
Ball State (2-5, 1-2 MAC)
Scheumann Stadium, 2 p.m. ET
ESPN3
By EVAN MEYER
The Akron Zips saw their three-game overall winning streak and a five-game winning skein against Mid-American Conference opposition come to an end last Saturday in Athens as the Ohio University Bobcats converted a late turnover into the winning field goal with just 1:55 remaining in regulation for a 23-20 win.
The Akron Blue and Gold lost an opportunity at first place in the Eastern Division. However, they did not lose any ground as Bowling Green also lost last Saturday -- at home to Western Michigan. This week, UA finishes this two-game road trip with a visit to Muncie to battle the Ball State Cardinals.
LAST TIME OUT:
The Zips lost at Ohio University 23-20 Saturday. Akron fell behind by three points on two occasions before taking their first and only lead of the game midway through the third quarter on a touchdown pass from redshirt freshman QB Tommy Woodson to junior WR Zach D’Orazio. The Bobcats regained the lead, 20-17, late in the period before UA tied the score 20-20 early in the fourth quarter on a 28-yard field goal from junior PK Robert Stein.
Late in the game, the Cats recovered a Zips fumble and set up PK Josiah Yazdani’s 22-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining to take a 23-20 lead. After the field goal, Woodson got the Zips offense in high gear with two quick completions, however he was intercepted with 56 seconds remaining to end any hope of a tying or winning score. Woodson, who was making his first collegiate start in relief of Zach Paul (undisclosed upper body injury), completed 23-of-45 passes for 268 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, In addition, he led the rushing game with 44 yards on 12 carries. Defensively, senior LB C.J. Mizell had 12 total tackles (four solo)
ON THE YEAR:
As a team, UA is averaging 391 yards per game on offense while scoring 23.1 pts per game…Defensively the Zips are allowing 18.1 points per game (first in the MAC) and 357.6 total yards per game (second in the MAC)…Individually, Kyle Pohl is completing 56.7 percent of his passes (119 of 210) for 1,186 yards with seven touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Junior RB Conor Hundley leads the ground game with 335 yards and one touchdown…Junior WR Zach D’Orazio leads the receivers with 39 catches for 450 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior LB Jatavis Brown leads in total tackles with 55 (39 solo), while he and Nordly Capi are tied with four sacks each…On Special teams, Junior Zach Paul is third in punting averaging 44.6 yards per kick. Junior PK Robert Stein is 14 of 14 on PAT and 7 of 7 on field goals
OVERVIEW:
UA is 4-3…The Zips opened the 2014 season with a 41-0 shutout of Howard at home then came consecutive losses at Penn State and at home to nationally ranked Marshall. The win at Pittsburgh on September 27th started the current three-game winning streak, which included a win over Eastern Michigan followed with a win over Miami before the loss at Ohio…The Zips return home to InfoCision Stadium on Tuesday November 4 to face Bowling Green.
NOTES & QUOTES:
After beginning his tenure at UA with a 2-17 record, head coach Terry Bowden is 8-4 over his last 11 games (5-2 at InfoCision Stadium)…Several Zips are moving up the all-time charts..Senior RB Jawon Chisholm rushed for only 22 yards on Saturday but did pass the 3000 yard mark in his career and is is currently fourth on the all-time list with 3017 yards just 15 yards behind third place jack Beidlema…QB Kyle Pohl passed the 4,000 yard passing mark in his career and has 4,089 yards -- 282 yards behind fourth place Chris Jacquemain…WR Keith Sconiers is tied for ninth on the all-time reception list with 104…PK Robert Stein has made his last 11 consecutive field goals dating back to last season (making a pair against the Bobcats)…The Zips defense has at least one interception in each of their last six games…Zach D’ Orazio had a career best 117 receiving yards while scoring his first touchdown of the season…C.J. Mizell set a career high with 12 tackles (four solo)
THE SERIES:
The game is the 22nd lifetime meeting between the two schools, with the teams deadlocked 10-10-1. Ball State has won the last four meetings, including last year at InfoCision Stadium, 42-24…This is the 12th lifetime game in Muncie, with the Zips holding a 6-4-1 mark…UA’s last win in the series was 2004 at the Rubber Bowl, 35-23. Their last victory in Schunemann Stadium was 1999, 31-9 (which was part of a three-game winning streak by the Zips in the series).
BALL STATE CARDINALS (2-5, 1-2 MAC WEST)
LAST TIME OUT:
Ball State won Saturday at Central Michigan, 32-29. The Cardinals ended a five-game losing streak as they collected their first MAC win of the season, traveling to Mount Pleasant and beating the Chippewas one week after CMU ended Northern Illinois’ 17-game home winning streak. PK Scott Secor kicked a 55-yard field goal for the winning points. RB Jahwan Edwards rushed for 98 yards on a career-high 32 carries
ON THE YEAR:
As a team, BSU is averaging 25.7 points and 361.9 yards per game. Defensively, the Cardinals are allowing 27.4 points and 45.7 yards per outing.
Individually the Cards have redshirt freshman Ozzie Mann at quarterback for the graduated Keith Wenning. In five games, Mann has completed 57.1 percent of his passes (92 of 161) for 947 yards with six touchdowns and only two interceptions…Senior RB Jahwan Edwards leads the running game with 707 yards on 154 carries. He has scored all seven of BSU’s rushing touchdowns in 2014…The receivers are led by Junior WR KeVonn Mabon, who has 40 receptions for 482 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively, junior LB Ben Ingle has 66 total tackles (30 solo).The special teams are led by fifth-year senior PK Scott Secor, who is 16 of 19 on field goals and 18 of 19 on extra points. Sophomore P Kyle Schmidt is averaging 42.9 yards per kick
OVERVIEW:
Ball State is 2-5 (1-2 at home). It opened the season with a home win over FCS member Colgate before beginning a losing streak with a narrow loss at Iowa, followed by an embarrassing setback at home to Indiana State.
Ball State opened MAC play at Toledo, losing 34-23. Then came setbacks at Army and Western Michigan before picking up the win last week against CMU.
After the tilt with the Zips, BSU finishes the season with home games against NIU and Eastern Michigan and road tilts at Massachusetts and Bowling Green.
NOTES & QUOTES:
The Cards are 13-3 in their last 16 MAC games and 18-7 in their last 25 overall dating back to last season…The BSU defense has 12 takeaways -- 10 of them coming over the last four games…The Cardinals also are fifth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with just two interceptions and have just six turnovers overall, which is ninth in the FBS…Scott Secor had four field goals against CMU including the game-winning 55 yarder and was named MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week…DB Eric Patterson was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week as he had 10 total tackles with two interceptions and a forced fumble…Jahwan Edwards gained 98 yards last Saturday, passing Marcus Merriweather as the all-time leading rusher in BSU football history with 4,013 yards