The Zips get one last chance to show improvement against a Toledo team looking to get back on track after late losses.
Saturday’s contest between the Akron Zips (3-8, 2-5 MAC) and the Toledo Rockets (7-4, 4-3 MAC) doesn’t necessarily have a lot of stakes attached to it, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter to the players and coaches who take the field on Saturday afternoon.
The Zips look to end the season with a winning streak after taking down rival Kent State last week and get to over three wins in a season for the first time since Terry Bowden’s final season in 2018.
The Rockets, meanwhile, already have their bowl game locked up and have been eliminated from the MAC title game due to results from last week. They can clinch an eight-win season this week with a positive result, and hopefully attract a better bowl bid.
Let’s pour into the notes on the opening match of the last slate of Tuesday games:
Game notes
- Time and date: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 at 7 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio
- Viewing options: The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN2. A valid cable subscription is required. Matt Schumaker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (color) will commentate.
- Streaming options: The game will be available for streaming on the ESPN App or on applicable cable/satellite services. A valid subscription is required for viewing on either platform. Other streaming carriers include Sling, DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV.
- Radio options: Dave Skoczen (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (color) will provide the Akron call for WHLO-AM 640, while Mark Baier (play-by-play) and Jack Mewhort (color) will provide the Toledo call for the Rockets Radio Network.
- Gambling considerations: Toledo are eight-point road favorites, with an over/under of 49, per DraftKings.
- All-time series: Toledo leads the series at 13-9, with this season serving as the 23rd matchup between the two teams. Toledo blew out Akron 49-14 the last time they met in late November 2021 thanks to a three-touchdown day from Bryant Koback.
Getting to know the Zips
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As mentioned, 2024 has already been a season of progress for the Akron Zips, who had seven wins combined over four years dating back to the 2019 season. Three wins is not a lot to most programs, but for a program as moribund in recent decades as Akron, they have a chance to equal their best single-season run since 2018.
The Zips stomped all over the hapless Kent State Golden Flashes last week, accumulating 550 yards of total offense, while also stonewalling their hated rival, limiting KSU to just 281 yards— 251 of which were via the pass. The game was a display of what Akron could be when playing at its full potential; a team defined by a high-flying offense which can play manageable defense.
Toledo will prove to be a tougher opponent this week, but there’s still some reason for optimism.
The passing offense has looked notably improved in the last few weeks, with an average of 277 yards per game over the last three contests, with true sophomore receiver Adrian Norton putting his stamp on the team. In MAC play, Norton has 31 receptions for 595 yards and four touchdowns, and averages nearly 20 yards per reception overall, making him a prime target with big play ability.
Ben Finley’s ability to process the defense and create plays will ultimately be key to Akron’s success. He has been inconsistent this season, but when he’s been on, Akron has been competitive. Finley sits at 2,410 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 55 percent completion— though it should be noted he hasn’t thrown a pick in two-straight games after averaging an interception per game in the prior nine contests.
The running game has solidified behind the duo of halfback Jordon Simmons (110 carries, 664 yards, two touchdowns) and goal-line quarterback Tahj Bullock, who leads the team with seven rushing scores on 46 carries for 120 yards. Bullock is a three-way player on offense, with the option to pass, run or receive on a given play; it’ll be something to watch for whenever jersey number 12 takes the field.
Defensively, this is not a unit to write home about, sitting eighth in the MAC in yards allowed per game on average (409) and 10th in scoring defense (33.6), while also giving up 38.8 percent of third-down conversions and 54 percent of fourth-down conversions. They’re also woeful in forcing turnovers, with two interceptions and six fumble recoveries (on six forced!) on the season.
Bryan McCoy again leads the charge at linebacker, with a team-best 103 total tackles, but the defense makes a lot of use of defensive backs in their 4-2-5 set-up. The safety pair of Lewis and Lewis have also been integral, with Paul Lewis III (68 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, five pass break-ups) and Darrian Lewis (67 tackles, one interception, six pass break-ups) contributing at various spots form nickel to boundary/field backs to box safeties. Devontae Golden-Nelson and Elijah Reed have also combined for 11 pass break-ups on the corners. CJ Nunnally IV (nine TFLs, five sacks) and Bennett Adler (seven TFLs, three sacks) have been Akron’s primary disruptors in the backfield.
Special teams have been remarkable for the typical MAC expectation, with Garrison Smith going 3-of-3 last week on field goals to put his total at 13-of-16 on the season. Avery Book is the MAC’s second-best punter by average net yards (40.6), with just two touchbacks on 59 punts.
Getting to know the Rockets
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The Rockets floundered down the stretch of the MAC season, losing games to Ohio, Bowling Green and Buffalo after starting 4-1 with wins over SEC foe Mississippi State and likely MAC title game contender Miami.
The loss to Ohio was especially a shocker, losing by three scores at home under the weeknight lights in what was effectively an elimination game for a trip to Detroit, but it also fell into a pattern, as Toledo’s other two losses were by multiple scores. Even granting the sheer amount of departures in the offseason, the Rockets were still a heavy favorite to win the conference. They’ll make for an interesting study down the road.
For now, though, we focus on the Rockets as they are, and right now, they’re fairly middling. Toledo is seventh in the MAC in total offense (357.5 yards per game and fifth in defense (354.7 yards allowed per game, while also exactly in the middle on third-down conversions (56-of-153) and eighth in the MAC on fourth-down conversions (12-of-26) despite going for it the third-most of all teams.
The biggest fall-off for the Rockets offensively has been in the ground game, as the team has had no choice but to rely on Tucker Gleason to be both a primary rusher and passer. Gleason, to his credit, is the second-leading rusher in yards (271) and the leader in rushing scores (six) from the quarterback spot. Connor Walendzak was a surprise emergence to the lead back spot, and currently handles the starting burden with 103 carries for 370 yards— but has only scored once in 11 games. Jacquez Stuart and Sayvaughn Clark, who were expected to be more involved, have combined for 421 yards and four touchdowns.
The passing game has always been a Toledo strength, typically spreading the ball amongst a diverse array of receivers. This year’s attack is centered on the duo of Jerjuan Newton and Junior Vandeross III, who have 68 percent of the team’s receptions on the season. Newton is en route to all-MAC honors with 56 catches for 868 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, while Vandeross III leads the team with 62 catches, amassing 679 yards and four scores as a possession receiver. Tight end Anthony Torres has converted a third of his receptions for touchdowns as the team’s biggest red zone threat, with 21 catches for 280 yards and seven scores.
Defensively, this is a down year for a Rockets team which usually sits up top of the conference in the relevant counting stats. That said, being fourth in rushing defense (141.5 yards per game) and sixth in passing defense (213.2 yards per game) in the MAC is still very good all considered.
Toledo’s major issue has been in clutch situations, sitting eighth in the MAC in opposing first-down conversions (19.8 per game) and sixth in the league in opposing third-down conversion (37.2 percent)— though they do sit fourth in opposing fourth-down conversions at 50 percent.
Despite those numbers, they’re one of the league’s best at causing turnovers, with 10 interceptions and a touchdown through the air (second) and 12 forced fumbles (best) with seven recoveries (tied for fourth.)
Maxen Hook has been getting a lot of NFL eyes on him in 2024 and it’s deserved, as he leads the team with a staggering 103 total tackles to go along with a TFL, two interceptions and four pass break-ups. He’ll be the highlight player for the Rockets defensively, leading a Rockets secondary which has excelled at plucking picks. Braden Awls (three), Avery Smith and Nasir Bowers (two each) have also helped make the UT secondary the most dangerous in the MAC. Defensive linemen D’Andre Ragin and Anthony Dunn Jr. each have seven TFLs and coming for 7.5 sacks as well, with Dunn Jr. getting 4 sacks and Ragin getting 3.5. Linebacker Jackson Barrow (61 tackles) leads the team with nine TFLs.
Toledo’s special teams are virtually identical to Akron’s in terms of proficiency, with Dylan Cunanan converting on 13-of-16 field goals, while Emilio Duran leads the MAC with an average boot of 41.3 yards per attempt.