Football Hosts Eastern Michigan in Tuesday Night MACtion Game on ESPNews

Tuesday, November 12

Akron, Ohio

6 PM

University of Akron

Eastern Michigan

Football Hosts Eastern Michigan in Tuesday Night MACtion Game on ESPNews

November 07 | Football

Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Arth'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 ESPN

EASTERN MICHIGAN [4-5, 1-4 MAC] at AKRON [0-9, 0-5 MAC]
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019
InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field [30,000]
Akron, Ohio
6 PM | ESPNews

THIS WEEK
Akron moves to mid-week MACtion on Tuesday, Nov. 12, hosting Eastern Michigan at 6 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field.

ESPNews will televise the contest before a national audience with Mike Morgan (play-by-play) and Ray Bentley (analyst) calling the game.

The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron Sports Network [SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), 1420 WHK in Cleveland, 1440 WHKZ in Warren/Youngstown] with Steve French calling the action, David Skoczen 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 first-year head coach Tom Arth, Akron stands 0-9 overall (0-5 MAC) after a 35-6 loss at Bowling Green. The Zips return 57 letterwinners, including 10 starters, to their pro style offense and multiple defensive schemes.

Sophomore RB Brandon Lee (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is the team's top rusher with 172 yards on 59 carries. Under center, redshirt junior QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) stands 115-of-208 for 1,325 yards and eight touchdowns in seven starts, while freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.) is 38-of-70 for 402 yards and a touchdown in three games. Redshirt junior WR Nate Stewart (Bethlehem, Pa.) is the top receiver with 34 receptions for 463 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, redshirt senior LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) is the top Zip with 108 tackles, including 51 solo stops, 8.0 TFL, a 25-yard fumble recovery, and a hurry.

In the NCAA stats, Akron is ranked No. 2 in kickoff return defense (11.33) and NO. 19 in passing yards allowed (187.8). Individually, redshirt senior LB John Lako is No. 3 total tackles (12.0) and No. 18 in solo tackles (5.7). Freshman WR Michael Mathison (Covington, Ga.) is No. 19 in combined kick returns (435) and No. 21 in kickoff returns (25.6).

The Eagles, under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Chris Creighton stand 4-5 overall (1-5 MAC) after a 43-14 loss to Buffalo. Eastern Michigan returns 45 letterwinners, including 13 starters, to its multiple offensive and multiple defensive schemes.

Senior RB Shaq Vann is the team's top rusher with 351 yards and two touchdowns on 76 carries. Under center, senior QB Mike Glass III is 169-of-265 for 1,991 yards and 16 touchdowns, while sophomore QB Preston Hutchinson is 43-of-56 for 462 yards and three touchdowns. At wide receiver, sophomore Dylan Drummond has 39 receptions for 362 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, senior LB Kobie Beltram is the top defender with 83 tackles, 1.5 TFL, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and five break-ups.

In the NCAA stats, Eastern Michigan is ranked No. 10 in fewest penalties (4.67), No. 10 in fewest penalty yards per game (40.33), No. 12 in punt returns (14.22), and No. 29 in passing offense (2178.1). Individually, senior WR Mathew Sexton is No. 1 in punt return touchdowns (1), while senior LB Kobie Beltram is No. 12 in fumbles recovered (2).

AKRON-EASTERN MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS
Akron has four players from the state of Michigan on its roster– redshirt junior LS Peyton Coffman [Grand Blanc, Mich. | Fenton HS], redshirt sophomore DB Jerome Cooper [Stevenson, Mich. | Stevenson HS], redshirt senior LB John Lako [Monroe, Mich. | St. Mary Catholic HS], and senior DL Michael Stuhldreer [Grosse Point, Mich. | Grosse Point South HS].

Eastern Michigan has 18 players from Ohio– freshman RB John Branham, Jr. [Columbus, Ohio | Northland HS], junior LB Brandon Burks Reynoldsburg, Ohio | Pickerington HS], senior DB Vince Calhoun [Middletown, Ohio | Middletown HS], senior WR Eddie Daugherty [Mentor, Ohio | Mentor HS], freshman OL Brian Dooley [Bowling Green, Ohio | Toledo's St. John's Jesuit HS], sophomore WR Dylan Drummond [Cleveland, Ohio | Cuyahoga Heights HS],
freshman DL Mikey Haney [Maumee, Ohio | Maumee HS], senior DB Brody Hoying [Coldwater, Ohio | Coldwater], sophomore QB Preston Hutchinson [Mason, Ohio | Mason HS], freshman LB Sam Jackson [Troy, Ohio | Troy HS], freshman WR Tanner Knue [Mason, Ohio | Mason HS], freshman DB Mark Lee, Jr. [Columbus, Ohio |Northland HS], junior WR Keyan Marshall [Toledo, Ohio | Sylvania Southview], freshman OL Jimi McAdams IV [Parma, Ohio | Padua Franciscan HS], freshman DL Alex Merritt [Cincinnati, Ohio | Moeller HS], sophomore TE Gunnar Oakes [Swanton, Ohio | Swanton HS], freshman DL Samari Saddler [Cincinnati, Ohio | Moeller HS], and senior RB Breck Turner [Norwalk, Ohio | Norwalk HS].

Akron secondary coach Oscar Rodriguez, Jr., and EMU assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Neal Neathery are both alumni of Fort Hays State. Rodriguez earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 2005, while Neathery earned a master's in health & human performances in 1995.

AKRON-EASTERN MICHIGAN: THE SERIES
Tuesday's game is the 33rd meeting between Akron and Eastern Michigan in series history, which began in 1949. The Zips lead, 19-13.

Last fall, Akron football dropped a 27-7 decision at Eastern Michigan in Mid-American Conference action on a frigid Saturday afternoon at Rynearson Stadium.

The Eagles racked up 384 yards of total offense, while the Zips struggled offensively, gaining just 90 yards playing without their starting quarterback sophomore Kato Nelson.

On the ground, senior RB Van Edwards, Jr. led UA with 53 rushing yards. In his first collegiate start, redshirt freshman QB Alex Ramart went 4-of-15 for 29 yards. In the air, senior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla) was the top receiver with two receptions for 22 yards.

Defensively, senior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) was the top Zip with 11 tackles, including a TFL.

For the Eagles, RB Ian Eriksen ran for 96 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. QB Tyler Wiegers went 15-of-23 for 129 yards. Mathew Sexton led the EMU receivers with 55 yards on five catches.

In the second quarter, freshman Jeremiah Knight returned a punt 70 yards for his first career touchdown. UA came within three, 10-7, at intermission despite just one first down and 14 yards of total offense.

On Oct. 10, 2015, the Akron Zips racked up 500 yards of total offense behind sophomore QB Thomas Woodson en route to a 47-21 win over Eastern Michigan at Rynearson Stadium on a beautiful sunny afternoon.

Akron fired on all cylinders with huge performances in the running and passing games. In his third start of the season, Woodson went 14-of-22 for 222 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. He also rushed for 72 yards.

Sophomore WR Jerome Lane finished with a career-best two touchdowns and 104 yards (all in the first half), marking the first 100-yard performance of his collegiate career.

Senior RB Conor Hundley led all rushers with 119 yards and a career-high two touchdowns on 17 carries. Defensively, senior LB Dylan Evans racked up a team-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops.

The Eagles also had some impressive numbers. QB Brogan Roback went 23-of-34 for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Darius Jackson rushed for 112 yards on 24 carries, while Eddie Daugherty had 107 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions. Great Ibe led all defenders with 16 tackles.

On Oct. 4, 2014, the Zips dominated on both sides of the ball as Akron cruised to a 31-6 victory over Eastern Michigan in its Mid-American Conference opener at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field. The victory was Akron's first win to open MAC play since the 2007 season.

Defensively, Akron forced four turnovers and held the Eagles to 279 total yards, including just 94 on the ground. Jatavis Brown led Akron with 14 tackles (12 solo), including two sacks.

Akron's very first game as a member of the Mid-American Conference was a 27-9 win at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 5, 1992.

SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Eastern Michigan: 19-13
Akron in games at Akron: 12-3
Akron in games at Eastern Michigan: 7-10
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 1949, at EMU, W, 20-6
Last meeting in series: 2018, at Rynearson Stadium, L, 7-27

LAST GAME
In its last Saturday contest of the season, Akron football dropped a 35-6 decision at Bowling Green in Mid-American Conference action at Doty Perry Stadium on Saturday.

For the Zips, redshirt junior QB Kato Nelson returned to the starting line-up. He went 9-of-24 for 60 yards as the Zips had 100 total yards of offense.

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

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

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

POSTGAME NOTES

Freshmen DB Kyshad Mack (Massillon, Ohio), LB Corey Thomas, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa.), and LB Jarred Uran (Cincinnati, Ohio) made their collegiate debuts special teams.
Redshirt freshman PK Cory Smigel put UA on the scoreboard on the opening drive with a 35-yard field goal. On the Zips' second drive, he repeated the feat with another 35-yarder. He had two field goals on the day. The 35-yards were a career long.
Defensively, redshirt sophomore LB Bubba Arslanian tallied a career-best 19 tackles, a career-high 2.0 TFL, a sack for a loss of nine yards, and a forced fumble, the first of his career.
Redshirt sophomore WR Jeremiah Knight (Jefferson, Ohio) had three kickoff returns for a career-high 88 yards, including a career-long 33-yard return.

UP NEXT
Akron makes its final road trip of the 2019 season, visiting Miami (Ohio) on Wednesday, Nov. 20, for a 7:30 p.m. contest at Yager Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2 or ESPNU.