Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, Iowa
To say the Akron Zips had a big second half last Saturday is quite the understatement.
Down 21-3 to Big Ten member Northwestern at halftime, the Zips stormed back to claim a 39-34 victory. It was Akron’s first-ever football win over a Big Ten opponent, and the Zips got key contributions from across the board. Offense provided two touchdowns; Defense added three big scores of its own and special teams chipped in a pair of field goals.
The Blue and Gold are now 2-0 for the first time since 1993. In fact, it’s just UA’s third such start since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1987
Akron has another big road challenge this week when it battles the Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12 Conference. This is is the second lifetime meeting between the programs, with ISU picking up a 41-14 win last September at Infocision Stadium.
Overall, the Zips are 0-3 lifetime against the Big 12, while Iowa State is 25-5 lifetime against the MAC
IOWA STATE CYCLONES (0-2)
➤➤ Like Akron, ISU’s opening game (against South Dakota State) was cancelled. It was, in fact, the same weather system that knocked out both games.
(ISU has scheduled a game against FCS member Incarnate Word of Texas (Southland) to be played on December 1).
➤➤ The Cyclones are 0-2 on the season after losing their opener at Iowa 16-3 before falling in their home opener last Saturday against nationally-ranked Oklahoma 37-27.
➤➤ Head coach Matt Campbell is beginning his third season with the Cyclones. He has an 11-16 record at ISU (46-31 overall after spending four seasons as head coach at Toledo). Campbell is native of Northeast Ohio (Massillon) and played collegiately at Division III power Mount Union.
➤➤ Campbell is 2-1 lifetime against the Zips (1-1 against Terry Bowden)
➤➤ In its first two games, Iowa State has averaged 15 points and 317 yards of offense.
➤➤ The offense is led by junior RB David Montgomery. The native of Cincinnati has 126 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 127 yards last season in the win over UA.
➤➤ Sophomore QB Zeb Nelson made his first collegiate start last Saturday against the Sooners and went 25-of-36 for 360 yards and a touchdown.
➤➤ Junior WR Hakeem Butler leads the receivers with eight catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow junior WR Deshaunte Jones had 10 catches for 97 yards in the first two games.
➤➤ The defense has allowed 25 points and 395 yards of total offense. Iowa State owns just two sacks, a fumble recovery, no interceptions, and seven pass breakups to date.
➤➤ Sophomore SS Greg Elsworth leads the team in tackles with 20 (nine solo). Junior nose guard Jamahl Johnson has registered both of the team’s sacks.
➤➤ Iowa State returns to Big 12 play Sept. 29 when it travels to Fort Worth to battle the Horned Frogs of TCU
➤➤ The Zips are 2-0 for the first time since 1993 defeating the Northwestern Wildcats 39-34 last Saturday night in Evanston.
➤➤ The Northwestern win was UA’s first ever against the Big Ten Conference (a span of 25 games) and their first win against a present Big Ten school since 1894 when Akron predecessor Buchtel College -- under coach John W. Heisman -- defeated Ohio State 12-6.
(Interesting details HERE)
➤➤ Saturday’s victory was the Zips first win over a Power Five school since 2014, when they won at Pittsburgh 21-10
➤➤ Junior DB Alvin Davis was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week after he returned two NU interceptions for touchdowns -- a 97-yarder in the third quarter (the second longest return for a score in school history) and a 50-yarder in the fourth. Davis now has three interceptions over the first two games and recorded 10 tackles against Northwestern.
➤➤ Senior LB Ulysses Gilbert’s fumble recovery touchdown in the fourth quarter was the fifth score of his career.
➤➤ Redshirt freshman TE Maverick Wolfley’s 24-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was the first of his career.
➤➤ Sophomore QB Cato Nelson has completed 61 percent of his passes (33-for-54) for 509 yards with five touchdowns and only one interception. He has had multiple touchdown passes in the first two games
➤➤ Senior Van Williams leads the ground game with 162 yards on 31 carries with a pair of scores.
➤➤ A trio of receivers (fifth year senior Kwadarrius Smith, sophomore Andre Williams, and fellow soph Jonah Morris) have seven catches each for 125, 131, and 145 yards, respectively, each scoring at least one touchdown
➤➤ Junior LB John Lako has 18 total tackles (11 solo)
➤➤ UA will have next week off then will begin MAC play on Saturday October 6th when the Miami Redhawks come to the Rubber City