“The University of Akron football team will travel to West Point, N.Y., Saturday to face the Army Black Knights in its final nonconference road game this season. The Zips (1-2, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) will look to beat the Black Knights (0-2) for the second consecutive year, after defeating them 22-14 in the inaugural FirstMerit Patriot Bowl to open the 2007 season.”
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The University of Akron football team will travel to West Point, N.Y., Saturday to face the Army Black Knights in its final nonconference road game this season.

The Zips (1-2, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) will look to beat the Black Knights (0-2) for the second consecutive year, after defeating them 22-14 in the inaugural FirstMerit Patriot Bowl to open the 2007 season. Army had won the three previous meetings between the two schools.

Both teams enter the contest having lost their last game. UA lost its MAC- and home-opener last Saturday to Ball State, 41-24. Army (0-2) had a bye last week, but lost to New Hampshire, 28-10, on Sept. 6 and to Temple, 35-7, on Aug. 29.

Despite their record, the Black Knights have had success running the ball in their new option offense this season, averaging 189.5 yards rushing in their first two games.

Fifth-year UA head coach J.D. Brookhart said the offensive scheme provides unique challenges.

We have to change our mindset defensively to prepare for their veer-option offense, Brookhart said during his weekly news conference Monday. They run a ball-control offense that is third in the nation in time of possession.

The Zips’ defense, which has seen a rash of injuries upfront, has struggled to stop the run this season. UA’s first three opponents have gained an average of 271 yards on the ground.

Seven of UA’s defensive linemen are currently battling injuries, but Brookhart indicated the team hopes to see some of them return to the field Saturday.

While the Zips have been preparing for the Black Knights’ ground game, the Black Knights have been preparing for UA’s no-huddle offense and spread formation.

It is something that we work on and we have it in our system already, said Army’s second-year head coach Stan Brock during his weekly news conference Tuesday. It will still be challenging because Akron has some great wide receivers and they have an outstanding quarterback with the ability to throw the ball and do a lot of good things.

Army linebacker John Plumstead compared this year’s Zips team to the one he saw when the Black Knights traveled to the Rubber Bowl in 2005 and to Cleveland Browns Stadium last year.

They are full of athletes, Plumstead, a senior, said during the news conference. We played them my freshman year and junior year, and each year they seem to get more athletes.

Brookhart acknowledged Army’s tradition and praised the Black Knights for their physical play.

They are a storied program with great tradition, and I look forward to traveling to their stadium, he said. They are a hard-hitting, physical football team.

Kick-off at Michie Stadium is set for 1 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN Classic.

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