Game 12 (Week 14) vs Toledo - 7pm EST (TV - ESPN2)

[catdaddyp]

Last game of 2024 for Zips football.
 

QB:

Former Georgia Tech transfer Tucker Gleason left the game against Ohio with an injury. Assuming Gleason is healthy, he will be the starter. Otherwise, redshirt sophomore John Alan Richter will start. 

Gleason has thrown for 2,168 yards, 20 TDs vs 7 INTs, and completes 60% of his passes. When kept clean, Gleason is incredibly efficient - completing 72% of his passes and throwing for 15 TDs vs 3 INTs. Under pressure, Gleason completes 37% of his passes and has thrown for 5 TDs vs 4 INTs.

Richter is the less mobile of the two quarterbacks, but perhaps the better passer. He has thrown for 497 yards, 4 TDs vs 0 INTs, and has a 64% completion rate.

 

RB:

Surprisingly enough, Toledo has actually run the ball for less yardage than Akron in conference play. The 2024 Toledo squad splits snaps between four backs - true sophomore Connor Walendzak, Georgia transfer Sevaughn Clark, redshirt senior Jacquez Stewart, and redshirt junior Willie Shaw. They have combined for 969 yards and 6 touchdowns. The backs will be utilized in the passing game.

 

WR:

Toledo will roll out two of the better MAC receivers in redshirt senior Jerjuan Newton and true junior Junior Vandeross. 

Newton is the 3rd leading receiver in the MAC with 56 receptions for 868 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Vandeross is the 8th leading receiver in the MAC with 62 receptions for 679 yards and 4 touchdowns.

 

TE:

Former Western Michigan transfer Anthony Torres takes the majority of snaps at tight end. He may be the best pass blocking TE in the conference. Torres is 4th amongst tight ends in receptions with 21 catches for 280 yards and 7 TDs.

 

OL:

Toledo had to fill a few vacant spots from last year’s OL. They have been solid in pass protection, but have struggled to consistently create holes for the backs.

LT - Allen Jones (R. Sr.) (Prairie View A&M transfer)

LG - Carter Fouty (R. Jr.)

C - Jakob James (Sr.) (Ohio State transfer)

RG - Ethan Spoth (R. So.)

RT - Cole Rhett (R. Fr.)

 

DL:

Former Maryland transfer Deshawn Holt and redshirt senior D’Andre Ragin are the defensive ends. Holt has 38 tackles and a sack, while Ragin has 38 tackles and 3.5 sacks. 

Redshirt seniors Darius Alexander and Cavon Butler are two of the better pass rushing defensive tackles in the conference. They have combined for 68 tackles and 5 sacks.  

 

LB:

Redshirt seniors Daniel Bolden and Jackson Barrow are the linebackers. Bolden is 9th in tackles with 82 total and 1.5 sacks. Barrow has 61 total tackles and 2 sacks. 

 

DB:

True juniors Avery Smith and Nasir Bowers are the cornerbacks. Smith is 2nd in the MAC with 13 PDs. He also has 45 tackles and 2 interceptions. Bowers has 32 tackles and 2 interceptions.

Senior Maxen Hook and former Penn State transfer Jaden Dottin are the safeties. Maxen Hook has already exceeded the 100 tackle plateau with 104 total tackles. He’s also collected 2 interceptions. Former wide receiver Jaden Dottin has played in only two games on defense this year.

True sophomore Braden Awls is the nickelback. Awls has 65 tackles and 3 interceptions.

 

K:

True freshman Dylan Cunanan has yet to miss an extra point on 34 attempts. He is 13 of 16 on field goals with a long of 54 yards.

 

P:

True sophomore Emilio Duran is 9th in MAC punting. He averages 41.3 yards with a long of 70 yards.

 

KR:

Jacquez Stewart is the most dynamic kick returner in the MAC and has already taken one back 98 yards for a score.

 

 

Offense:

Toledo has rushed the ball more than only one team in conference play….and that is Kent State. The Rockets rely heavily on their passing attack and average a few yards shy of 250 yards per game. That’s good for 4th in the MAC.

 

Defense:

Toledo has been slightly better against the run than Akron in conference play. Toledo allows 167 yards rushing per game, whereas Akron allows 171 yards rushing per game.

The Rockets fielded an elite secondary in 2023, but have since lost some prime talent and their defensive backs coach. The 2024 secondary is still very good, but Toledo has allowed 195 yards per game through the air. Akron allows 228 per game.

 

Summary:

Some will say Toledo has played a more difficult conference slate than Akron. While that may be true, let’s take a look at common opponents and scores. With the exception of NIU, it is the same result and similar point differential in all the games.

 

Buffalo

Toledo = Loss 30-15

Akron = Loss 41-30

 

Ohio

Toledo = Loss 24-7

Akron = Loss 30-10

 

Bowling Green

Toledo = Loss 41-26

Akron = Loss 27-20

 

EMU

Toledo = Win 29-28

Akron = Win 25-21

 

 NIU

Toledo = Win 13-6

Akron = Loss 29-16

 

 

My point to the above is that while Toledo most certainly has more talent than us from top to bottom, they have not played up to their potential. In fact, some of Toledo’s players have publicly questioned their teammates’ effort through the course of the season.

 

We can question plenty of things about the 2024 Akron team, but hustle/effort has always been there. This is an opportunity to change the public perception of where the program is headed. If the Zips can play a clean game, and Toledo treats this as a walk through, we’ll have a chance to go into the offseason with momentum. A season ending win, coupled with a potential 3-1 start in 2025, would slingshot the program to where most of us thought it would be when Moorhead was hired.

 

Edited Thursday at 07:19 PM by catdaddyp