Week #6 - BGSU Falcons @ Akron Zips - 3:30 pm Kick-off

[Captain Kangaroo]

[catdaddyp]

BG Preview
 

QB:

Connor Bazelak is the man at QB this season after splitting reps last year. He is currently 2nd in the MAC in passing yards with 975 and is completing 65% of his passes. He has thrown 4 TDs vs 4 INTs. 

 

RB:

Terion Stewart and Jaison Patterson are one of the better running back duos in the MAC when healthy. Stewart has totaled 270 yards and 4 rushing TDs in three games. Patterson has run for 151 yards and 1 TD. Neither back has been used much in a receiving capacity thus far.

 

WR:

Auburn transfer Malcolm Johnson has been the main wide receiver threat in 2024. He has collected 16 receptions for 159 yards and a TD. Running back Jamal Johnson also plays some receiver and gives the offense another playmaker. He has 13 catches for 107 yards.

 

TE:

Harold Fannin is not only the best TE in the MAC, he may also be the best receiving TE in the country. Fannin has amassed 37 receptions for 541 yards and 3 TDs. Senior Levi Gazarek is mostly utilized as an in-line blocker.

 

OL:

This group has only given up 3 sacks on the year. RT Alex Wollschaeger is having an All-MAC type season.

LT - Billie Roberts (Sr.)

LG - Nate Pabst (Jr.)

C - Alex Padgett (Jr.)

RG - Tunde Fatukasi (Sr.)

RT - Alex Wollschaeger (Sr.)

 

DL:

BG usually runs a 3 man front (will bring down LB as 4th) on defense and has two All-MAC candidates along the DL. Anthony Hawkins has 23 tackles and 3 sacks, while Ali Saad has 16 tackles and 2 sacks. Beside them is usually Dontrez Brown (9 tackles and 0.5 sack).

 

LB:

At the linebacker spots are two All-MAC candidates in Jordan Shipp and Charles Rosser. Shipp has amassed 27 tackles and 3 sacks. Rosser has collected 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The third LB is Brock Horne who has 22 tackles and 0.5 sack.

 

DB:

Jordan Oladokun and Texas Southern transfer Ja’Corey Benjamin are the starting CBs. Oladokun has 13 tackles and 2 PDs, while Benjamin has 6 tackles, 3 PDs, and 1 INT. Opposing offenses have targeted Oladokun more in the passing game.

 

Darius Lorfils, Northern Illinois transfer CJ Brown, and Avi McGary are the safeties. Lorfils has 11 tackles and 1 PD. Brown has 24 tackles and 1 PD. McGary has 9 tackles. 

Lorfils has had some tackling issues this season.

 

K:

Jackson Kleather is 13 of 14 on extra points and 4 of 6 on field goals.

 

P:

John Henderson is averaging 43.6 yards per punt with 8 punts downed inside the 20 yard line.

 

KR:

Tennessee Tech transfer Justin Pegues is averaging 29.2 yards per return and also has a 100 yard return this season.

 

 

Breakdown:

Offense -  BG does an excellent job of keeping opponents off kilter with their balanced attack. Fannin is certainly the focus of the passing game, yet the ground game gets almost just as many opportunities.

 

Defense - BG’s secondary is susceptible to giving up chunk plays against RPOs. The safeties, in-particular, can struggle at times. BG can also become overly aggressive and give up explosive plays. That’s about where the weaknesses end as they are an excellent pass rushing defense and generally tackle well.

 

 

Summary:

If BG is going to contend for the MAC, this is the year to do it. They will lose a load of veteran talent after this season. That said, they have shown a tendency to play to the level of their opponent over the past few weeks.

 

Edited October 2, 2024 by catdaddyp

[exit322]

If we get the BG that stayed within a score of Penn State and Texas A&M, BG wins by 40

If we get the BG that lost to Old Dominion, BG wins by 20

[clarkwgriswold]

It aggravates the hell out of me that not long ago the Zips and the Falcons were in a similar struggling position and now the Falcons are now back to being a successful program while our Zips are........ 

[dre22era]

I just want to see us end the game with positive rushing yards 

Edited October 1, 2024 by dre22era

[ZippyRulz]

I might drive up to campus Saturday. I might buy a pregame Oktoberfest brat (sounds like a nice event to benefit the students, alumni, fans, community, and my stomach). And depending on how the Zips offense is performing in the first half, I might even buy a ticket and go inside.

 

 

[clarkwgriswold]

As I recall, in the past they've had a ticket deal to try to get more people into the stadium for the homecoming game.  I've seen nothing this year other than getting a free admission to the men's and women's soccer games with a football purchase.

[ewbrooman1]

8 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

As I recall, in the past they've had a ticket deal to try to get more people into the stadium for the homecoming game.  I've seen nothing this year other than getting a free admission to the men's and women's soccer games with a football purchase.

There's a promo for a $12 Homecoming Weekend Package for a GA ticket to football game and the others.

 

 

[Captain Kangaroo]

UA Alumni are holding a "Renew Your Wedding Vows" Ceremony in Lot #10 prior as part of their Homecoming festivities on Saturday. They offered a first come first served 8 spots beginning around 11:00 am for alumni couples (5 minutes per couple). So the wife and I are taking a 30 minute break from normal tailgating to do it. Should be fun. Interesting note - the Zips got beat by BGSU on our wedding day 31 years ago. I recall it was 35-0 at he half. I was listening to Dunn and French on my Walkman as the church was filling up. 

 

Hard to believe it's been 40 years since our first date. I don't have an actual date photo, but era-wise it feels like this one is close enough.

[catdaddyp]

Big time recruiting weekend. Let’s hope Zips put on a show.

[Hilltopper]

7 hours ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

UA Alumni are holding a "Renew Your Wedding Vows" Ceremony in Lot #10 prior as part of their Homecoming festivities on Saturday. They offered a first come first served 8 spots beginning around 11:00 am for alumni couples (5 minutes per couple). So the wife and I are taking a 30 minute break from normal tailgating to do it. Should be fun. Interesting note - the Zips got beat by BGSU on our wedding day 31 years ago. I recall it was 35-0 at he half. I was listening to Dunn and French on my Walkman as the church was filling up. 

 

Hard to believe it's been 40 years since our first date. I don't have an actual date photo, but era-wise it feels like this one is close enough.

That guy in the photo is your doppelganger! 

[Captain Kangaroo]

32 minutes ago, Hilltopper said:

That guy in the photo is your doppelganger! 

One handsome bastard.

[Zipmeister]

 I hate missing the opportunity to join hundreds and hundreds of Zip fans at the big game, 

GO ZIPS

[Blue & Gold]

I wanna see some offensive genius today 💪💪

[Let'sGoZips94]

9 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I wanna see some offensive genius today 💪💪

 

Keep an eye on the brown and orange then. 

[LZIp]

Wasted time out the second play of the game.

[ewbrooman1]

Time out on second play? C'mon man. 🙄

[ZipCat]

We can't even get a play off...

[exit322]

Well at least the punt coverage was good.

[ZipCat]

Annnnnd with that, done watching this garbage.

[exit322]

Someone may want to let the defense know the game started at 3:30.

[1981 grad]

16 minutes ago, ewbrooman1 said:

Time out on second play? C'mon man. 🙄

And 12 men on the field on defense.  The hits keep coming.

[MDZip]

I suspect I won't be watching this long. 😞

[zipsrule]

Need to convert this 3rd down.

[LZIp]

Another wasted timeout