Last Saturday, the Akron Zips ended their three-game losing streak as they defeated arch-rival Kent State 24-23 in overtime. UA’s first win conference win evened its overall record at 3-3.
This week, the Central Michigan Chippewas visit Akron, looking to end a four-game losing streak after falling at home to Western Michigan, 35-10.
Saturday’s game is the 27th lifetime meeting between the two schools, with CMU holding a decisive 16-9-1 edge. The Chippewas have prevailed in each of the last four games in the series, including the last meeting on October 31, 2013 in Akron -- 14-6. CMU has won 10 of the last 11 and are 2-0 at InfoCision Stadium.
UA has not beaten Central Michigan since 2003 in Mount Pleasant, 40-28, while it’s last home win over CMU was at home back in 1987 at the Rubber Bowl 53-14.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (1-7, 0-4 MAC)
►► The Chippewas completed a three-game homestand last Saturday, losing to the Western Michigan Broncos 35-10 in the battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy.
►► The loss was the fourth consecutive setback for CMU, its longest since dropping four straight in 2012.
►► The Chips come into the game at 0-4 in MAC play and is one of three teams (Kent State and Bowling Green the others) who have failed to register a conference win so far this season. Their four-game skid in MAC play is also their longest since 2012.
►► Head coach John Bonamego is midway through his fourth season in Mount Pleasant. He has an overall record of 22-25 (9-11 in the MAC) and is 1-0 against Akron and Terry Bowden.
►► In its eight games of 2018, CMU’s offense is averaging only 17.1 points and 284.5 yards per game.
►► Junior QB Tommy Lazzaro has completed 48.2 percent of his passes for 711 yards with five touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also leads the team in rushing with 381 yards.
►► Lazzaro became the starter in Central’s MAC opener at Northern Illinois after sophomore Tony Poljan was ineffective in the season’s first two games both losses at Kentucky and home to Kansas
►► Redshirt freshman WR Julian Hicks leads the receivers with 20 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown.
►► The offensive line has allowed 20 sacks on the season.
►► The Chippewas defensively have allowed 29.2 points and 352.4 yards (third best in the MAC). The defense’s 140.6 passing yards allowed is number one going into this week.
►► Central Michigan has registered 17 sacks, 15 pass breakups, seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
►► CMU has one of the MAC’s best linebackers in senior Malik Fountain, who leads the team in tackles with 98 (56 solo -- fourth best in the MAC), along with a sack and an interception.
►► Junior DE Mike Danna has six sacks and eight tackles for loss, while fellow junior CB Sean Bunting leads with three interceptions.
►► Saturday’s game is the second for CMU against the Eastern Division. It previously lost at home to Buffalo 34-24.
►► CMU’s current roster includes 69 players from the State of Michigan.
AKRON ZIPS (3-3, 1-2 MAC)
►► The Zips ended their three-game losing streak last Saturday as they defeated Kent State 24-23 in overtime. It was the first MAC win of the season for UA and retained possession of the Wagon Wheel trophy for the fourth consecutive year.
►► Halfway through the season, UA is averaging 23.3 points and 317.3 yards offensively.
►► QB Cato Nelson is completing 52.5 percent of his passes (95-of-181) for 1,199 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also leads the Zips in rushing with 292 yards and a score.
►► In the win over KSU, Nelson passes for 219 yards (19-of-55) and a TD pass in overtime. He added 90 yards on the ground including a 55-yard score --UA’s longest run so far in 2018.
►► WR Andre Williams leads Akron receivers with 23 catches for 361 yards and four scores, including what proved to be the game-winner in overtime.
►► The offensive line has allowed 14 sacks in the six games played.
►► The UA defense has allowed 25.8 points and 373 yards. The Zips have only six sacks but six interceptions, 24 pass breakups, five fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns.
►► LB John Lako leads Akron tacklers with 55 (35 solo). In Saturday’s win over the Golden Flashes, he totaled 13 hits (eight solo) and a pass breakup.
►► LB Josh Ward has two sacks, while fellow LB Ulysses Gilbert and Jamal Davis each have five tackles for losses.
►► CB Alvin Davis leads the MAC with four interceptions with two returned for touchdowns (both in the win at Northwestern)
►► Gilbert has two fumble recoveries (both for touchdowns -- one in the end zone at NU and also a 46-yarder against Miami)
►► K Nick Gasser is one of the top kickers in the MAC and leads the Zips in scoring with 43 points. He has connected on 10-of-12 field goals and is a perfect 13-for-13 on PATs. Gasser is also averaging 38.5 yards per punt.
►► Head coach Terry Bowden is 0-2 lifetime against Central Michigan (0-1 against current head man John Bonamego)
►► UA is 5-1 in its last six games and 6-2 over the last eight at InfoCision Stadium. (The last home game was a loss to Miami, ending a five-game winning streak)
►► The win over KSU made the Zips 24-23-1 in the battle for the Wagon Wheel and marked Akron’s longest winning streak over the Flashes since winning six straight from 1997-2002
►► The CMU game is the UA’s first of three cross-division games. The others are at home to Northern Illinois and later at Eastern Michigan.