“The University of Akron football team experienced something they have never experienced before in the inaugural game at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field – a real home field advantage. A sellout crowd of close to 28,000 helped lead the Zips to a 41-0 victory over the Morgan State University Bears.”
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The University of Akron football team experienced something they have never experienced before in the inaugural game at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field – a real home field advantage.

A sellout crowd of close to 28,000 helped lead the Zips to a 41-0 victory over the Morgan State University Bears.

With the win, the Zips evened their record at 1-1 while the Bears fell to 0-1.

The first win at InfoCision marks a new era in UA football.

Just getting off the bus. That was great right there, Zips senior wide receiver Deryn Bowser said.

The fans were out there having a good time and we weren’t used to that, but today we started something new. It was great.

Bowser became a part of UA history in the first quarter when he caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Chris Jacquemain.

It was the first touchdown completion in InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field history.

It was incredible, Jacquemain said of being the first quarterback to throw a touchdown pass in the new stadium. It was something definitely to be remembered. I’m honored.

The Jacquemain-Bowser connection didn’t end there.

The duo found the end zone two more times in the Zips winning effort.

The coaches called the plays and I’m just trying to make them, Bowser said. I see the ball in the air and I just like to go get it.

Bowser has been Jacquemain’s favorite target this season.

His 149 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions, all from Jacquemain, lead the club.

It just comes down to getting our timing down in the off season and getting a feel for each other, Jacquemain said. We know each others strengths and weaknesses.

Another strength for the Zips has been their defense.

With the shutout on Sept. 12, the Zips defensive unit has gone six straight quarters without allowing a score.

We are stopping the run, Zips Head Coach J.D. Brookhart said. The depth really continues to help us. We’re rolling a lot of guys through there.

I think an attitude is developing over there. We can be pretty good.

The Zips defense has gotten a boost from freshman linebacker Brian Wagner.

You see why Brian Wagner was nominated for all-league having never played a game, Brookhart said.

He’s a good football player.

Wagner was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his contribution to the Zips shutout against Morgan State.

Wagner scored the first defensive touchdown in InfoCision history when he intercepted a Carlton Jackson pass and returned it 32 yards for the Zips final score of the game.

I think it was a good play call defensively, Wagner said.

I dropped back and it seemed like he threw it right at me. I made a few guys miss, got a few blocks and was able to get in the end zone.

I think that was an exclamation point on a very good defensive day.

The defense and offense both benefited from the boisterous sellout crowd.

I think you saw a real college football environment and it was exciting, Brookhart said. I quite honestly never felt like I did today. It was all such a new experience.

It was everything and more I thought it was going to be. I can’t thank the administration enough for bringing this to our campus. It changes everything.

The Zips will resume play Sept. 19 when they host Indiana University Hoosiers.

It will be the first time in UA football history that they have hosted a Big 10 opponent.

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