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UA, Ball State both bring prolific offenses to first MAC game of season
By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal
POSTED: 01:12 p.m. EDT, Sep 12, 2008
Football fans who enjoy high-scoring offenses should be in business at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Rubber Bowl.
The University of Akron (1-1) and Ball State (2-0) will meet in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.
Each team features efficient quarterbacks, and both are coming off of victories. UA beat Syracuse 42-28, and Ball State topped Navy 35-23 last week.
''I think it will come down to executing on offense and who plays harder and practices better throughout the week,'' said senior left tackle Chris Kemme, who helped the Zips gain 478 yards of total offense against Syracuse.
The major question might be which defense will get big stops.
''They have got a lot of (NFL) draft picks on that offense,'' Zips coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''You are talking about a receiver, a tackle, a quarterback and probably a tight end that will get drafted. I like their [running] back, and they have a senior-laden line. We have to play smart, physical football. This is one of the bigger challenges we will face.''
Junior quarterback Nate Davis leads the offense with senior receiver Dante Love, junior halfback MiQuale Lewis, senior tight end Darius Hill and senior right tackle Robert Brewster.
Love earned the MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week honor after the Navy victory. He leads Ball State with 18 receptions for 336 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He also has two rushing touchdowns.
Davis has impressed this season by throwing seven touchdown passes. He has completed 42-of-52 attempts for 616 yards and two interceptions. Lewis has gained 209 rushing yards.
Senior linebacker Bryant Haines and senior punter Chris Miller are other standouts.
UA counters with junior quarterback Chris Jacquemain, who received the MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week honor after the Syracuse victory. He has thrown five touchdown passes this season, completed 42-of-62 attempts for 487 yards and thrown one interception.
''All the hard work in the offseason, my dedication and commitment level are starting to show and pay off or me,'' Jacquemain said. ''It's a long season. I have to sustain and remain focused on my goals, the offensive goals and the team goals.''
UA seniors Andre Jones and Merce Poindexter and juniors Deryn Bowser and Jeremy Bruce have emerged as playmakers in the passing game. Senior Dennis Kennedy and junior Alex Allen have been solid running backs behind linemen Kemme, sophomores Mike Ward and Corey Woods, and juniors Elliott Bates and Zack Anderson.
Senior defensive back Bryan Williams leads UA in all-purpose yardage at 175 yards on only three kickoff returns and one interception.
Williams and seniors Kevin Grant, Doug Williams, Miguel Graham and Brandon Anderson have led the Zips' defense, with sophomores Tyler Campbell, Mike Thomas and Almondo Sewell and junior Wayne Cobham making solid contributions.
Final opener at stadium
Today's game is the Zips' final home opener at the Rubber Bowl, which opened in 1940. The Zips are 70-35-3 all-time in home openers and 40-23-2 in openers at the Rubber Bowl.
Brookhart is 3-1 in home openers, with a loss to Middle Tennessee in 2004 and victories over Northern Illinois, North Texas and Kent State the past three seasons.
UA will move on campus next season for the opening of InfoCision Stadium.
Football fans who enjoy high-scoring offenses should be in business at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Rubber Bowl.
The University of Akron (1-1) and Ball State (2-0) will meet in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.
Each team features efficient quarterbacks, and both are coming off of victories. UA beat Syracuse 42-28, and Ball State topped Navy 35-23 last week.
''I think it will come down to executing on offense and who plays harder and practices better throughout the week,'' said senior left tackle Chris Kemme, who helped the Zips gain 478 yards of total offense against Syracuse.
The major question might be which defense will get big stops.
''They have got a lot of (NFL) draft picks on that offense,'' Zips coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''You are talking about a receiver, a tackle, a quarterback and probably a tight end that will get drafted. I like their [running] back, and they have a senior-laden line. We have to play smart, physical football. This is one of the bigger challenges we will face.''
Junior quarterback Nate Davis leads the offense with senior receiver Dante Love, junior halfback MiQuale Lewis, senior tight end Darius Hill and senior right tackle Robert Brewster.
Love earned the MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week honor after the Navy victory. He leads Ball State with 18 receptions for 336 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He also has two rushing touchdowns.
Davis has impressed this season by throwing seven touchdown passes. He has completed 42-of-52 attempts for 616 yards and two interceptions. Lewis has gained 209 rushing yards.
Senior linebacker Bryant Haines and senior punter Chris Miller are other standouts.
UA counters with junior quarterback Chris Jacquemain, who received the MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week honor after the Syracuse victory. He has thrown five touchdown passes this season, completed 42-of-62 attempts for 487 yards and thrown one interception.
''All the hard work in the offseason, my dedication and commitment level are starting to show and pay off or me,'' Jacquemain said. ''It's a long season. I have to sustain and remain focused on my goals, the offensive goals and the team goals.''
UA seniors Andre Jones and Merce Poindexter and juniors Deryn Bowser and Jeremy Bruce have emerged as playmakers in the passing game. Senior Dennis Kennedy and junior Alex Allen have been solid running backs behind linemen Kemme, sophomores Mike Ward and Corey Woods, and juniors Elliott Bates and Zack Anderson.
Senior defensive back Bryan Williams leads UA in all-purpose yardage at 175 yards on only three kickoff returns and one interception.
Williams and seniors Kevin Grant, Doug Williams, Miguel Graham and Brandon Anderson have led the Zips' defense, with sophomores Tyler Campbell, Mike Thomas and Almondo Sewell and junior Wayne Cobham making solid contributions.
Final opener at stadium
Today's game is the Zips' final home opener at the Rubber Bowl, which opened in 1940. The Zips are 70-35-3 all-time in home openers and 40-23-2 in openers at the Rubber Bowl.
Brookhart is 3-1 in home openers, with a loss to Middle Tennessee in 2004 and victories over Northern Illinois, North Texas and Kent State the past three seasons.
UA will move on campus next season for the opening of InfoCision Stadium.
Comments
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Canal Fulton, OH
Posted 01:29 PM, 09/12/2008
Woo hoo!!! Go Zips!!!!!
Posted 01:35 PM, 09/12/2008
A shootout? Will Rydell be there?
Akron, OH
Posted 05:43 PM, 09/12/2008
Rain may put a damper on both the offense and the crowds. Hope the Zips have a big day!
Posted 06:33 PM, 09/12/2008
Go Zips!!! Let's pray for decent weather and a huge Zips win!
Posted 08:23 PM, 09/12/2008
do yall think the zips get beat by more than 21points. GO ZIPS
Posted 08:00 AM, 09/13/2008
Good article, Michael. Maybe you should have mentioned the Zips' unbelievably injury-depleated DL? Unfortunately, I think that is going to be a huge factor in today's game. I'm afraid we're neither going to be able to effectively stop the run (again), nor get sufficient pressure on Davis to disrupt his rythm.
