“The University of Akron football team will begin MAC Conference play this week when they take on the Central Michigan University Chippewas at Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The Zips (1-2) enter the CMU game after losing to their second Big Ten Conference team in three weeks.”
“

The University of Akron football team will begin MAC Conference play this week when they take on the Central Michigan University Chippewas at Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

The Zips (1-2) enter the CMU game after losing to their second Big Ten Conference team in three weeks.

We hurt ourselves, Zips Head Coach J.D. Brookhart said. Indiana did some good things, but we did not run the football. We did a poor job from play calling to coaching to the players executing the run game.

The Chippewas (2-1) come into Saturday’s game on a two-game winning streak that includes an upset win over the Michigan State University Spartans.

I would think Central Michigan is favored in the league, Brookhart said. They’ve got a much improved defense and I think, not including a good offensive line, they’ve got three NFL players, including the quarterback and two wide receivers.

The Chippewa receiving core is lead by three players – Antonio Brown, Kito Poblah and Bryan Anderson.

Brown, a junior, is second on the team in receiving yards with 126 and tied for first on the team with one touchdown reception.

Poblah, a junior, has contributed to the Chippewa offensive attack with 95 yards receiving and one touchdown.

Anderson, a senior, leads the team in receiving yards with 147.

The quarterback with the luxury of throwing to the CMU receiving corps is senior Dan LeFevour.

LeFevour has completed 61 of 89 passes for 528 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Dan LeFevour is a football player, Brookhart said. He’s strong, he’s fast, I guarantee you it’s really important to him, he’s in it. They are very good and very explosive.

For the second straight week, Brookhart will send sophomore quarterback Matt Rodgers out to start behind center.

In his first start of his college career, Rodgers completed 14 of 23 passes for 165 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions and was sacked three times.

For Matt Rodgers to get into a passing contest in his first collegiate start with those (Indiana) defensive ends was not fair to him, and he made his mistakes, he can tell you that, Brookhart said. But he also threw for about 60 percent and made some good throws and good decisions.

Brookhart said he is confident in Rodgers.

I think he gives you a different element of changeup because he can really run, but you like that to put it best – the Charlie-Frye-type mentality, the gutsy type, eager, wants more who comes in and spends extra time, Brookhart said. He’s a ‘want to’ guy.

You want that in a quarterback and he’s got that, so he’s going to be a good player. He did some good things and he’s going to continue to progress, this is really, really important to him.

Rodgers will look to continue to progress with senior wide receiver Deryn Bowser.

Rodgers connected with Bowser Sept. 19 for the duos first touchdown.

Bowser continues to lead the Zips in touchdowns with five and receiving yards with 235.

The Zips will look to get their second win of the season and get back to the .500 mark against Central Michigan Sept. 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

“