Week Nine: Akron Returns to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field Saturday against Eastern Michigan

WHATS AHEAD
#MACtion returns to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field as the Akron Zips host the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be aired on ESPN+ with Anthony Lima (PxP) and Ryan Cavanaugh (Analyst) calling the action.

Television: ESPN+ - Anthony Lima (PxP) and Ryan Cavanaugh (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 (subscription may be required)
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com

HEAD COACHES
EASTERN MICHIGAN (5-2, 2-1 MAC)
Chris Creighton (Alabama, 2003)
at EMU (11th): 57-70
Overall (28th): 196-116

AKRON ZIPS (1-6, 0-3 MAC)
JOE MOORHEAD (Fordham, 1996)
at Akron (3rd): 5-26
Overall (8th): 57-51

SERIES HISTORY
Series: Akron leads 19-16
Last Meeting: Eastern Michigan def. Akron, 30-27 (2OT) (Ypsilanti, Mich. - Nov. 14, 2023)
Last Meeting in Akron: Eastern Michigan def. Akron, 34-28 (Akron, Ohio - Nov. 8, 2022)

Akron is meeting Eastern Michigan for the 36th time in program history with the Zips owning a 19-16 series advantage. The Eagles own a four-game winning streak. The last meeting between the two schools needed a pair of overtime periods to decide a winner as EMU pulled out the 30-27 win in Ypsilanti, Mich. last season (2023). The Eagles registered a 34-28 triumph past Akron on Nov. 8, 2022 at InfoCision Stadium as well as a 42-12 win in 2019 in Akron. Akron's last win over the Eagles came in the 2015 season at Rynearson Stadium when the Zips posted a 47-21 triumph.

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

SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
Eastern Michigan currently sits 5-2 overall and 2-1 in MAC play, defeating Kent State (52-33) and Central Michigan last week (38-34) after dropping a game to Miami (38-14). The Eagles average 30.6 points per game on 374.4 total yards of offense per game. The EMU balanced attack averages 227.4 yards through the air and 147 yards on the ground. Defensively, opponents average 26.1 points on 375.4 yards per game, allowing 225.7 yards in the air and 149.7 on the ground.

QB Cole Snyder leads the offense, completing 138 of 224 attempts with two INT's for 1,468 yards (209.7 avg) and seven touchdowns. Delbert Mimms does the bulk of the work on the ground, averaging 4.4 yards per carry for 482 total yards (68.9 yds/g) with six TDs. Snyder adds four rushing TDs on 27.7 yards per game. Terry Lockett leads the receiving corps with 29 catches for 373 yards and two TDs (53.3 yds/g and 12.9 yards/reception), followed by Oran Singleton (39-357 yds-51.0 yds/g-2 TD). EMU generated 48 tackles for loss of 203 yards with 20 sacks (129 yds). Luke Murphy paces the defense with 41 tackles and 2.5 TFL for 9 yards. Peyton Price follows with 5.5 tackles for loss (28 yds) with 3 sacks (21 yds) on 29 total takedowns. In addition, Quentavius Scanderett and JT Killen add 31 tackles each.

ABOUT AKRON
• Akron has recorded 70 or more tackles four times this season (85 at Ohio, 75 at South Carolina, 73 vs Bowling Green, 71 at Rutgers).
• The Zips have had a player record 10 or more tackles in four games this season.
• Akron outgained Western Michigan 501-387, including a 413-191 advantage through the air.
•The Zips had two players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Nathan Kapongo, who had nine.
•Ben Finley threw for a career-high 395 yards and threw a career-long 60-yard pass to Adrian Norton
• Adrian Norton recorded a career-high 168 receiving yards and a career-long 60-yard reception from Finley.
• Finley has completed 65 percent or more of his throws in four games and has done it in three straight games.
• Finley has thrown for over 350 yards twice this season.
• Tahj Bullock ran for two touchdowns, recording 14 yards on the ground and 54 receiving yards.
• Jordon Simmons paced the Zips rushing attack by accumulating 63 yards and one touchdown, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Simmons also tacked on 97 receiving yards on six targets with a 52-yard-long gain.
• Bryan McCoy has recorded eight or more tackles in six games and 10 or more tackles in three games with a season-high of 14 coming at Ohio (Sept. 28).
• McCoy leads the Zips with 65 tackles.
• Nine Zips have 22 or more tackles this season.• Akron is 5th in the MAC for passing yards (1,165)
• The Zips are 6th in the MAC for Fumbles Forced (4)
• The Zips are tied for 4th in the MAC for Fumbles Recovered (5)
• Akron is 4th in the MAC for recovered fumbles (5)
• Jordan Simmons is 13th in the MAC with 318 total rushing yards and
• Simmons is 14th in the MAC with 45.4 yards per game
• Jordan Simmons is tied for first for the longest rush in the MAC with a 73 yard run
• Ben Finley is 7th for completion percentage (60.6) in the MAC
• Finley is 4th in the MAC for total completions with 134
• Finley is 5th in the MAC for total passing yards with 1,456
• Finley is 6th in the MAC for passing yards per game with 208.0
• Finley is 8th in the MAC for passing TDs with seven
• Adrian Norton is 8th in the MAC for receiving TDs with three
• Norton is 4th in the MAC for total receiving yards with 541
• Norton is 3rd in the MAC for Yards per catch with 19.3
• Norton is 4th in the MAC for Average Yards per game with 77.3
• Norton is tied for 10th in the MAC for receptions with 28
• Norton is 37th in the NCAA for yards per reception (18.65)
• Bobby Golden is 19th in the MAC for total receiving yards with 277
• Golden is 20th in the MAC for receiving TDs with one
• Golden is 89th in the NCAA for Yards per reception (15.93)
• Golden is 6th in the MAC for Yards per catch with 15.4
• Golden is 20th in the MAC for Yards per game with 39.6
• Golden is tied for 23rd in the MAC for receptions with 18
• Avery Book is 1st punts of 50 or more yards (18) and average punt yards per game (45.6)
• Book is 2nd in the MAC for punting yards (1823) and 4th in punts inside the 20 (12)
• Book is 3rd in the MAC for longest punt (61 yards)
• Book is 11th in NCAA for punting yards (45.2)
• Garrison Smith is 6th in the MAC for made field goals (8), 4th in the MAC for longest field goal (49 yards) and 10th in field goal percentage (72.7).
• Nathan Kapongo is tied for 1st in the NCAA for recovered fumbles (2)

LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt junior Ben Finley threw for 395 yards and sophomore Adrian Norton put up 168 receiving yards, but Akron fell to Western Michigan 34-24 after a five-hour lightning delay at Waldo Stadium. Offensively, Akron had an outstanding day, logging 501 total yards, 88 on the ground and 413 through the air. Akron averaged 7.7 yards per play and out-gained Western Michigan by 114 yards (387 total yards). The Zips converted 46.2 percent of third-down attempts (6-of-13) and 80 percent in the redzone (4-of-5). Finley went 24-for-36 on the way to the 395-yard outing with one interception and a 60-yard pass to Norton. Norton hauled in eight passes for the 168 yards to lead the receiving corps . Redshirt junior Jordon Simmons paced the Zips rushing attack by accumulating 63 yards and one touchdown, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Simmons also tacked on 97 receiving yards on six targets with a 52 yard long gain. Redshirt junior Tahj Bullock also added 14 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, as well as 54 receiving yards. Redshirt senior Kabbash Richards led the Akron defensive effort, collecting 1.5 TFL and one sack, while redshirt senior Nathan Kapongo and senior Bennett Adler added 1.5 TFL each for a total of five yards. Redshirt sophomore Elijah Reed had six tackles and 1.0 TFL, while Kapongo and junior Bryan McCoy led the squad in total tackles with nine and eight, respectively. Akron's defense held up fairly well against the run, limiting Western Michigan to 196 yards on the ground.

AKRON 2024 CAPTAINS
The Zips elected junior LB Bryan McCoy (Chicago, Ill.) as captain for the second consecutive season. McCoy is joined by senior DL Bennett Adler (Lakewood, Ohio), redshirt junior WR Myles Walker (Monaca, Pa.) and redshirt junior QB Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) as captains for Akron for the 2024 campaign.

UP NEXT
The Zips return to #MACtion at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field against Buffalo on

Week Nine: Akron Returns to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field Saturday against Eastern Michigan

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Players Mentioned

Bennett Adler

Avery Book

Tahj Bullock

Ben Finley

Bobby Golden

Nathan Kapongo

Bryan McCoy

Adrian Norton

Elijah Reed

Kabbash Richards

Jordon Simmons

Garrison Smith

Myles Walker

The University of Akron Athletics