Akron Visits Bowling Green on Saturday

WHAT'S AHEAD
The Zips are looking for their first #MACtion win as Akron visits Doyt Perry Stadium to battle Bowling Green on Saturday, Oct. 21. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and the game is slated to be broadcasted on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (PxP) and Marcus Ray (Analyst) calling the action with a link on GoZips.com.

Television: ESPN+ - Michael Reghi (PxP), Marcus Ray (Analyst)
Radio: Akron Sports Network - David Skoczen (pxp), Joe Dunn (analyst)
WHLO 640 AM (flagship), WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM
iHeart Radio, TheVarsityNetwork.com
Video Link: www.GoZips.com - https://es.pn/3tCUrPC
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com - https://bit.ly/46AHNPA

HEAD COACHES
BOWLING GREEN
Scot Loeffler (Michigan, 1998)
Overall Record: 16-33 (5th Season)
Record at BGSU: 16-33 (5th Season)

AKRON
Joe Moorhead (Fordham, 1996)
Overall Record: 55-41 (8th Season)
Record at Akron: 3-16 (2nd Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Series: BGSU leads 19-10
Last Meeting: Bowling Green def. Akron, 31-28 (Akron, Ohio - Oct. 1, 2022)
Last Meeting at BGSU: Akron def. Bowling Green, 35-20 (Bowling Green, Ohio - Oct. 9, 2021)

Akron is meeting Bowling for the 30th time in program history with the Falcons owning a 19-10 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, BGSU snapped the Zips two-game winning streak with a 31-28 win at InfoCision Stadium in Akron. The Zips won a come-from-behind 35-20 triumph past Bowling Green on Oct. 9, 2021 in Bowling Green, Ohio. Akron posted a 31-3 victory at InfoCision Stadium on Dec. 5, 2020.

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.

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green enters the game with a 3-4 overall record, including a marquee win over ACC opponent Georgia Tech (38-27). The Falcons are 1-2 in league play, falling to Ohio (38-7) and Miami (27-0) before defeating Buffalo (24-14) last week.

BGSU QB Connor Bazelak paces the Falcons' attack passing for 821 yards, including throwing for four touchdowns. The Falcons have five receivers averaging 10-plus yards per catch, paced by Finn Hogan with 10 catches for 143 yards or 14.3 yards per grab with one touchdown. BGSU WR Odieu Hiliare hauled in 21 passes for a team-best 226 yards and 10.8 yards per reception with a team-high two touchdowns. On the ground, RB Terion Stewart carries the squad with 91 attempts for 539 yards or 5.9 yards per carry with four touchdowns and a 46 yard long run.

Defensively, the Falcons have posted 33 tackles for a loss with 13 sacks. BGSU LB Joseph Sipp leads the squad with 51 total tackles with two for loss, while LB Darren Anders follows with 40 takedowns and leads the team with 4.5 TFL and two sacks. LB Cashius Howell holds a team-best 2.5 sacks.

As a team, the Falcons average 19.6 points per game, while their opponents net 26.6 points per outing. Bowling Green has thrown for 163.6 yards and rushed for 189.4 yards per tilt.

AKRON NOTES
• The Zips had four players with more than eight tackles vs CMU led by Darrian Lewis (14).
• The forced two turnovers with INTs by KJ Martin and Devonte Golden-Nelson.
• The Zips racked up eight tackles for loss and added two sacks.
• The Zips had four players with more than eight tackles against UB led by sophomore LB Bryan McCoy (Chicago, Ill.), who had 14.
• Irons completed 73.1 percent of his passes, going 19-for-26.
•Th Zips limited UB QB Cole Snyder to his lowest passing totals in two seasons with 142 yards and one touchdown on 19 of 34.
• Against IU DJ Irons and Lorenzo Lingard each rushed for over 100 yards for the Zips with 141 and 113 yards, respectively.
• Akron outgained Indiana, 474-282, including a 263-92 advantage on the ground.
• Sophomore LB Bryan McCoy (Chicago, Ill.) led the Zips with 12 tackles.
• Akron won the time of possession battle 34:24 to 25:36.
• Akron won the turnover battle 3-1 after intercepting one pass and recovering two fumbles.
• Akron tallied 3 points in the third quarter, accounting for 100% of their total score.
• Akron converted 6 of 15 third downs while Kentucky was successful on 5 of 8.
• Akron won the time of possession battle 34:47 to 25:13.
• Irons completed 67.6% of his passes on the day, going 23-for-34
•CJ Nunnally opened the game with back-to-back sacks for the Zips.
•Noel Roach blocked punt to setup Akron field goal, made by Noah Perez 22 yards
•Alex Adams caught his first TD pass of the season 29 yards from Jeff Undercuffler 5-5 on the 67-yard drive.
•Devonte Golden-Nelson recorded the Zips first interception of the season and first Pick-6, taking the 50 yards for his first-career touchdown.
• Akron outgained Morgan State 262-231, including a 254-152 advantage through the air.
• Akron converted 4 of 11 third downs while Morgan State was successful on 2 of 16.
• The Zips had three players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Bryan McCoy, who had 14.
• The Zips racked up nine tackles for loss and added four sacks.
• Akron posted 279 yards of total offense in the season opener vs Temple
• DJ Irons accounted for 205 yards of offense with two TDs on 17-of-29 throwing.
• Lorenzo Lingard caught a career-high 77 yard TD reception from Irons on the second play of the game to give Akron a 7-0 lead.
• Daniel George caught a 50-yard long pass from Irons to setup the Zips second TD
• Myles Walker hauled in the second TD pass from Irons, a 14 yard reception and his first career touchdown
• Drake Anderson led the ground attack with 40 of the Zips 74 yards.
• Akron's defense registered three tackles for loss with eight total yards.Bryan McCoy (1), Shammond Cooper (0.5), Terray Jones (1) and CJ Nunnally (0.5) recorded the takedowns.
• Darrian Lewis, Antavious Fish and McCoy recorded seven tackles each to lead the Zips. Judson Tallendier, Cooper and KJ Martin followed with five each.

MAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
(Sept. 25) - QB DJ Irons was named Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced. Irons generated 335 of 474 yards of total offense for the Zips in a four-overtime setback to Indiana on Saturday night, 29-27. Irons paced the Zips rushing attack by accumulating 141 yards with two touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry and a 34-yard long rushing attempt. He also threw for 194 yards, completing 22-of-35 passes and a 28-yard long toss to sophomore WR Jasaiah Gathings. Irons gave Akron a 10-7 advantage on a 14-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter after returning to the game. He found paydirt in the first overtime period with a 10-yard TD rush.

(Sept. 11) - CJ Nunnally was named Mid-American Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday. Nunnally provided a spark for Akron, helping them to a 24-21 win over Morgan State in their home opener at InfoCision Stadium on Saturday. With less than a minute to play, Nunnally forced a fumble to setup the game-winning touchdown. He forced the fumble at the Morgan State 13-yardline, stripping the Bears QB J.J. Davis of the ball, allowing teammate LB Bryan McCoy to recover the loose ball and score the game-winning touchdown.In addition, Nunnally opened the game with back-to-back sacks, recording two of the Zips four sacks on the game. His sacks totaled 10-yards of loss and posted a third tackle for an eight-yard loss. In all, Nunnally registered four tackles, three solo and one assisted, with three tackles for losses.

AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2023 CAMPAIGN
The Zips elected QB DJ Irons, WR Daniel George, DB KJ Martin and LB Bryan McCoy as captains for Akron for the 2023 campaign.

UP NEXT
The Akron Zips return to InfoCision Stadium to battle for the Wagon Wheel against Kent State in the first week of midweek #MACtion on Wednesday, Nov. 1 with a 7 (ESPN2) or 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) game time. Official game time will be announced later this week.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alex Adams

Drake Anderson

Shammond Cooper

Antavious Fish

Jasaiah Gathings

Daniel George

Devonte Golden-Nelson

DJ Irons

Terray Jones

Darrian Lewis

Lorenzo Lingard

KJ Martin

Bryan McCoy

Noah Perez

Noel Roach III

Myles Walker

The University of Akron Athletics