EMU looks to stake a postseason claim, while Akron hopes to stave off elimination for anther week.
Akron (1-6, 0-3 MAC) returns to the friendly confines of InfoCision Stadium after a bye week to host the EMU Eagles (5-2, 2-1 MAC). When these squads last met in November 2023, it took a double overtime thriller to resolve the issue, with the Eagles prevailing at home 30-27.
Heading into the rematch, we take a look at each team starting with the visiting Eagles.
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday October 26, 2024 at 3:30 ET
- Location: Summa Field at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio
- TV network options: The game will be available exclusively on ESPN+. A valid subscription is required for viewing.
- Radio options: Tom Helmer (play-by-play) and Rob Rubick (color) will provide the EMU call for WEMU-FM 89.1 while Dave Skoczen (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (color) will provide the Akron call for WHLO-AM 640.
- Gambling considerations: EMU are 3.5-point road favorites on Youth Sports Day and Health Care Appreciation Day, with an over/under of 51.5.
About the Eastern Michigan Eagles
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Overall, EMU heads into this week as one of the most successful MAC teams, tied with Toledo for the best overall record at 5-2.
The Eagles are flying high after a comeback 38-34 win against rival Central Michigan Chippewas last week in a struggle which proved their ability to handle adversity. EMU started the game with a turnover and had a bad third and start of the fourth quarter where CMU scored 20 straight to take a commanding 34-16 lead.
Undaunted, the Eagles came roaring back in the fourth quarter with a 22-0 to run to clinch victory by four points.
Many of the offensive players who were part of the late game heroics last week will be the ones the Zips will have to contain this week starting with quarterback Cole Snyder, who threw two passes and ran for one in the final stanza to defeat CMU. Snyder leads the squad with 1,468 yards passing and his sparkling touchdown to interception ratio of 7:2 has been a key to their success.
Snyder has plenty of options in the passing game with a trio of wideouts with over 300 yards receiving each in Oran Singleton, Terry Lockett Jr., and Markus Allen. It will be a homecoming of sorts for former Zip Singleton who leads the squad with 39 receptions. Lockett Jr. and Allen came up huge last week with Lockett Jr.’s two fourth quarter touchdowns and Allen’s seven catches for 140 yards and a score.
Helping the Eagles to the second most prolific points per game average in the league at 30 per contest is a rock-solid running game led by Delbert Mimms III, who is second in the league in rushing touchdowns with six and fourth in rushing yards with 482.
The Zips would also be smart not to sleep on Snyder as a running threat as he has 194 yards rushing and four scores on the ground this year.
Defensively, EMU has been in the middle of the pack in the MAC this year in terms of points per game allowed with just over 26. In MAC play, EMU has been gashed at times in pass defense in the explosive play department with three plays over 60 yards surrendered and a 48-yarder in three games.
Where EMU’s defense continues to shine so far is in the area of explosive plays where they are second in the league in sacks with 20 and their 11 turnovers gained has propelled them to the 17th best turnover ratio in the FBS. Included in EMU’s bounty is an FBS-leading nine fumble recoveries.
Also, the Eagles bend but don’t break defense has paid dividends as the FBS’ 18th best red zone defense in the country.
Paving the way for EMU on the sack front are a pair of defensive linemen with 4.5 sacks each in Peyton Price Donovan Green. Price is also tied for the club lead with two fumble recoveries and second in tackles with 31.
Linebacker Luke Murphy has been a standout player on defense, leading the team in tackles with 41 including 27 in just three MAC games. Murphy has also chipped in on the turnover front with a fumble recovery and an interception.
About the Akron Zips
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Despite the 0-3 start in MAC play, the Zips have been a tough out for some of the MACs top contenders. In the league opener, Akron went into the fourth quarter trailing Ohio only 16-10. The next week, BGSU beat the Zips on a score in the final two minutes. Versus WMU, the only undefeated team remaining in conference play, Akron took a 17-0 lead before multiple turnovers let WMU back in the game. Still, the Zips were tied until late in the third quarter and lost by ten points.
Boiling it down, the Zips come into this week looking for the handful of plays especially late in games that are going to put them in the win column.
Defensively, Akron has been very strong in stretches in MAC play at all levels. Doing the dirty work in the trenches week after week has been players like Nate Kapongo, finishing with a team-leading nine tackles last time out against WMU.
The Zips boast one of the more productive linebacker duos in the MAC in Brian McCoy and Antavious Fish, who have combined for 111 tackles on the season and are the heart of the defense.
Securing the back end in part are leaders and starting safeties Darrian Lewis and Paul Lewis III, who come into the contest with 86 combined stops and six passes defensed. Darrian Lewis also has an interception to his credit.
Offensively, the obvious key in the loss to the Broncos was the three turnovers which marred an otherwise great day as the Zips rolled to over 500 yards.
Quarterback Ben Finley had the most passing yards of his career finishing just five yards short of 400 on the day. Overall, Finley comes into the contest against EMU with 1,456 yards passing with seven touchdown passes and interceptions each.
Expect to see backup quarterback Tahj Bullock in some packages, particularly in the red zone where he has a nose for the endzone with three rushing touchdowns to his credit in 2024. Who fares better in this matchup between Bullock and the Zips and the Eagles so-far prolific red zone defense could be a key matchup.
Finley and Bullock have at their disposal in the passing game multiple targets including one of the most explosive in the conference in wideout Adrian Norton, who is third in the MAC with a 19.3 yards per catch average. Look for Norton to also be a key matchup for an EMU defense that has surrendered multiple explosive passes in MAC play.
Running backs and tight ends have been a big part of the passing game this year with two backs totaling 36 receptions led by Charles Kellom’s 19 grabs. Tight End Jake Newell missed the WMU game but hopefully for the Zips he returns after last week’s bye as he is an integral part of the plan with 27 catches.
After struggling early in conference play, the Zips have found some much-needed traction in the ground game averaging a little over 100 yards per game the last two times out. Jordon Simmons has emerged as the leading rusher with 318 yards, a 5.6 yards per carry average, and two scores.