Please resist the urge to make dentistry jokes.
The Akron Zips (0-2) are looking for the comfort of home this week after two extremely rough outings, hosting Colgate (0-2) of the Patriot League in a home-opening contest.
FCS “buy” games haven’t always been easy for the team from the Rubber City; they had to win in the waning moments against both Morgan State (2023) and St. Francis [PA] (2022) in their last two outings.
That makes getting a win this week crucial for Akron coming off two demoralizing Big Ten losses back-to-back. Can they get it done this weekend and gain some positive momentum before heading into the brunt of the conference slate?
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at 6 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio
- Viewing options: The game will be available exclusively on ESPN+. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Anthony Lima (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (color) will provide the commentary.
Radio options: Dave Skoczen (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (color) will provide the Akron call for WHLO-AM 640.
- All-time series: Curiously, it’s Colgate who owns the winning record in the series, with a 44-0 shutout victory the only other time these programs met in 1940.
Getting to know the Raiders
Danny Wild-Imagn Images
The Raiders went 6-5 last season in the Patriot League, recovering nicely from an 0-3 start to take a shot at the top of the league. Stan Dakosky, who was a former football player for Colgate before a career-ending injury, enters his fourth season at the helm of the Raiders with a 14-21 record.
The offense returns 10 of their starters from last season, so they’ll be an extremely seasoned group when they take the field. The Raiders employ a bit of a roulette at quarterback, with three players potentially taking snaps at any given time. Michael Brescia (33-of-59, 359 yards; 118 net yards, one rushing TD) shoulders the primary load, with Zach Osborne (4-of-4 passing; 27 yards rushing) and Jake Sterney (4-of-6, 36 yards, INT) also shuffling in.
Marco Maldonado (14 rush, 34 yards) takes over as primary back, with Brendan Cassamajor (eight carries, 25 yards) also figuring in. Quarterbacks also figure into the running game for Colgate, so Akron will need to maintain discipline on the line of scrimmage.
Treyvohn Saunders (68 receptions, 859 yards, eight TDs in 2023) and Brady Hutchinson (34 rec., 350 yards, four TDs in 2023) both return after great campaigns last season, with Saunders finishing first-team all-Patriot League for his efforts. Everyone gets to chip in catching passes, as Maldonado is second-leader in 2024 with eight catches for 33 yards, while both Michael Brescia and Zach Osborne— the team’s primary and backup quarterbacks— have also tallied multiple receptions.
Defensively, the Raiders have posted pretty decent numbers despite taking two losses, allowing 338 yards per game on average, with teams scoring an average of 22 points per game. The majority of their yards allowed are in the pass game, with 214.2 yards per game on average given to opponents. As a unit, the Raiders have 10 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and a fumble recovered on two forced.
Thew two players to watch for on the Colgate defense will be hard-hitting linebacker Kole Kozlowski (25 tackles, TFL) and interior defensive lineman Andrew Taddeo. Taddeo is considered one of the best D-linemen at the FCS level, ranked third amongst his peer level competition and 14th overall, and already has 3.5 TFLs and two sacks on the young season.
Their running mates, Christian Sweeney (12 takcles, 1.5 TFLs, sackl and Dane Picariello (10 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks) respectively, also gives Colgate a pretty deep look on the front seven.
Getting to know the Zips
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Zips haven’t been perfect in their two road losses, but they’ve shown flashes of competency at points in very tough contests against Ohio State and Rutgers.
The main issue this season has been the ability to finish drives that end in the opposing redzone; they’ve gotten there just twice, scoring one field goal, and had a drive vs. Ohio State that got to the red zone but penalties pushed it out, resulting in a lost opportunity.
It’s not for lack of trying; the Zips offense has looked decent in stretches when on rhythm and fully healthy, but playcalling has also doomed Akron at inopportune times. (Tahj Bullock taking a snap at QB on a trick play outside of Ohio State’s red zone and losing 12 yards immediately comes to mind.)
We can’t judge Akron too harshly for their overall stats given the strength of their opponents, but this week will do a lot to tell us about the direction the Zips are headed.
Ben Finley should be available for this contest at quarterback. He’s been both a steadying and a choppy presence, with 191 yards, a touchdown and two interception son 22-of-45 passing. Bullock has also seen time at QB, primarily in a running package, with 42 net yards rushing and 84 yards passing on 12-of-16 attempts.
Akron kept things simple against two overpowering opponents, meaning tight end Jake Newell (six catches, 59 yards) and the running back duo of Charles Kellom (five catches, 38 yards) and Jordon Simmons (four catches, 25 yards) are currently tops of the charts. Bobby Golden (four catches, 49 yards) leads all true receivers, while the Zips hope a number of transfers start to show out, including Israel Polk (Pitt) and Ahmarian Granger (Old Dominion.)
On the ground, this team is still trying to find its footing, but former Michigan State Spartan Jordon Simmons has established himself early, with 111 net yards on 16 carries. Both quarterbacks also figure into the running game as well, while Charles Kellom (33 yards) has typically rotated in on passing downs.
This is, once again, a defense which has had some extremely tough assignments but has tried their best. As a unit, they’ve averaged 459.5 total yards allowed per game, with a 15-of-23 third-down conversion rate and a 4-of-6 red zone tally. Interestingly, they have stuffed both fourth-down attempts they’ve seen thus far in 2024.
The two highlight players to watch for on defense will be their all-MAC contributors in linebacker Bryan McCoy and defensive lineman CJ Nunnally IV.
McCoy (14 tackles, one pass break-up) and fello backer Antavious Fish (team-leading 15 tackles) man the heart of the defense, while Nunnally has 10 tackles and a half-TFL on the season. He has gotten several great pressures against both Ohio State and Rutgers, but just couldn’t get home, something which likely won’t be an issue this week.
In the secondary, Oregon transfer Daymon David holds the team’s lone interception and has been dependable at the safety spot, while Devontae Golden-Nelson has excelled in coverage so far this season, with seven tackles and an impressive three pass breakups in the hybrid back role.