Akron Concludes Home Campaign Hosting Bowling Green

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GAME NO. 5 - AKRON VS. BOWLING GREEN GAME NOTES (12/5)

Akron (0-4, 0-4 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (0-4, 0-4 MAC)
Saturday, Dec. 5
InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field
Akron, Ohio • 2 p.m.

Series History: Bowling Green leads 18-8
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Television: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Radio: 640 WHLO AM (Dave Skoczen - pxp and Joe Dunn - color)

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron football team concludes the home portion of its 2020 schedule this Saturday, Dec. 5, as the Zips welcome Bowling Green to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. The showdown with the Falcons is set for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Michael Reghi and Jerod Cherry calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Bowling Green: Scot Loeffler (Michigan, 1998), overall record: 3-13 (Second Season)/record at Bowling Green: 3-13 (Second Season)
Akron: Tom Arth (John Carroll, 2003), overall record - 49-37 (Eighth Season)/record at Akron - 0-16 (Second Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green leads, 18-8
Arth vs. Bowling Green: 0-1, Bowling Green def. Akron, 35-6 (Bowling Green, Ohio - Nov. 2, 2019)
Last Meeting: Bowling Green def. Akron, 35-6 (Bowling Green, Ohio - Nov. 2, 2019)
Last Meeting in Akron: Bowling Green def. Akron, 21-6 (Akron, Ohio - Nov. 17, 2018)

Akron is meeting Bowling for the 27th time in program history with the Falcons owning a 18-8 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Bowling Green registered a 35-6 triumph past Akron on Nov. 2, 2019 at Doyt-Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Zips and Falcons last met in Akron on Nov. 17, 2018 as Bowling Green posted a 21-6 victory.

The series between the two schools dates back to the 1941 campaign when Akron earned an 8-0 home victory over Bowling Green. The Zips and Falcons have met every season since 2012 with Akron in search of its fifth home triumph over Bowling Green.

UPDATED AKRON FOOTBALL FAN POLICY
The University of Akron announced a revision to the spectators' attendance policy in accordance with the Summit County Stay at Home Advisory guidelines that were issued on Nov. 19, coupled with the Mid-American Conference Basketball Attendance Policy announcement on Nov. 24.

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and an increase in positive cases across the state, family members and friends of the players and coaches, as well as fans, will not be permitted to attend on-campus events, including Saturday's football game against Bowling Green, through at least Dec. 16, 2020.

The University of Akron is following the Summit County Stay at Home Health Advisory issued by Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and Summit County Health Commissioner Donna Skoda.

The University will continue to work closely with state and local health officials on protocols for hosting events and make appropriate adjustments throughout the coming weeks. Please follow GoZips.com, the Akron Athletics app and all Zips' social media platforms for the most recent and up-to-date information.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 2, 2019 - BOWLING GREEN, OHIO)
In its last Saturday contest of the 2019 season, Akron dropped a 35-6 decision at Bowling Green in Mid-American Conference action at Doty-Perry Stadium on Nov. 2, 2019.

For the Zips, senior QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) went 9-of-24 for 60 yards as the Zips had 100 total yards of offense.

Defensively, redshirt junior LB Bubba Arslanian (Aurora, Ohio) tallied a career-best 19 tackles, a career-high 2.0 TLF, a sack for a loss of nine yards, and a forced fumble. Alvin Davis, Jr. followed with 15 tackles, a TFL, and a break-up.

Grant Loy led the Falcons, going 12-of-20 for 113 yards and a touchdown. Andrew Clair led all rushers with 86 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.

Akron received the ball first and went right to work. The Zips marched down to the red zone where redshirt sophomore PK Cory Smigel (North Royalton, Ohio) converted a 35-yard field goal.

The Falcons punted on their opening drive. A bad snap gave the Zips the ball back on the 35. Akron once again turned to Smigel, who converted another 35-yard field on a six-play, 17-yard drive. The Zips led, 6-0.

Bowling Green closed out the first quarter with a two-yard touchdown run by Andrew Clair. The Falcons led at the quarter break, 7-6.

In the second quarter, the Falcons capitalized on two Akron turnovers. Loy converted a two-yard pass to Morris for a touchdown, giving Bowling Green a 14-6 edge. Loy then scored on a six-yard run to take a 21-6 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

On the opening drive of the third quarter, the Akron defense held Bowling Green. The Falcons went for it on a 4th-and-22 from the 30. Alvin Davis broke up a pass in the end zone, preventing the Falcons from scoring and giving Akron the ball back.

Bowling Green continued to take advantage of turnovers. Later in the third, Nelson was sacked for a loss of 12 yards and fumbled. The Falcons recovered and scored a touchdown three plays later to go ahead 28-6.

With four minutes to go in the third, the skies opened, and the rain came. On a Bowling Green punt, Akron recovered a fumble on bad snap, securing good field position on the 31. However, the Zips could not convert and turned the ball over on downs to open the fourth stanza. Bowling Green added a four-yard rushing touchdown to jump ahead, 35-6, for the game's final score.

AKRON FOOTBALL HAS
• Been selected to finish sixth in the MAC East in 2020 by the media and the coaches
• Appeared in a bowl twice in three seasons, a program first [2015, 2017]

A WIN WOULD GIVE AKRON
• Its first victory and home win of the 2020 season
• Its first victory under head coach Tom Arth
• The 50th career coaching win for head coach Tom Arth
• Its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green enters play this Saturday following a 52-10 setback at Ohio on Nov. 28. The Falcons were 3-9 a season ago, including a 2-6 mark in the Mid-American Conference.

Redshirt junior QB Matt McDonald is 40-of-97 for 577 yards, including throwing one touchdowns for the Falcons. Redshirt junior RB Andrew Clair and freshman RB Terion Stewart have rushed for 240 and 204 yards, respectively, on the strength of 64 combined carries. Senior WR Quintlin Morris has hauled in 167 yards receiving on a team-high 14 catches.

Sophomore LB Darren Anders has directed Bowling Green's defensive attack recording 47 tackles, including a team-high 21 solo stops and 26 assists. Senior LB Kholbe Coleman has added 35 tackles.

The Falcons' total 680 yards of offense, throwing for 577 yards and rushing for 760 yards, while defensively, Bowling Green has recorded 332 total tackles (152T/180A), 25 tackles for a loss and nine pass break-ups.

As a team, the Falcons are rated 16th in the NCAA in yards per completion (14.4) and passing yards allowed (185.2).

Individually, Anders is eighth in the NCAA in tackles per game (11.8), while senior RB Bryson Denley is rated 12th in kickoff return average (28.3), McDonald 16th in yards per completion (14.4) and redshirt sophomore WR Noah Massey is 23rd in yards per reception (20.2).

LAST GAME
Playing at home for the first time in nearly a month, the Akron football team dropped a 38-7 decision to the visiting Miami RedHawks in an afternoon Mid-American Conference tilt on Saturday, Nov. 28, at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

Facing a Miami squad whose most recent game was canceled, the Zips were led by redshirt freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.), who completed 16-of-27 passes for 141 yards, including a long pass completion of 20 yards to redshirt junior WR George Qualls, Jr. (Caruthersville, Md.) and an 11-yard touchdown pass to sophomore WR Michael Mathison (Covington, Ga.). Qualls finished the contest with a team-high 50 yards receiving on three catches.

The Zips also received a strong defensive effort from their linebacking corps, which saw Bubba Arslanian and junior LB Brandon Bischof (Akron, Ohio), combine for 20 tackles, with Arslanian accounting for 11.

The RedHawks outgained Akron on the afternoon, 416-145, led by a QB Brett Gabbert going 18-of-27 for 308 yards, including four touchdowns.

Miami opened the scoring with a four-play, 86-yard drive capped by a 61-yard touchdown pass from Gabbert to Jack Sorenson at the 9:28 mark of the opening quarter.

Miami extended its advantage to 10-0 with 11:42 before halftime with a 42-yard FG from Henry Beckett.

The margin became 17-0 at the 6:10 mark when Gabbert connected with Sorenson for a 29-yard touchdown.

The RedHawks entered the intermission leading 24-0 after Gabbert hit Sorenson for his third score of the first half, this time from 28 yards out with 1:17 left before halftime.

The Zips were outgained offensively in the opening half, 281-69, including being limited to four yards rushing.

Gibson was 7-for-11 passing in the first half for 67 yards, with Qualls, senior WR Nate Stewart (Bethlehem, Pa.) and freshman TE Tristian Brank (Ashville, N.C.) registering catches of 20, 17 and 16 yards, respectively.

Bischof and Arslanian paced the Zips with eight and seven first-half tackles, respectively.

On its second possession of the second half, Akron moved the ball into Miami territory buoyed by a pair of RedHawk penalties. Gibson hit redshirt junior WR Julian Hicks (Cleveland, Ohio) with a seven-yard competition on 3rd-and-7 to set up Akron at the Miami 35-yard line. The Zips were not able to capitalize as a sack took Akron out of field-goal range on the drive.

A 62-yard interception return for a touchdown by Emmanuel Rugamba gave the RedHawks a 31-0 advantage with 2:38 left in the third quarter.

Gabbert connected with Sorenson for a 15-yard touchdown for their fourth-scoring drive of the game with 11:37 remaining in the game to extend Miami's lead to 38-0.

The Zips started the ensuing drive on their own 26-yard line and went 74 yards on eight plays covering 3:24 to get on the scoreboard when Gibson connected with Mathison on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 8:08 left in the game.

A 17-yard run by Gibson moved the ball to the Miami 35-yard line before he followed with a 12-yard completion to redshirt freshman WR Shawn Naim (Brecksville, Ohio) to advance to the RedHawks' 23-yard line. After a penalty on Miami moved the ball the 13-yard line, Gibson connected with Mathison on the touchdown pass.

DOLLARD OFF TO STRONG START RUSHING THE BALL
Junior RB Teon Dollard (Lake City, Fla.) has started to his Akron career rushing the ball with a bang running for a team-best 456 yards on 76 carries. His 202 yards against Kent State (Nov. 17) represented the highest single-game rushing total Dennis Kennedy post a 277-yard effort against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 18, 2008. Dollard became Akron's first 100-yard rusher since Van Edwards Jr. ran for 109 yards vs. Morgan State on Sept. 28, 2018, with a 39-yard scamper on a 3rd-and-1 play from the Zips' 39-yard line against Ohio (Nov. 10).

He is ranked 12th in the NCAA in rushing (114.0), 38th in rushing yards per carry (5.77) and 46th in all-purpose yards (121.25).

Dollard became the fourth Zips since 2000 to rush for 200 or more yards in a game joining Dennis Kennedy (277 at Eastern Michigan - Oct. 18, 2008), Bobby Hendry (240 vs. Liberty - Oct. 12, 2002), Brandon Payne (207 vs. Connecticut - Oct. 21, 2000).

Dollard became the first Akron player to rush for more than 200 yards since Dennis Kennedy post a 277-yard effort against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 18, 2008. He also finished with four touchdowns on the ground, the most for a Zip since Bobby Hendry rushed for five scores versus Eastern Michigan on Nov. 24, 2001.

ZIP TIDBITS
• RB Teon Dollard is ranked 12th in the NCAA in rushing (114.0), 38th in rushing yards per carry (5.77) and 46th in all-purpose yards (121.25, while redshirt junior RB Jeremiah Knight (Jefferson, Ohio) is 43rd in all-purpose yards (125.75) and PK Cory Smigel is 45th in field goal percentage (.750).
• RB Jeremiah Knight is ranked ninth among active career leaders in the NCAA in punt return touchdowns (1), 11th in kickoff returns per game (2.0), 14th in kickoff returns, 17th in kickoff return yards per contest (37.7), 19th in kickoff return yards, 21st in combined kick returns (1,154), 49th in punt return yards per tilt (7.0) and 55th in punt return yards.
• Jeremiah Knight's eight kickoff returns at Kent State equaled a school-record mark set by Matt Carter at Marshall on Oct. 27, 2001, and by Jeff Blakely versus Central Michigan on Oct. 15, 1994.
• Jeremiah Knight is rated 20th in the NCAA in combined kick returns (381).
• Bubba Arslanian has had 10 or more total tackles in 12 of the last 16 games overall. He has led the Zips in tackles all four games this season and five straight overall and in seven of Akron's last nine contests dating back to the 2019 campaign.
• Bubba Arslanian is rated seventh in the NCAA in solo tackles (6.5), 12th in total tackles (11.2) and 62nd in fumbles recovered (1) and ranks 28th among active career leaders in the NCAA in total tackles per contest (6.54), 56th in assisted tackles (96) and 98th in total tackles (183).
• Sophomore DB A.J. Watts (Columbus, Ga.) established career-high marks for tackles (12) and solo stops (9) against Kent State (Nov. 17). He is ranked 70th in the NCAA in forced fumbles (1).
• The Zips are rated fifth in the NCAA in fewest penalties per game (32.25), seventh in fewest penalties (17) and in fewest penalty yards (129), 10th in fewest penalties (4.25), 27th in first-down defense (90), 32nd in red-zone offense (.889), 42nd in time of possession (31.16) and 45th in punt return defense (5.75).
• WR Nate Stewart reached 1,000 yards receiving for his collegiate career after pulling in two catches for 68 yards at Kent State on Nov. 17. He enters play against Bowling Green with 1,027 career receiving yards.
• Teon Dollard and Jeremiah Knight are ranked 43rd and 46th, respectively, in the NCAA in all-purpose yards averaging 125.75 and 121.25 yards per game.
• Akron is 8-for-9 in the red zone this season, including six touchdowns.
• Five of Akron's 2020 opponents were bowl eligible a year ago: Buffalo, Kent State, Miami, Ohio and Western Michigan.
• Akron has 56 student-athletes on its roster from the state of Ohio; 32 of those live within a 30-mile radius to campus.
• Jeremiah Knight owns a team-best 1,838 career all-purpose yards.

AN IMPRESSIVE STREAK
Saturday's game with Bowling Green will mark the 400th in the distinguished career of Akron head athletic equipment manager Kevin O'Connor. His run of Zips' game began in 1986 in a 35-0 victory over Salem College.

UP NEXT
Akron concludes its 2020 campaign traveling to Buffalo, N.Y. for a 2:30 p.m. tilt against Buffalo on Saturday, Dec. 12. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network as well as the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Dave Skoczen and Joe Dunn calling the action.

Akron Concludes Home Campaign Hosting Bowling Green

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bubba Arslanian

Brandon Bischof

Tristian Brank

Alvin Davis, Jr.

Teon Dollard

Zach Gibson

Julian Hicks

Jeremiah Knight

Michael Mathison

Shawn Naim

Kato Nelson

George Qualls, Jr.

Cory Smigel

Nate Stewart

A.J. Watts

The University of Akron Athletics