Both the Akron Zips and the Ohio Bobcats both have something to play for Tuesday night in their regular season finale at InfoCision Stadium.
Ohio needs a victory to become Bowl Eligible for thje 11th consecutive season, while the Zips look to avoid being the first winless MAC team since Miami in 2013. A Zips victory would also break a 15-game losing streak dating back to last season
Here is more on the two teams . . .
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AKRON ZIPS (0-11, 0-7 MAC)
Tuesday October 26 -- 6 p.m. ET
InfoCision Stadium/Summa Field – Akron, Ohio
>> The Green and White emphatically broke a two-game losing last week at Bowling Green. Ohio bashed the Falcons 66-24, amassing 609 yards of total offense thanks, in part, to 175 rushing yards and three touchdowns by RB ‘O Shawn Allison. Quarterback Nathan Rourke, also had one running score and passed for three other TDs.
>> Back in the summer, Ohio was the prohibitive favorite to win not only the Eastern Division, but the MAC Championship game, as well. After defeating Rhode Island is the season opener the 'Cats then went on a three-game losing streak, falling toi Pittsburgh, Marshall, and Louisiana.
They bounced back at the start of MAC play with a road win at Buffalo, and that started a stretch of three wins out of four games. The only loss came at home to Northern Illinois. The turning point in the season came October 26 at home when Miami won the Battle of the Bricks 24-21. MU took over first place in the East to stay. That setback, coupled with a loss to Western Michigan, took the 'Cats out of the East race.
>> A win over the Zips gives Ohio six victories on the season and makes the Bobcats bowl eligible for the 11th consecutive season and 13th time under head coach Frank Solich
>> Solich is now the dean of MAC head coaches, completing his 15th season at the helm with a 111-81 overall record with Ohio. That is second on the all-time list to Don Peden.
>> In their 11 games of 2019, Ohio is averaging 33.1 points and 428. yards offensively.
>> Senior QB Nathan Rourke leads the offense, as he has completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,368 yards with 16 touchdowns and only five interceptions. In addition, he has rushed for 743 yards and 11 scores
>> Allison leads the ground attack with 752 yards and five scores, while Isiah Cox leads the receivers with 33 catches for 562 yards and a pair of scores.
>> The Bobcats are allowing 29.2 points and 431.3 yards in 11 games
>> Javon Hagan leads the defenders with 97 total tackles (43 solo) with a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and seven pass breakups
AKRON ZIPS (0-11, 0-7)
>> The Zips were in action last Wednesday night, and they gave the Eastern Division champion Miami Redhawks all they could handle before fallingl 20-17 in Oxford.
>> UA’s touchdowns came on a 64 yard interception return by senior LB John Lako in the third quarter and 34 yard pass from Kato Nelson to sophomore WR Timothy Scippio early in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to three points buy no further
>> The loss to Eastern Michigan on November 12 insured a double-digit loss season for UA for the first time since 2011 and the fourth time in school history -- all of them coming as members of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
>> UA has lost 15 straight overall and nine in Mid-American Conference play dating back to last season.
>> Zips are ranked second in FBS stats in kickoff return defense allowing only 13.5 yards per return
>> LB John Lako lead the MAC in total tackles with 130 (60 solo)