Peden Stadium – Athens, Ohio
CBS Sports Network
The Akron Zips look to end a three-game losing streak on Friday as they face the Ohio University Bobcats. For the latter, it’s the regular season finale, but Akron is now scheduled for two road games, with the first at Ohio on Friday.
After starting the season with wins over Morgan State and eventual Big Ten Western Division champion Northwestern, UA has lost six of its last eight games, including last Saturday’s 21-6 loss in their home finale to Bowling Green.
Meanwhile, the Bobcats have won three of their last four games after beating Eastern Division leader Buffalo 52-17 in their last game. The ‘Cats are 5-0 at home this season.
Friday’s game is the 34th lifetime meeting between the two schools, with Ohio leading 20-13-1. It has won nine of the last ten games in the series. UA won last year at InfoCision Stadium 37-34, but has not posted a victory in Athens since 2004 (31-19).
Here is more on the two teams . . .
OHIO BOBCATS (7-4, 5-2 MAC)
➤➤ Last Wednesday, the Bobcats picked up their biggest victory of the season as they dominated Eastern Division leading Buffalo in every facet of the game en route to a 52-17 home victory over the Bulls.
➤➤ The victory was Ohio’s third in the last four games and gives the Bobcats a chance at the Eastern Division title. A ‘Cats win over UA and a UB loss at Bowling Green sends Ohio to Detroit and the 2018 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game against Northern Illinois.
➤➤ Ohio is one of three teams out of the seven MAC Bowl Eligible teams to come out of the Eastern Division (Buffalo and Miami being the others).
➤➤ Head Coach Frank Solich is completing his 14th season in Athens. He has a 104-75 overall record at Ohio, 66-43 in MAC play and 162-94 overall. Solich is 10-3 lifetime against Akron
➤➤ The Bobcats have the top offense in the MAC as they are averaging 40.5 points and 470.8 total yards per game. They amassed 636 yards in their win over UB, in which 437 of those came on the ground.
➤➤ Senior RB AJ Ouelette leads the ground attack with 973 yards and 10 touchdowns. He rushed for a career best 198 yards against the Bulls.
➤➤ Sophomore QB Nathan Rourke is completing 62.2 percent of his passes (149 of -238) for 2,141 yards with 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
➤➤ Senior WR Papi White leads the receiving corps with 55 catches for 834 yards and nine scores.
➤➤ The offensive line has allowed only 17 sacks.
➤➤ The Green and White defense has allowed an average of 26.5 points and 400.6 yards. Over their 11 games of 2018, the Bobcats registered 20 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, 14 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and 57 pass breakups.
➤➤ Senior LB Evan Croutch leads with 69 total tackles (48 solo). He has three sacks., two interceptions, and six pass breakups.
➤➤ PK Louie Zervos is one of the top place kickers in the MAC leading the conference with 91 points. He is a perfect 58-for-58 on extra points and 11-of-15 on field goals.
➤➤ A win on Friday would give Ohio a perfect 6-0 record at home the last time a Bobcats team went undefeated at Peden Stadium was 1968 the year the Cats last won the MAC title
AKRON ZIPS (4-6, 2-5 MAC)
➤➤ The Zips last Saturday dropped their third straight game and sixth of their last eigh, falling to Bowling Green in the home finale at InfoCision Stadium 21-6.
➤➤ In their last two games (against BGSU and Eastern Michigan) UA has managed only 13 total points and 263 yards of total offense. The offense has not scored a touchdown over the last nine quarters.
➤➤ Through their first 10 games of 2018, the Zips are averaging 19.6 points and 288.5 yards.
➤➤ QB Cato Nelson is completing 51.5 percent of his lasses (135-of-262) for 1795 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He returned as the starter last week against the Falcons after missing the EMU game with an ankle injury.
➤➤ WR Andre Williams leads the receivers with 39 catches for 568 yards and five touchdowns.
➤➤ The offensive line has allowed 27 sacks.
➤➤ The UA defense has allowed 24.9 points and 380.5 yards per game. They have 18 sacks, seven interceptions, nine forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and 33 pass breakups.
➤➤ LB John Lako had 110 total tackles (63 solo). He is one of six MAC defenders with 100 or more tackles this season
➤➤ DB Alvin Davis leads the MAC with four interceptions two for touchdowns (both in the victory at Northwestern)
➤➤ LB Ulysses Gilbert has two fumble recoveries both for touchdowns (against NU & Miami)
➤➤ LB Jamal Davis and Brian Bell each have six pass breakups.
➤➤ The Zips end their 2018 season next Saturday (Dec. 1) when they travel to South Carolina to meet the Gamecocks from the Southeastern Conference