at least five wins (20 total) each year. The Zips became bowl eligible twice in three seasons, a program first. They claimed the 2017 MAC East title and three consecutive Wagon Wheel trophies.
UP NEXT
Akron visits Northwestern on Saturday, Sept. 15, for a 7:30 p.m. ET contest that will air on the Big Ten Network.
Players Mentioned
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