The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, September 9
Akron, OH
6:30 PM
University of Akron
vs
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Photo by: Jeff Harwell
Zips Host Arkansas Pine Bluff in Home Opener on Sept. 9
September 04 | Football
Touchdown Music Fest Begins the Day
Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Bowden's Weekly Press Conference Video
MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio (Bowden)
MAC Weekly Release – Sept. 5
Gameday Coverage:
Buy Single-Game Tickets
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn.com)
Watch ESPN
Follow Free Live Statistics
ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF (1-0) at AKRON (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 9
InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field [30,000] | Akron, OH
6:30 PM ET | ESPN3
PREGAME CONCERT
The University of Akron will hold its second annual Touchdown Music Fest, featuring roots-rockers JD McPherson and Nikki Lane, on Saturday, Sept. 9, prior to the football home opener with Arkansas Pine Bluff.
The music festival is FREE to the public. Gates to the Lee R. Jackson Track & Field Complex (next to InfoCision Stadium) open at 2 p.m. Nikki Lane will take the stage at 3 p.m., followed by JD McPherson at 4:45 p.m.
Local radio station The Summit FM (91.3 FM Akron/Canton and 90.7 FM in Youngstown) is the official promotional partner for the Touchdown Music Fest.
General admission tickets for football game as part of the Touchdown Music promotion are only $10 each. CLICK HERE. Enter code TDMF17 online during checkout to get the $10 deal.
Fans will have the opportunity to special meet JD McPherson and Nikki Lane at halftime inside InfoCision Stadium.
THIS WEEK
Akron opens its home schedule with Arkansas Pine Bluff on Saturday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
ESPN3 will televise the game.
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron-IMG Sports Network [SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), 1420 WHK in Cleveland, 1440 WHKZ in Warren/Youngstown] with Steve French calling the action, Brad Detwiler providing analysis, and Joe Dunn with sideline report. The pregame show starts one hour prior to kickoff. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
Under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron stands 0-1 on the season after a 52-0 defeat at No. 6 Penn State in the season opener. UA returns 57 lettermen, including 15 starters. The Zips utilize a spread offense and a 4-3 defense.
Senior RB Warren Ball (Columbus, Ohio) is the team's leading rusher with 27 yards on 13 carries. Under center, senior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) is 12-of-23 for 71 yards. Senior WR A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) is the top receiver with 25 yards on two receptions. Defensively, senior S Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.) leads the defense with 10 tackles and an interception.
In the first NCAA stats, senior S Zach Guiser is ranked No. 6 in interceptions per game (1.0) and No. 9 in total interceptions (1).
The Golden Lions, under the guidance of tenth-year head coach Monte Coleman, stand 1-0 on the season after a 23-10 win over Morehouse College. UAPB returns 68 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its multiple offensive and 4-3 defensive schemes.
Junior RB KeShawn Williams is UAPB's top rusher with 125 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Redshirt senior QB Brandon Duncan is 14-of-25 for 159 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman ATH Tyrin Ralph is the leading receiver with 26 yards on five receptions. Defensively, junior S Rico Merriweather has seven tackles, an interception, a break-up, and a blocked kick.
AKRON-UAPB CONNECTIONS
Akron has no players from Arkansas on its roster.
Arkansas Pine Bluff has two players from Ohio on its roster– redshirt junior RB Jamal Gladden (Zanesville, Ohio | Zanesville HS] and junior DT Kevin Agge [Cleveland, Ohio | Shaker Heights HS | Lackawanna College].
AKRON-UAPB: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the first meeting between the schools on the gridiron.
LAST GAME
Akron opened the 2017 season with a 52-0 loss at No. 6 Penn State. The 2016 Big Ten champions used a balance attack to generate 569 total yards of offense with 322 yards in the air and 247 yards on the ground en route to finding pay dirt seven times.
Senior QB Thomas Woodson returned to the starting role behind center after a season-ending injury in 2016. Woodson completed 12-of-23 passes for 71 yards and an interception.
Woodson shared the ball evenly to the receiving corps, finding senior WR Tra'Von Chapman, senior WR A.J. Coney, junior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.), and senior WR Fransohn Bickley (Akron,Ohio) multiple times. Chapman led the squad with three receptions and totaled 10 yards, while Coney, Smith, and Bickley had two touches each for 25, 23, and 21 yards, respectively.
On the ground, senior RB Warren Ball carried the bulk of the load with 13 carries for 27 yards, while redshirt freshman QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) posted a team-high 39 yards on nine rushes. Defensively, Akron was led by senior S Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.) with 10 tackles and an interception.
ZIPS QUICK HITS
UP NEXT
Akron hosts Iowa State on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Noon at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field. The CBS Sports Network will televise the game. Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor will be honored.
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Bowden's Weekly Press Conference Video
MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio (Bowden)
MAC Weekly Release – Sept. 5
Gameday Coverage:
Buy Single-Game Tickets
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn.com)
Watch ESPN
Follow Free Live Statistics
ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF (1-0) at AKRON (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 9
InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field [30,000] | Akron, OH
6:30 PM ET | ESPN3
PREGAME CONCERT
The University of Akron will hold its second annual Touchdown Music Fest, featuring roots-rockers JD McPherson and Nikki Lane, on Saturday, Sept. 9, prior to the football home opener with Arkansas Pine Bluff.
The music festival is FREE to the public. Gates to the Lee R. Jackson Track & Field Complex (next to InfoCision Stadium) open at 2 p.m. Nikki Lane will take the stage at 3 p.m., followed by JD McPherson at 4:45 p.m.
Local radio station The Summit FM (91.3 FM Akron/Canton and 90.7 FM in Youngstown) is the official promotional partner for the Touchdown Music Fest.
General admission tickets for football game as part of the Touchdown Music promotion are only $10 each. CLICK HERE. Enter code TDMF17 online during checkout to get the $10 deal.
Fans will have the opportunity to special meet JD McPherson and Nikki Lane at halftime inside InfoCision Stadium.
THIS WEEK
Akron opens its home schedule with Arkansas Pine Bluff on Saturday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field.
ESPN3 will televise the game.
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron-IMG Sports Network [SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), 1420 WHK in Cleveland, 1440 WHKZ in Warren/Youngstown] with Steve French calling the action, Brad Detwiler providing analysis, and Joe Dunn with sideline report. The pregame show starts one hour prior to kickoff. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
Under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron stands 0-1 on the season after a 52-0 defeat at No. 6 Penn State in the season opener. UA returns 57 lettermen, including 15 starters. The Zips utilize a spread offense and a 4-3 defense.
Senior RB Warren Ball (Columbus, Ohio) is the team's leading rusher with 27 yards on 13 carries. Under center, senior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) is 12-of-23 for 71 yards. Senior WR A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) is the top receiver with 25 yards on two receptions. Defensively, senior S Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.) leads the defense with 10 tackles and an interception.
In the first NCAA stats, senior S Zach Guiser is ranked No. 6 in interceptions per game (1.0) and No. 9 in total interceptions (1).
The Golden Lions, under the guidance of tenth-year head coach Monte Coleman, stand 1-0 on the season after a 23-10 win over Morehouse College. UAPB returns 68 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its multiple offensive and 4-3 defensive schemes.
Junior RB KeShawn Williams is UAPB's top rusher with 125 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Redshirt senior QB Brandon Duncan is 14-of-25 for 159 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman ATH Tyrin Ralph is the leading receiver with 26 yards on five receptions. Defensively, junior S Rico Merriweather has seven tackles, an interception, a break-up, and a blocked kick.
AKRON-UAPB CONNECTIONS
Akron has no players from Arkansas on its roster.
Arkansas Pine Bluff has two players from Ohio on its roster– redshirt junior RB Jamal Gladden (Zanesville, Ohio | Zanesville HS] and junior DT Kevin Agge [Cleveland, Ohio | Shaker Heights HS | Lackawanna College].
AKRON-UAPB: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the first meeting between the schools on the gridiron.
LAST GAME
Akron opened the 2017 season with a 52-0 loss at No. 6 Penn State. The 2016 Big Ten champions used a balance attack to generate 569 total yards of offense with 322 yards in the air and 247 yards on the ground en route to finding pay dirt seven times.
Senior QB Thomas Woodson returned to the starting role behind center after a season-ending injury in 2016. Woodson completed 12-of-23 passes for 71 yards and an interception.
Woodson shared the ball evenly to the receiving corps, finding senior WR Tra'Von Chapman, senior WR A.J. Coney, junior WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.), and senior WR Fransohn Bickley (Akron,Ohio) multiple times. Chapman led the squad with three receptions and totaled 10 yards, while Coney, Smith, and Bickley had two touches each for 25, 23, and 21 yards, respectively.
On the ground, senior RB Warren Ball carried the bulk of the load with 13 carries for 27 yards, while redshirt freshman QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) posted a team-high 39 yards on nine rushes. Defensively, Akron was led by senior S Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.) with 10 tackles and an interception.
ZIPS QUICK HITS
- The players elected seniors RB Warren Ball, WR A.J. Coney, and S Zach Guiser as team captains for the 2017 season.
- Six of Akron's 2017 opponents— Penn State (Rose), Troy (Dollar General), Western Michigan (Cotton), Toledo (Camelia), Miami (St. Petersburg), and Ohio (Dollar General)— participated in bowls in 2016.
- Since 1979, Akron has faced 29 nationally ranked teams, going 1-28. The Zips' sole victory was a 34-20 win over No. 25 Marshall at the Rubber Bowl on Nov. 2, 2002.
- Akron has 46 student-athletes on its roster from the state of Ohio; 33 of those live within a 30-mile radius to campus.
- In 2017, Akron opens its ninth season playing on-campus at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. The Zips have a 18-30 record at the venue. The stadium opened in 2009.
UP NEXT
Akron hosts Iowa State on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Noon at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field. The CBS Sports Network will televise the game. Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor will be honored.
Players Mentioned
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