Events Calendar
In This Section
UA men's and women's basketball make changes
Dambrot announces changes to UA basketball staff
U.S. soccer team's play thrills UA's Porter
UA hires associate head coach for women's basketball
University of Akron announces times for football games
UA names Yurachek interim athletic director
Kayes earns redemption as All-American
Most Read Stories
Blogs:
Pets:
Sunburn in canines and felines
The Heldenfiles:
Monday Notebook, New "90210" on DVD
Patrick McManamon:
Another NBA free agent goes to a Cavs competitor
Akron Zips:
Opponent outlook: Northern Illinois
Browns Bulletin:
Single-game ticket sales begin July 11
Tribe Matters:
Marte is IL’s Batter of the Week
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Kent State Sports:
Men's Basketball Scheduling update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Free Agency Update: Frye in View?
All Da King's Men:
The Obligatory Palin Post
Blog of Mass Destruction:
The "Limbaugh Babies"
Akron Law Café:
The Veil and the Burqa – Constitutional to Ban or Restrict?
Varsity Letters:
Solon’s Baldwin could decide soon
See Jane Style:
Picnic Wear
Car Chase:
Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
ID My Bug
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jennifer inquires about a bus tour to Atlantic City
Sound Check:
Rundgren fans rejoice!: Second night of AWATS at The Civic added
HRLite House:
DDI One of Best Places to Work
Akron Gamer:
Hot link: Best of Nintendo at E3
Quarterback's error just before half followed by 28-0 drubbing rest of way
By Zac Boyer
Special to The Beacon Journal
Published on Sunday, Sep 30, 2007
EAST HARTFORD, CONN.: University of Akron coach J.D. Brookhart knew it would be a challenge Saturday to play another nonconference game.
He was right.
The Zips opened Mid-American Conference play last weekend by beating Kent State. The trip to play undefeated Connecticut of the Big East didn't go as well.
It turned out to be a battle on several levels, with the Zips falling 44-10.
The Zips took a 10-9 lead in the second quarter when quarterback Chris Jacquemain connected with Jabari Arthur for a 6-yard touchdown. But the Zips (2-3, 1-0 MAC) quickly surrendered a kickoff return for a touchdown.
They then botched a chance to enter halftime with the lead by making poor decisions.
With 3:50 remaining in the first half, UA took possession on its 40-yard line and drove to the UConn 3-yard line with 24 seconds remaining. Jacquemain, despite being told by Brookhart to throw the ball away to stop the clock if a possible touchdown play didn't develop quickly, tried to run the ball but was stopped by tacklers while still standing. An official blew the play dead before Jacquemain stumbled out of bounds, and that allowed time to expire without even a field-goal attempt.
''He was instructed clearly before the play that if it's not there for a touchdown, throw it away,'' Brookhart said. ''You're not out of bounds. You have to get out clean for them to call that, and that's part of being an amateur football player. He's got to get better, and he's got to follow instructions, too.''
Jacquemain conceded that he made a mistake in trying to force something to happen.
''I thought I could run it in and tried to run it in, but I couldn't, and so I tried to get out of bounds,'' said Jacquemain, who finished 19-of-28 for 145 yards and a touchdown. Brookhart ''was just upset that if the clock had stopped, we could have gotten a field goal out of the drive.''
Although Brookhart had planned to start Carlton Jackson on Saturday, he cited an ''internal matter'' as to why Jacquemain began the game. Brookhart did not elaborate.
Jacquemain responded to the assignment by completing his first 10 passes.
''Except for the sacks and holding on to the football, I thought he executed the system pretty well, and that's why we stayed with him,'' Brookhart said. ''That was not the original plan, but we've kind of got to play the hot hand, and we thought he had it.''
Arthur led all receivers with 81 yards and the touchdown reception, and Bryan Williams gained 65 yards rushing on 13 carries.
UConn (5-0, 1-0) gained 465 yards in a balanced attack led by quarterback Tyler Lorenzen, who passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Brookhart said that after playing three nonconference road games against BCS opponents, the Zips have learned enough to be able to rebound and focus on making a run for the MAC title.
Linebacker Brion Stokes, who led the Zips with eight tackles, agreed. He said Saturday's game at Western Michigan, the preseason MAC favorite, will be another challenge.
''These games prepare us, but at the same time, we're coming up here to win them,'' Stokes said.
EAST HARTFORD, CONN.: University of Akron coach J.D. Brookhart knew it would be a challenge Saturday to play another nonconference game.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
