“The University of Akron football team will look to defeat a Bowl Championship Series team for the second time this season when it hosts the Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday at the Rubber Bowl. The Zips defeated Syracuse Sept. 6 for only their second win in school history over a BCS opponent.”
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The University of Akron football team will look to defeat a Bowl Championship Series team for the second time this season when it hosts the Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday at the Rubber Bowl.
The Zips defeated Syracuse Sept. 6 for only their second win in school history over a BCS opponent.
Saturday’s game will mark the fifth all-time meeting between the teams. UA (2-2, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) and UC (2-1) have split the first four contests, with the Bearcats winning the last game, 20-14 at Nippert Stadium on Oct. 6, 2006.
UA shut-out the Bearcats 31-0 in 1989 in the only game of the series played in Akron.
Both teams enter the non-conference game coming off a win. UA defeated Army, 22-2, while UC won its home game against Miami University, 45-20.
In the win, UC junior quarterback Tony Pike threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns. It was Pike’s first career start, after relieving injured starter Dustin Grutza during the fourth quarter at Oklahoma Sept. 6. The senior is out indefinitely with a fractured right fibula.
Fifth-year UA head coach J.D. Brookhart said he was impressed with UC’s defense against MU.
I was very impressed with how they handled Miami, Brookhart said during his weekly news conference Monday. The only plays Miami could get against them were just outstanding individual efforts because they were well covered.
While the Zips may be not familiar with the Bearcat players, they are familiar with their head coach, Brian Kelly. Before taking over as UC’s head coach at the end of the 2006 regular season, Kelley was the head coach at Central Michigan for the three seasons.
Brookhart said the 2007 Big East Coach of the Year continues to use the same formula for success.
Brian Kelly runs the offense that he knows best, Brookhart said. They have thrown in a few wrinkles here and there, but overall, it is the same offense. They have some quality players.
The Bearcats’ head coach said the Zips are a dangerous team, pointing to the team’s 2-1 record on the road and the team’s playmakers on offense.
They have two very impressive road wins, Kelly said. Anytime you can win on the road, it says a lot about your football team.
Chris Jacquemain is a very athletic quarterback, who does a good job on the play-action pass as well as getting the ball down field. (Deryn) Bowser and (Andre) Jones are outstanding wide receivers.
Jones was named the MAC East’s Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for his play at Army. The converted-safety caught five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in his fourth career-game at wide receiver.
Kick-off at the Rubber Bowl is set for 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net Ohio.
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