​MRO PREVIEW: AKRON AT EASTERN MICHIGAN

Saturday, Oct. 10, 3 p.m. ET
Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, MI
ESPN3
WEATHER

By EVAN MEYER
The Akron Zips saw their two-game winning streak come to an abrupt end on a rainy, chilly Saturday afternoon last week as the Ohio University Bobcats scored two touchdowns within a seven minute span of the first half.  The UA offense, meanwhile, made four trips inside the Ohio 20-yard line but had to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. The result was a 14-12 Ohio victory.

The Akron Blue and Gold look to rebound this Saturday as they begin the first of two road games. The first trip takes the Zips to Ypsilanti to battle the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Rynearson Stadium -- or as the home team likes to call it these days, “The Factory.”

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AKRON ZIPS
​(2-3, 0-1 MAC EAST)

THEIR LAST TIME OUT:
The Zips fell to the Ohio University Bobcats 14-12 last Saturday on homecoming weekend at InfoCision Stadium. After UA took the lead 3-0 on a 40-yard field goal by  senior PK Robert Stein, the Cats scored two touchdowns within a seven-minute span to take a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter. 

UA inched closer just before halftime on a 33-yard field goal by Stein. Late in the third quarter the Zips again were in the Bobcats red zone bur failed to score. Stein made his third field goal a 41-yarder to make the score 14-9.

In the fourth quarter, Stein made his fourth three-pointer from 30 yards out to help the Zips close to within two points at 14-12. However, they would get no further as the Ohio defense stopped UA on their final possession of the game and came away with the victory. 

The name of this game was defense, UA held the high-powered Bobcat attack to just 227 total yards while gaining 319 themselves. 

Senior RB Conor Hundley led all rushers in the contest with 66 yards on 18 carries. Sophomore QB Thomas Woodson in his fourth collegiate start completed 18-of-38 passes for 231 yards and an interception. Senior WR Imani Davis had five receptions for a  career high 94 yards. Defensively, UA had three sacks, six tackles for losses, three pass breakups and an interception (that from DeAndre Scott). LB Darryl Monroe and DB Kris Given each had eight total tackles (six solo each)

THE SEASON SO FAR:
The Zips opened the 2015 season losing to nationally ranked Oklahoma 41-3 last Saturday at Gaylord Family Stadium in Norman on September 5th …Then in the home opener September 12,  they fell to the Pittsburgh Panthers, 24-7. UA collected its first victory of the season in a 52-9 rout of FCS member Savannah State at home before defeating the Rajun Cajuns of Louisiana (Sun Belt) 35-14.

STATISITCALLY SPEAKING”
OFFENSE: UA is averaging 21.8 points and 346.8 yards per game
RUSHING: Conor Hundley 68 carries-355 yards four touchdowns
PASSING: Thomas Woodson 43-88-3 676 yards three touchdown
RECEIVING: Imani Davis 14 receptions-201 yards one touchdown 

DEFENSE: The Zips are allowing 20.4 points and 312 yards per game
TACKLES: LB jatavis Brown (21 solo-22 assists-43 total)
TACKLES FOR LOSSES: Brown 6 ½-35 yards
SACKS: Brown 4 1/2 - 30 yards
INTERCEPTIONS: CB DeAndre Scott 4-13
PASS BREAKUPS: Dylan Evans 5

SPECIAL TEAMS:
PUNTING: Zach Paul 32-39.8 yards per kick (five kicks 50 or more yards)
PLACE KICKING: Robert Stein 6-9 FG/13-13 PAT
KICK RETURNS: Van Edwards (KR) 8-19.5 yds avg  A.J. Coney (PR) 9-5.6

ZIPS NOTES 
PK Robert Stein was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week for his career high four field goals breaking his previous mark of three in 2012 at Tennessee…Zips are 13th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing defense, allowing 92.2 yards per game…DB DeAndre Scott is third in the MAC with four interceptions and has six in his career.
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EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES
​(1-4, 0-1 MAC WEST)

THEIR LAST TIME OUT:
The Eagles completed the non-conference portion of their schedule last Saturday night when they traveled to nationally ranked Louisiana State. The Tigers from the Southeastern Conference eventually pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 44-22 win.

Senior RB Darius Jackson had 66 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Sophomore QB Brogan Roback completed 17-of-24 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown (a 12-yarder to senior WR Dustin Creel).

​He also threw three interceptions. WR Sam Browning led the receivers with six for 87 yards, while the defense had two sacks and an interception. They were led by senior NT Clay Dawson with 13 total tackles

THE SEASON SO FAR:
Eastern Michigan opened the 2015 season with a narrow home loss to Old Dominion before ending a 57-game losing streak against non-conference teams on the road with a win over Wyoming in Laramie, 48-29. Since then, the Eagles have lost three straight: Ball State, 28-17; Army, 56-38; and Saturday at LSU, 44-22.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: 
OFFENSE: EMU is averaging 31.4 points & 399.4 yards per game
RUSHING: Darius Jackson 78 carries-473 yards six touchdowns
PASSING: Brogan Roback 90-143-7 1038 yards six touchdowns
RECEIVING: Dustin Creel 19 receptions-206 yards three touchdowns

DEFENSE: The Eagles are allowing 39.4 points & 496 yards per game
TACKLES: LB Great Ibe (18-25-43)
TFL: DE Luke MacLean five
SACKS: LB Derric Williams & NT Clay Dawson 2 each
INTERCEPTIONS: MacLean & DB Jason Beck 1 each

SPECIAL TEAMS:
PUNTING: Austin Barnes 18-44.5 avg per kick
PLACE KICKING: Dylan Mulder 6-8 FG/ 17-17 PAT
KICK RETURNS: Eddie Daugherty (KR) 10-22.7 avg   Eddie Banham (PR) 1-9

EMU NOTES:
Saturday in homecoming in Ypsilanti, with the Eagles holding a 44-41-2 lifetime record in homecoming games…Of EMU's 20 touchdown drives so far in 2015, 11 of them have been scored in less than two minutes of possession fifth best in the FBS…RB Darius Jackson/s touchdown vs. LSU marked the fifth consecutive game he has rushed for a touchdown -- tied for second in the all-time list…EMU's pass defense is fourth in the FBS, allowing just 117.6 yards per game…Darius Jackson needs 19 yards to become the 24th player in EMU history to rush for 1,000 yards in his career.

THE SERIES: The game is the 31st lifetime meeting between the two schools, with the Zips holding an 18-12 advantage…It's the 16th lifetime meeting in Ypsilanti with the Eagles having a 9-6 edge…UA has won four of the last five meetings in the series, including last season a 31-6 triumph at InfoCision Stadium…EMU won the last encounter on its home ground, 31-23