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 Young football teams are typically thin when it comes to depth. So the bye week came at a good time in the Akron Zips’ schedule.
Akron (1-5, 0-2 MAC) did not practice from Thursday October 13 to Sunday October 16. The Zips then came back into game-week mode this Monday. “I was more concerned with making sure we got rested,” head coach Rob Ianello said. “I wanted them to come back Monday, not only physically fresh, but mentally fresh. Hopefully we have achieved that.”
UA reached the halfway point of its schedule with a 27-17 home loss to Florida International on October 8 at InfoCision Stadium. It was a game in which the visiting Panthers gained over 500 total yards, but the Zips still had a chance to tie, or even win, until a late scoring drive by FIU dashed those hopes.
When looking at the first half of the season, the Zips offensively struggled moving the ball in the first two games, at Ohio State and home against Temple. But since the Cincinnati game, they have amassed 1,723 yards over the last five games, averaging 344.6 yards per game. They have had over 300 yards in total offense in three of the last four games The streak ended against FIU, with Akron gaining just 269 total yards.
FOCUS ON PASSING GAME AND THIRD DOWN
Two things Ianello stressed with his offensive unit during the bye week were (1) the drop-back passing game, and (2) third down conversions. UA is just 19-for-79 on third down over the first six games, ranking near the bottom (116th) of teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
“We have had issues in that area. First and second down greatly affects third down.” Ianello said, stressing the offense has to get away from the third-and-long situations, as well as converting short yardage plays.
Defensively, Ianello said there has been improvement, although FIU gained 526 yards -- the most against the UA defense so far this season. The Zips did force two turnovers, including the first interception of the season when true freshman cornerback Johnny Robinson picked off a pass in the end zone, thwarting an FIU drive. The defense also picked up a sack, their sixth over the last three games after going the first three without a quarterback trap.
On the injury front, Ianello said wide receiver Marquelo Suel will play this Saturday at home against Ohio. The junior transfer missed the last three games with a lower back injury. He is tied for third on the team with eight receptions for 127 yards. In regard to two key injuries to starters on the offensive line, center John Bice (hand) and right guard Zac Kasparek (knee), Ianello said that both could return for the Central Michigan game on October 29th.
Ohio (4-3, 1-2 MAC) enters the game having lost two straight by a total of four points. Both came in heart-breaking fashion. The first was a one-point loss at Buffalo, 38-37. The second, last Saturday, was a 23-20 loss at home to Ball State. Ohio had a chance to tie the game late, but kicker Matt Weller’s 41-yard attempt was wide left.
“Ohio U is a very good football team.” Ianello said. A play here and a play there and the games are in the win column.”
The Cats were a close second behind Miami in the MAC East, according to most preseason publications. Ohio started the season with three straight wins, at New Mexico State and home against Gardner-Webb and Marshall. It was the Bobcats best start since 1976. After a road loss to Rutgers, Ohio began MAC play with a home win over Kent State before the consecutive losses to UB and BSU
“We are a football team that needs to take every game one at a time.” head coach Frank Solich said. “We are focused on Akron. We need to get back on the winning track, and we need to do that night now.”
The Bobcats use a variation of the spread offense, which the Zips have seen twice this season (against UC and FIU). According to Ianello, the Cats run it a little differently, adding the quarterback as a running threat. They led by sophomore quarterback Tyler Tettleton. He is third in the MAC in total offense, averaging 263 yards per game, and fifth in passing (143-267-4, 1,635 yards and 15 touchdowns).
The Ohio offense averages 435.1 yards per game and is converting almost 48 percent of third down opportunities.
KELLER LEADS CATS "D"
Although hit by injuries, the OU defense still has allowed just 331 yards a game, third in the MAC and a surprising 27th in the FBS. The run defense has been the key, allowing just 123 yards per game, second in the MAC. Fifth-year senior linebacker Noah Keller leads in tackles with 46 after making 15 stops last Saturday against the Cardinals.
When asked about the attitude of his team following the two tough losses, Solich said “Our attitude is still good. They are obviously disappointed in the last two ball games. In both games, we had chances to win, but did not do it.”
The two teams meet for the 28th time on Saturday, with both teams needing a victory. Kickoff is set for 3:30PM
NOTEBOOK
The game is the 28th lifetime meeting between the two schools, with Ohio holding a 14-12-1 advantage after winning three straight and four of the last five, including last year’s 38-10 triumph in Athens…This will be the 17th game in Akron (Zips 11-4-1) and the second at InfoCision Stadium (Ohio winning 19-7 in 2009)…Brian Wagner-AKR leads the MAC with 81 tackles, including a career best 22 against FIU. It was the fifth time this season and 20th time in 31 career games he has registered 10 or more tackles in a game…Clayton Moore-AKR scored a rushing touchdown against FIU marking the first time a Zip had rushed, passed, and ran for a score since Brett Biggs in 2005.Moore caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from RB Jawon Chisholm in the 31-23 loss at Eastern Michigan on October 1st…LaVonn Brazill-OHIO became the Bobcats all-time leading receiver (151 catches) last Saturday when he pulled in eight receptions in the loss to Ball State…Rob Ianello is 0-1 vs Ohio and Frank Solich….Solich is 4-2 lifetime against Akron…The game will be televised on Sportstime Ohio
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