Week 4: Akron Travels to South Carolina

Saturday, September 21

Columbia, SC

7:30 PM

University of Akron

South Carolina

September 19 | Football

WHAT'S AHEAD
In week four, the Akron football program travels to Columbia, S.C. to battle the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Williams-Brice Stadium. The game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU with Clay Matvick (PxP) and Steve Addazio (Analyst) calling the action.

Television: ESPNU - 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
South Carolina (2-1, 1-1 SEC)
Shane Beamer (Virginia Tech, 1999)
at South Carolina (4th): 22-19
Overall (4th): Same

AKRON ZIPS (1-2, 0-0 MAC)
JOE MOORHEAD (Fordham, 1996)
at Akron (3rd): 5-22
Overall (8th): 57-47

SERIES HISTORY
Series: South Carolina leads 1-0
Last Meeting: South Carolina def. Akron, 28-3 (Columbia, S.C. - 12/01/2018)

The game between the Zips and the Gamecocks will mark the second encounter between the two schools. South Carolina leads the all-time series, 1-0, capturing the lone meeting on Dec. 1, 2018 (28-3). The game was added to the schedule during the 2018 season due to the Zips game against Nebraska being haulted due to a lightning storm. In addition, South Carolina had a game canceled against Marshall in 2018 due to hurricane Florence.

SCOUTING South Carolina
South Carolina currently sits at 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the SEC, defeating Old Dominion (23-19) in their home opener and claiming the conference opener over Kentucky (31-6). Last week, the Gamecocks nearly knocked-off league foe No. 16/17 LSU Tigers in Columbia (36-33). SC averages 29.0 points per game on 312.7 total yards per game. The Gamecocks balanced attack averages 165.3 yards on the ground and 147.3 yards through the air. Defensively, South Carolina limits opponents to 20.3 points and 301.7 total yards per game, allowing 175.3 yards in the air and 126.3 on the ground. The Gamecocks have generated 12 sacks for a total loss of 102 yards and five interceptions for 67 return yards and one pick-6 (Nick Emmanwori).

Norris Sellers is the primary passer, completing 29 of 53 attempts with two INT's for 393 yards (131.0 avg) and two touchdowns. He is also the second leading rusher on the squad with 135 yards on 40 carries (3.4 yds/c - 45.0 yds/g) with three touchdowns. Raheim Sanders does the bulk of the work on the ground, averaging 5.1 yards per carry for 286 total yards (95.3 yds/g) with four TDs. Jared Brown leads the receiving corps with seven targets for 98 yards (32.7 yds/g), followed by Mazeo Bennett (6-88 yds-29.3 yds/g-1 TD), Joshua Simon (5-66 yds-22.0 yds/g-1 TD) and Michael Smith (5-48 yds-16.0 yds/g). Emmanwori paces the defense with 21 tackles and two INTs, while Debo Williams follows with 19 tackles and two tackles for loss of two yards. Kyle Kennard leads in the sack category with five for 38 yards of loss and seven total tackles for loss of 44 yards.

ZIPS WIN HOME OPENER
After falling behind 17-0, the Zips scored 28 unanswered points led by redshirt junior Ben Finley and four passing touchdowns as Akron defeated Colgate,31-20 at Infocision Stadium in the Zips' home opener. Finley set a career high in passing yards (358) touchdowns thrown (4) and longest pass (56 yards). Sophomore Adrian Norton and junior Bobby Golden both recorded over 100 yards receiving while Norton led all receivers with 125 yards. Along with Norton and Golden, redshirt sophomores Jake Newell and Charles Kellom all hauled in strikes from Finley for touchdowns. Redshirt junior Darrian Lewis led the defensive efforts with 12 total tackles and snagged one interception which helped lead to a Zips' touchdown. Senior Paul Lewis III and junior Bryan McCoy each had nine tackles to help the Akron cause. Akron was efficient in the red zone, going 4-of-6 in the process.

AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2024 CAMPAIGN
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.

WHO IS WEARING NO. 1
Senior DL Bennett Adler and redshirt junior WR Myles Walker have emerged as leaders for third-year head coach Joe Moorhead as the Zips enter their season opener at Ohio State on Aug. 31 and the duo was recently rewarded with the No. 1 jerseys for the upcoming campaign.

Under Moorhead at Akron, head strength and conditioning coach Orie Sahlfeld identifies one player on each side of the ball that demonstrated their leadership both on and off the field over the course of the spring to earn the privilege of wearing the No. 1 jersey in the Akron Blue and Gold for the 2024 season.

ABOUT AKRON
• Akron ranks in the top-25 (23rd) in 4th down conversion (.750) -NCAA
• Zips ranked 55th in time of possession (30:50) -NCAA
• Avery Book ranked in the top-15 NCAA (14) in punting (46.4 yards per punt) also leads the MAC
• Back-to-back games that have featured an interception (Daymon David at Rutgers, Darrian Lewis vs Colgate)
• Back-to-back games that have seen a player record 10+ tackles (Bryan McCoy (11), Antavious Fish (10) at Rutgers, Darrian Lewis (12) vs Colgate)
• Back-to-back games with 60+ tackles (74 at Rutgers, 61 vs Colgate)
• Three players (D. Lewis 12, McCoy (9), Paul Lewis III (9) had at least nine tackles against Colgate
• Finley began the first Zip to throw for over 300 yards since Jeff Undercuffler threw for 312 at Northern Illinois on November 26, 2022.
• Finley set career highs in passing yards, touchdowns thrown and longest pass thrown.
•Finley was the first Zip to throw for at least four touchdowns since Kato Nelson threw four TDs at Ohio on November 23, 2018.
• Akron recorded 416 yards on offense while holding Colgate to 243.
• Golden set a career-high for longest reception with a 56-yard catch for a TD from Finley.
• Golden's 56-yard reception was the longest since Alex Adams had a 54-yard and 61-yard reception against Eastern Michigan on November 8, 2022.
• Akron featured a pair of 100-yard receivers as Norton (125) and Golden (119) both hauled in over 100 yards. The pair were the first Zips to both have a 100-yard game since November 1, 2023, when the Zips defeated Kent State for the Wagon Wheel.
• Akron saw 31 of its 61 tackles come from D.Lewis (12), McCoy (9) and P.Lewis (9).
• Zips recorded the first two sacks of the season as Lama Lavea recorded Akron's first Sack and CJ Nunnally IV had a strip sack to close the game. Nathan Kapongo recovered the fumble.
• Akron converted 7 of 14 third downs vs Rutgers
• Jordon Simmons recorded the TD longest run from scrimmage (73 yds) since 2015
• Simmons collected 109 yards rushing, averaging 12.1 yards per carry
• Daymon David INT marked the Zips first takeaway and appearance of the turnover tire in 2024
• Adrian Norton scored the Zips first TD in 2024 32 yd pass from Ben Finley
• McCoy (11) and Fish (10) combined for 21 tackles vs Rutgers
•Garrison Smith converted on two field goals of 48 and 49 yards, marking longest since 2015 for Akron (Robert Stein, 50 yards (11-14-15)
• Akron converted 4 of 16 third downs while Ohio State was successful on 9 of 14.
• Avery Book punted six times with an average of 48.2 yards per punt
• Akron went 2-for-3 on fourth down, converting on 66.7 percent of attempts.
•Bullock completed 69.2% of his passes on the day, going 9-for-13.
• Akron returns five offensive starters and eight defensive starters from a year ago
• Akron returns its top four tacklers in;
            Antavious Fish (95 tackles, 38 solo, 57 assists, 4 TFL)
            Bryan McCoy (94 tackles, 33 solo, 61 assists, 6 TFL)
            Darrian Lewis (75 tackles, 26 solo, 49 assists, 4 TFL)
            CJ Nunnally (65 tackles, 35 solo, 30 assists, 15.5 TFL, 7 Sacks)

UP NEXT
Akron opens Mid-American Conference play in Athens, Ohio against the Ohio Bobcats on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m.