Akron Set to Host Buffalo

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GAME NO. 8 - AKRON VS. BUFFALO NOTES (10/23)

Akron (2-5, 1-2 MAC) vs. Buffalo (3-4, 1-2 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 23
InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field
Akron, Ohio • 3:30 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 11-9
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 continues Mid-American Conference play this Saturday, Oct. 23 as the Zips welcome Buffalo to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. The 3:30 p.m. contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Doug Sherman and Ryan Shazier calling the action with a link on GoZips.com.

HEAD COACHES
Buffalo: Maurice Linguist (Baylor, 2006), overall record: 3-4 (First Season)/record at Buffalo: 3-4 (First Season)
Akron: Tom Arth (John Carroll, 2003), overall record - 52-43 (Ninth Season)/record at Akron - 3-22 (Third Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Akron leads, 11-9
Arth vs. Buffalo: 0-2, Buffalo def. Akron, 56-7 (Buffalo, N.Y. - Dec. 12, 2020)
Last Meeting: Buffalo def. Akron, 56-7 (Buffalo, N.Y. - Dec. 12, 2020)
Last Meeting in Akron: Buffalo def. Akron, 21-0 (Akron, Ohio - Oct. 19, 2019)

Akron is meeting Buffalo for the 21st time in program history with the Zips owning a 11-9 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, the Bulls registered a 56-7 triumph past Akron on Dec. 12, 2020 in Buffalo, N.Y. The Zips and Bulls last met in Akron on Oct. 19, 2019 as Buffalo posted a 21-0 victory.

The series between the two schools dates back to the 1999 campaign when Akron earned an 17-10 road victory over Buffalo. The Zips and Bulls have met every season since 2014.

SCOUTING BUFFALO
Buffalo comes into action versus Akron on the heels of a 27-26 victory over Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 16.

Senior QB Kyle Vantrease has passed for 1,406 yards en route to connecting on five touchdowns through the air and a pair on the ground. The trio of junior RB Dylan McDuffie, senior RB Kevin Marks and junior RB Ron Cook have sparked the Bulls' rushing attack running for 496, 381 and 358, yards, respectively, while combining to find the endzone 13 times. Senior WR Quian Williams has registered 572 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, the trio of senior LB Kadofi Wright, sophomore S Marcus Fuqua and junior S Cory Gross, Jr. have combined to record 115 tackles, including posting 41, 37 and 37 stops, respectively. Senior DE Taylor Riggins owns team-high marks in tackles for a loss (6.0) and sacks (4.0).

As a unit, the Bulls average 30.6 points per game, while registering 406.3 yards per game, including throwing for 205.7 yards and rushing for 200.6 yards per tilt.

Buffalo is ranked 17th in the NCAA in first-down offense (162), 18th in red zone defense (.710), 25th in defensive touchdowns (1), 34th in third-down conversions (.454), 35th in rushing offense (197.1), 41st in sacks (2.57), 46th in red zone offense (.879) and 47th in fumble recoveries (4). Individually, Williams is ranked 20th in the NCAA in receiving yards (572), 29th in receptions per contest (5.9) and 32nd in receiving yards per game (81.7), while McDuffie is rated 28th in yards per carry (5.93) and 37th in rushing touchdowns (6) and Patterson stands third in total tackles (10.6).

IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 12, 2020 - BUFFALO, N.Y.)
Akron concluded its 2020 campaign dropping a 56-7 decision at No. 24 Buffalo, the Mid-American Conference Eastern Division champions, on Dec. 12, 2020 at UB Stadium.

Jeremiah Knight led the Zips' ground attack rushing for a team-high 58 yards on 13 carries, while freshman RB Jonzell Norrils (Toledo, Ohio) scored his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter to finish the afternoon with 28 yards on the strength of five carries.

Nate Stewart hauled in a team-best five catches for 39 yards, while redshirt freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.) and T.J. DeShields combined to go 12-for-27 as the duo recorded 53 and 59 passing yards, respectively.

Redshirt junior LB Bubba Arslanian (Aurora, Ohio) led Akron's defensive efforts for the seventh consecutive game recording a team-high 13 tackles, including 10 solo tackles. Sophomore CB Randy Cochran, Jr. (Doralville, Ga.), freshman DB MyJaden Horton (Cincinnati, Ohio) and redshirt freshman CB Corey Thomas, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added eight, six and six tackles, respectively.

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 Tuesday, Oct. 19.

Having started each of Akron's seven games this season, Mumpfield has hauled in a team-high 38 receptions on the year for a team-best 459 yards, including scoring six touchdowns, which is tied for the lead in the Mid-American Conference.

Mumpfield is rated second among freshmen wide receivers on the D1 NCAA BCS level in receiving touchdowns (6) and fourth in receptions per game (5.4) and receiving yards (459).

He enters play versus Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 23, having posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving games, including a career-best 10-catch, 109-yard effort at Miami on Oct. 16. Additionally, he collected six catches for 106 yards at Bowling Green on Oct. 9.

Mumpfield has scored a touchdown in five of the Zips' seven 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 109 yards receiving on a career-best 10 catches at Miami, a week after recording 106 yards receiving with a pair of touchdown catches at Bowling Green on Oct. 9. He joined teammate Michael Mathison with a 100-yard receiving game this season.
• QB Zach Gibson has thrown a career-high three touchdowns in each of Akron's last two games at Bowling Green and Miami on Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, respectively.
• With his interception versus Bowling Green, DB Charles Amankwaa picked off a pass for Akron in three consecutive games. He leads the Zips with a trio of interceptions on the campaign and recorded a career-high four tackles, including three solo stops at Miami on Oct. 16
• LB Jeslord Boateng set a career-high with nine tackles at Miami on Oct. 16, while equaling a career-best five solo stops.
• WR Konata Mumpfield has scored a touchdown in five of Akron's seven games this season, including a stretch of five consecutive games, including a 45-yard scoring strike from redshirt sophomore QB DJ Irons (Lawrenceville, Ga.) against Ohio on Oct. 2.
• ILB Jeslord Boateng leads the team in total tackles (48), solo tackles (21), assists (27) and in tackles for a loss (4.0).
• Akron is 16-of-22 in the red zone this season, including 13 touchdowns and a trio of field goals this season after going 12-for-14 a year ago with nine touchdowns.
• Akron is rated 15th in the NCAA in time of possession (32:29) and in completion percentage (.681), 27th in fewest penalties per game (5.14) and fewest penalty yards per contest (44.29), 30th in fumbles recovered (5), 32nd in team passing efficiency (153.54), 41st in fewest penalties (36), 46th in fewest penalty yards (310) and 48th in turnovers gained (10).
• WR Konata Mumpfield is ranked 12th in the NCAA in receiving touchdowns (6) and 48th in receptions per contest (5.4), while DB Charles Amankwaa is rated 15th in the NCAA in interceptions per game (0.4).
• WR Michael Mathison registered his first career 100-yard receiving day versus Temple pulling in career-high marks in catches (8) and yards (101).

UP NEXT
The University of Akron football team will host Ball State on Nov. 2 at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

NO RE-ENTRY POLICY FOR AKRON FOOTBALL
Guests and students that exit InfoCision Stadium -Summa Field will not be permitted to re-enter. Guests and students arriving after halftime will be required to use Gate 1 for entrance. Tickets may be purchased at Gate 1 ticket office through the end of the third quarter.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Charles Amankwaa

Bubba Arslanian

Jeslord Boateng

Randy Cochran, Jr.

T.J. DeShields

Zach Gibson

MyJaden Horton

DJ Irons

Jeremiah Knight

Michael Mathison

Konata Mumpfield

Jonzell Norrils

Nate Stewart

Corey Thomas, Jr.

The University of Akron Athletics