Previews, Predictions and Game Thread: Game #10 vs. UMass Tuesday Nov. 4th @ 7pm ("MACTION")

[csims0917]

3 hours ago, MDZip said:

6-6 looks actually possible. Far from a guarantee but possible. 

Now you’re sounding like my Kent friend 😂. Love the optimism but I’m taking it one game at a time 

[Captain Kangaroo]

2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Eddie's next endeavor?

The worst thing about BG’s collapse is - they’re going to beat us to Tim Tyrrell. 

[exit322]

57 minutes ago, csims0917 said:

Now you’re sounding like my Kent friend 😂. Love the optimism but I’m taking it one game at a time 

Yes, they must beat UMass on Tuesday first.

 

Dumb question time...do they do discounted tickets or anything of the sort for the Tuesday games?  I may actually be able to go this week or next.

Edited Sunday at 01:17 AM by exit322

[roopride]

Go ZIPS. Let’s win Tuesday!  
 

watched MAC football today

[MangoZip]

Zips open up as a 10pt favorite 

[catdaddyp]

Game Day Notes:
 

Redshirt freshman AJ Hairston remains the starter at quarterback, throwing for 812 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions on the season. He drew significant P4 attention early in his prep career before it became evident the G5 level would be his path.

 

UMass has struggled to find consistent production from the backfield, partly due to injuries that have limited their key players. Colorado transfer Brandon Hood and UTSA transfer Rocko Griffin have combined for 519 yards and four touchdowns.

 

At receiver, Jacquon Gibson has been the most reliable option throughout the year with 358 yards, though it was redshirt freshmen Kenyon Massey — a player we once offered — and Kezion Dia-Johnson who saw the bulk of the targets last game. Dia-Johnson, like Hairston, also had plenty of P4 interest coming out of high school.

 

Up front, the offensive line has been a major problem, giving up 16 sacks in MAC play — the most in the conference. They’ve also surrendered 127 pressures on the year. For comparison, Akron’s allowed 83.

 

Defensively, UMass has held up reasonably well against the run in conference play, but the overall picture hasn’t been nearly as encouraging. The Zips offense should have a chance to put together its best passing performance of the season against a struggling UMass secondary. The Minutemen have surrendered the most total yards and points in the MAC and sit second-to-last in passing yards allowed. To make matters worse, they’re tied for forcing the fewest turnovers in league play. Injuries have taken a major toll on what was supposed to be a revamped defense, though one bright spot has been Dartmouth transfer edge rusher Marques White, who’s been a steady presence up front with five sacks on the year.

 

On the other side, Akron’s defense has quietly become one of the better pass-rushing groups in the MAC, second in the conference in sacks — and honestly, I’m not sure when the last time that could be said. 

 

 

On paper, Akron is a bad matchup for UMass, as the Zips’ strengths line up directly with the Minutemen’s weaknesses. Akron should win this one comfortably. Then again, things rarely come easy for this program, so we’ll see how it all shakes out.

 

 

Notable MAC only Stats:

Finley is third in passing yards and second in touchdowns thrown.

Gant is second in rushing yards.

Mason is eighth in receiving yards and tied for third in touchdown receptions.

Laventure is tied for sixth in tackles for loss and tied for seventh in sacks.

Summers is tied for first in interceptions.