By Cord Rankin
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OHIO GAME NOTES
https://ohiobobcats.com/documents/2024/9/24/9.28.24_vs_Akron.pdf
AKRON ZIPS GAME NOTES
https://gozips.com/documents/2024/9/25/GM5_vs_Ohio92824.pdf
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE WEEKLY NOTES
https://getsomemaction.com/documents/2024/9/25/24_FB_Release_Week_5.pdf
ATHENS, Ohio— The Ohio football team (2-2) returns to Athens to host the Akron Zips (1-3) for their Homecoming game on Sept. 28. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Frank Solich Field and can be seen on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Marcus Ray on the call.
The Bobcats’ matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Veteran Ohio radio personality Marty Bannister is stepping into the 2024 play-by-play role and will be joined by Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades.
SERIES HISTORY VS. AKRON
The Bobcats and the Zips have met 40 times since 1919, posting a 24-14-1 record.
The two teams last met on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio. After a tough first two quarters, Ohio entered halftime down, 14-3. The Bobcats entered the third quarter on a mission, claiming an 18-14 lead that quarter with two touchdowns, a two-point conversion and a PAT. They held Akron to 14 points the rest of the game, extending their lead with one more touchdown in the 4th quarter to put the final score at 25-14.
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips are entering conference play with a 1-3 record, falling 50-7 to South Carolina last Saturday (Sept. 21).
As a team, Akron averages 15.25 points per game on 72.8 rushing yards and 190.75 passing yards.
Redshirt junior quarterback Ben Finley is 64-for-115 on 659 yards over four games, throwing six passing touchdowns. His longest pass clocks in at 56 yards. Finley isn’t afraid to use his legs, recording 27 carries as well. The Zips have utilized two additional quarterbacks so far this season: redshirt junior Tahj Bullock and freshman Brayden Roggow. Bullock has contributed to all four games, going 15-for-20 on 95 yards while Roggow has appeared in one game so far this season, making his collegiate debut against Ohio State on Aug. 31.
Redshirt junior running back Jordon Simmons leads the Zips on the ground with 179 yards on 31 attempts and one touchdown. Simmons recorded his longs rush against Rutgers on Sept. 7, converting a 73-yard run into Akron’s second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter. Redshirt sophomore running back Charles Kellom made appearances in all four games as well, netting 77 yards on 26 attempts while Bullock has proven he’s not afraid to use his legs, recording 21 carries on 43 rushing yards.
Sophomore wide receiver Adrian Norton leads the receiving room with 12 catches and three touchdowns on 236 yards. Junior wide receiver Bobby Golden trails Norton with nine receptions on 168 yards, recording one touchdown. Redshirt tight end Jake Newell and Kellom each recorded one receiving touchdown apiece; Newell current holds the team’s most receptions at 16.
Defensively, junior linebacker Bryan McCoy leads Akron with 31 total tackles, including 15 solo stops. Senior linebacker Antavious Fish is just behind McCoy with 28 tackles while redshirt junior cornerback Darrian Lewis has 15 solo tackles and 11 assisted tackles on the season as well as two pass breakups. Lewis Daymon David and redshirt junior safety Daymon David each snagged one of Akron’s two interceptions.
Redshirt junior kicker Garrison Smith is currently the team’s leading scorer, putting up 19 of the team’s 61 total points across the first four games. Smith is 4-for-5 on field goals, with his longest clocking in at 49 yards, and 7-for-7 on PATs. Redshirt senior kicker Dante Jackson has amassed 952 yards across 15 kickoffs, averaging 63.5 yards per kick. Senior punter Avery Book accumulated 1,236 yards on 26 punts, averaging 47.54 yards per punt and his longest hitting 61 yards.
Read this week’s complete notes here.
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