Akron Visits Toledo in 2021 Season Finale

Saturday, November 27

Toledo, Ohio

12:00 PM

University of Akron

Toledo

November 24 | Football

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GAME NO. 12 - AKRON AT TOLEDO NOTES (11/27)

Akron (2-9, 1-6 MAC) at Toledo (6-5, 4-3 MAC)
Saturday, Nov. 27
Glass Bowl
Toledo, Ohio • 12 p.m.

Series History: Toledo leads 12-9
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 its campaign traveling to Toledo, Ohio for a tilt with Toledo at the Glass Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 27. The showdown with the Rockets is set for 12 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Anthony Lima and Randy Buffington calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Toledo: Jason Candle (Mount Union, 2003), overall record: 44-26 (Fourth Season)/record at Toledo: 44-26 (Seventh Season)
Akron: Oscar Rodriguez, Jr. (Fort Hays, 2005), overall record - 0-2 (First Season/Third Overall)/record at Akron - 0-2 (First Season/Third Overall

SERIES HISTORY
Toledo leads, 12-9
Last Meeting: Toledo def. Akron, 45-28 (Detroit, Mich. - Dec. 2, 2017)
Last Meeting in Toledo: Toledo def. Akron, 48-21 (Toledo, Ohio - Oct. 21, 2017)

Akron is meeting Toledo for the 22nd time in program history with the Rockets owning a 12-9 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Toledo registered a 45-28 triumph past the Zips on Dec. 2, 2017 in the Mid-American Conference title game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. Akron and Toledo last met in Toledo on Oct. 21, 2017 as the Rockets posted a 48-21 victory.

The series between the two schools dates back to the 1923 campaign when Akron earned a 10-3 home victory over Toledo.

SCOUTING TOLEDO
Toledo enters action on Saturday, Nov. 27 on the heels of a 35-23 victory at Ohio on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

Redshirt freshman QB Dequan Finn has passed for 1,598 yards en route to connecting on 12 touchdowns through the air. Junior RB Bryant Koback has sparked the Rockets' rushing attack running for 1,139 yards, including finding the endzone 13 times, while Finn has rushed for eight touchdowns. Sophomore WR Devin Maddox has registered 519 yards en route to three touchdowns.

Defensively, the trio of junior OLB Jamal Hines, junior LB Dyontae Johnson and junior DE Desjuan Johnson have combined to record 212 tackles, including posting 75, 75 and 62 stops, respectively. Hines owns team-high marks in tackles for a loss (12.0) and sacks (7.5).

As a unit, the Rockets average 32.8 points per game, while registering 420.8 yards per game, including throwing for 235.9 yards and rushing for 184.9 yards per tilt.

Toledo is ranked 14th in the NCAA in blocked punts (2), 17th in passing yards per completion (13.88), 18th in kickoff returns (25.69) and tackles for a loss (6.8), 19th in defensive touchdowns (2), 20th in kickoff return defense (17.97), team passing efficiency defense (118.24) and turnover margin (0.64), 21st in sacks (2.91), 26th in blocked kicks (2), 33rd in scoring defense (21.6) and total defense (340.5), 37th in scoring offense (32.8), 41st in third down conversion defense (.362), 45th in red zone offense (.868) and 46th in rushing offense (184.9). Individually, Finn is rated 10th in passing yards per completion (14.53) and 26th in yards per pass attempt (8.64), while Koback is ranked 14th in rushing yards (1,139), 15th in total touchdowns (15), 16th in rushing touchdowns (13) and rushing yards per contest (103.5), 22nd in all-purpose yards (129.0), 32nd in total points scored (90) and 33rd in scoring (8.4).

IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 2, 2017 - DETROIT, MICH.)
Akron could not overcome a 28-0 halftime deficit and fell to Toledo, 45-28, in the 2017 Mid-American Conference championship game on Dec. 2, 2017 at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.

On its second drive, Toledo jumped on the scoreboard first. The Rockets' Danzel McKinley-Lewis returned a punt 48 yards to the 17. On the next play, Diontae Johnson caught a 27-yard pass from QB Logan Woodside to go ahead 7-0.

With 1:54 to go, the Rockets' Jameson Vest missed a 33-yard field goal attempt. Toledo led after the first quarter, 7-0.

In the second quarter, an Akron fumble recovery on the 37 set up a field goal attempt for the Zips, but Nick Gasser's 42-yard attempt was blocked by Childress, who returned the ball 36 yards to the 34.

Toledo took advantage of the turnover with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Terry Swanson to take a 14-0 lead.

The Rockets went ahead 21-0 as Johnson scored again, this time on a five-yard reception.

With 2:41 to go in the first half, LB Ulysees Gilbert intercepted a Woodside pass and returned it 25 yards. The Zips could not get into the red zone and were forced to punt.

On their final drive of the half, the Rockets began its drive on the three and marched the ball 97 yards to the end zone as Jon'Vea Johnson caught a 27-yard touchdown with eight seconds on the clock. Toledo led at intermission, 28-0.

In the third quarter, Vest converted a 47-yard field goal to give UT a 31-0 edge.

Akron finally got on the scoreboard with 30 seconds to go in the quarter. RB Manny Morgan took a direct snap and marched seven yards into the end zone.

The Zips opened the fourth quarter with an interception by DB Jordan George. Akron scored on the next play as Woodson hit WR Austin Wolf with a 29-yard touchdown reception. Toledo led 38-14 with 14:38 remaining in the game.

On Toledo's next drive, DL Ibrahima Camara forced a fumble, recovered by DB Darian Dailey, and the Zips took over on the 42. Nelson fumbled the ball on the next play, returning the ball to Toledo.

The Rockets scored on the next play with a 54-yard pass to Swanson to go ahead 45-14.

Akron finished the game with two more score. Nelson connected with WR Kwadarrius Smith on a 44-yard touchdown pass with 6:09 to go.

On the final drive, QB Robbie Kelley threw a five-yard touchdown to TE Kobie Booker.

For the Zips, senior QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) went 8-of-18 for 177 yards and two touchdowns, while Woodson was 5-of-14 for 35 yards. Smith led the receivers with 114 yards and a touchdown on three receptions, while Morgan led the rushing efforts with 51 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Gilbert and George led Akron with 10 tackles apiece.

For the Rockets, Woodside went 23-of-37 for 307 yards and four touchdowns.

LAST GAME
Akron came up short in its bid to recapture the Wagon Wheel as rival Kent State registered a 38-0 triumph past the Zips in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 20 at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

Redshirt freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.) led Akron completing 14-of-21 of his passes for 111 yards, his longest throw going for 23 yards to sophomore WR Michael Mathison (Covington, Ga.).

Freshman WR Konata Mumpfield (Hoschton, Ga.) and Mathison led the Zips' receivers with a combined 76 yards. Freshman RB Jonzell Norrils (Toledo, Ohio) paced Akron's ground attack with 50 yards and finished the game with 61 all-purpose yards, which included an 11-yard reception.

Freshman LB Andrew Behm (Appleton, Wis.) led the Zips' defensive efforts with a game-high 11 tackles, including five solo stops. Freshman CB Ronald Jackson, Jr. (Detroit, Mich.) added nine tackles and five solos.

RODRIGUEZ, JR. NAMED AKRON'S INTERIM HEAD COACH
Oscar Rodriguez, Jr., was named Akron's interim head coach on Nov. 4, becoming the seventh active Hispanic/Latino head coach in NCAA Division I. He joins the Dave Aranda (Baylor), Marcus Arroyo (UNLV), Andy Avalos (Boise State), Mario Cristobal (Oregon), Manny Diaz (Miami) and Danny Gonzales (New Mexico). He also becomes the first head football coach of Hispanic/Latino heritage in program history.

MUMPFIELD GARNERS FRESHMEN MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Akron freshman WR Konata Mumpfield was recognized for his outstanding campaign as The Athletic tabbed him to its freshmen midseason All-America squad on Oct. 19.

Having started each of Akron's 11 games this season, Mumpfield has hauled in a team-high 61 receptions on the year for a team-best 723 yards, including scoring eight touchdowns, which is tied for second in the Mid-American Conference.

Mumpfield is rated second in among freshmen wide receivers on the D1 NCAA BCS level in receiving touchdowns (8) and in receptions per game (5.5) and third in receiving yards (723).

He enters play versus Toledo on Saturday, Nov. 27, owning a trio of 100-yard receiving games this season, including a career-best 11-catch, 122-yard effort at Western Michigan on Nov. 9. Additionally, he collected 10 catches for 109 yards at Miami on Oct. 16 and six catches for 106 yards at Bowling Green on Oct. 9.

Mumpfield has scored a touchdown in six of the Zips' 11 contests this fall, including a pair in a come-from-behind 34-20 triumph at Bowling Green on Oct. 9, while also pulling in seven catches for 67 yards and a touchdown at Ohio State on Sept. 25.

ZIP TIDBITS
• WR Konata Mumpfield registered a career-high 122 yards receiving on a career-best 11 catches at Western Michigan. Earlier in the campaign, he recorded 109 and 106 yards, respectively, at Miami on Oct. 16 and at Bowling Green on Oct. 9.
• WR Konata Mumpfield and teammate Michael Mathison have combined to post six 100-yard receiving games this season.
• WR Michael Mathison's 94-yard second quarter kickoff return at Western Michigan was the first for Akron since a 98-yard return by Dashan Miller vs. Syracuse on Oct 24, 2009.
• In the fourth quarter, one play after the Zips moved to within seven, 38-31, senior DL Zach Morton (Detroit, Mich.) stepped in front of the Kaleb Eleby pass and intercepted the attempt and returned it to the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown return. The pick-six was the first of his Akron career and initial interception return for a TD since John Lako had a 64-yard return versus Miami in Nov. 2019.
• The Zips set season-high marks in completions (27) and attempts (43) at Western Michigan on the strength of QB Zach Gibson registering his third 300-yard passing effort of the season going 26-for-40 for 305 yards and two touchdowns.
• Freshman S DiMarco Johnson (Irmo, S.C.) and freshman DB Tyson Durant (Copley, Ohio) established career-high marks for tackles against Kent State posting seven and five stops, respectively.
• Junior DB Charles Amankwaa (Hillsborough, N.J.), sophomore DL Ryan Johnson (Starkville, Miss.), and redshirt freshman DL Curtis Fann, Jr. (Stillmore, Ga.) registered career-high marks at Western Michigan with five, three and two tackles, respectively.
• QB Zach Gibson is having a strong campaign for Akron going 109-for-157 through the air with 10 touchdowns while not surrendering an interception. His 69.43 completion percentage would rank 12th in the NCAA if he qualified for national rankings based on games played.
• WR Michael Mathison pulled in career-high marks in catches (8) and receiving yards (154) versus Ball State, including registering 102 yards after the catch. He now has a trio of 100-yard receiving games on the season after hauling in eight catches for 101 yards versus Temple on Sept. 11 and eight catches for 112 yards at Western Michigan on Nov. 9.
• RB Jonzell Norrils has rushed for 351 yards and three touchdowns over the Zips' last four contests versus Kent State, Western Michigan, Ball State and Buffalo. He garnered 88 yards on a career-high 17 rushes against Ball State on Nov. 2, a week after running for a career-high 155 yards versus Buffalo, including a 74-yard touchdown run on his first hand-off of the game. He added 58 yards and a touchdown at Western Michigan on Nov. 9 and 50 yards on 16 carries versus Kent State on Nov. 20.
• Akron has posted the edge in time of possession in eight of the Zips' 11 contests this season and held Western Michigan, which ranked third in the NCAA (36:25) in time of possession, to nearly nine minutes (27:40) under their season average.
• ILB Jeslord Boateng leads the team in total tackles (80), solo tackles (39), assists (41) and in tackles for a loss (7.5). He registered a career-best three tackles for a loss against Buffalo on Oct. 23.
• Akron is 24-of-34 in the red zone this season, including 17 touchdowns and seven field goals this season.
• Akron is rated 21st in the NCAA in completion percentage (.661), 26th in blocked kicks (2), 27th in time of possession (31:31), 46th in fewest penalty yards (528), 47th in fewest penalty yards per game (48.00), 48th in team passing efficiency (146.04) and 49th in defensive touchdowns (1).
• WR Konata Mumpfield is ranked 27th in the NCAA in receiving touchdowns (8) and 45th in receptions per game (5.5), while DB Charles Amankwaa is rated 40th in the NCAA in interceptions per game (0.3) and Michael Mathison is ranked 28th in combined kick returns (477).

UP NEXT
The University of Akron football team is slated to opens its 2022 campaign hosting Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sept. 3, 2022 at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.