2019 Akron Zips football team

Last updated

2019 Akron Zips football
Akron Zips logo.svg
Conference Mid-American Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record0–12 (0–8 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Tommy Zagorski (1st season)
Offensive scheme Pro-style
Defensive coordinator Matt Feeney (1st season)
Base defense 3–4
Home stadium InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field
Seasons
  2018
2020  
2019 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Miami (OH) x$  6 2   8 6  
Ohio  5 3   7 6  
Buffalo  5 3   8 5  
Kent State  5 3   7 6  
Bowling Green  2 6   3 9  
Akron  0 8   0 12  
West Division
Central Michigan x  6 2   8 6  
Western Michigan  5 3   7 6  
Ball State  4 4   5 7  
Northern Illinois  4 4   5 7  
Toledo  3 5   6 6  
Eastern Michigan  3 5   6 7  
Championship: Miami 26, Central Michigan 21
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions

The 2019 Akron Zips football team represented the University of Akron during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Zips were led by first-year head coach Tom Arth and played their home games at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio. They competed as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

Contents

The 2019 Zips lost every single game on their schedule, finished with an 0–12 overall record and an 0–8 record in MAC play, and were outscored by their opponents by a total of 435 to 126. They finished in last place in the conference's East Division. CBS Sports rated Akron dead last, at 130th, in their season's-end ranking of all 130 FBS teams. [1] The Zips were the only Division I FBS team to go winless in the 2019 season. They were also the last team to be winless in a full season until Kent State in 2024.

Preseason

Coaching changes

Following the firing of seven-year head coach Terry Bowden at the end of the 2018 season, Akron announced the hiring of Tom Arth on December 14, 2018. [2] Arth had spent the previous two seasons as the head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, leading them to records of 3–8 and 6–5 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Before Chattanooga, he was the head coach at John Carroll University, where he led the team to an upset victory over No. 1 Mount Union to claim an Ohio Athletic Conference title in 2016 and was named D3football.com Coach of the Year.

Tom Arth announced the members of his coaching staff in January and March 2019. [3] [4] Among them were defensive coordinator Matt Feeney and offensive coordinator Tommy Zagorski, who both served in the same roles on Arth's staff at Chattanooga.

MAC media poll

The MAC released their preseason media poll on July 23, 2019, with the Zips predicted to finish in fifth place in the East Division. [5]

Schedule

Akron's non-conference slate consisted of home games against UAB of Conference USA and Troy of the Sun Belt Conference, and road games against Illinois of the Big Ten Conference and UMass, a football independent.

In Mid-American Conference play, the Zips hosted Kent State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, and Ohio, and traveled to Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, and Miami. They did not play West Division members Ball State, Toledo, or Western Michigan.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 31Noonat Illinois * BTN L 3–4230,654
September 7Noon UAB * CBSSN L 20–3118,972
September 143:00 p.m.at Central Michigan ESPN+ L 24–4518,641
September 213:00 p.m. Troy *
  • InfoCision Stadium
  • Akron, OH
ESPN+L 7–3516,954
September 283:30 p.m.at UMass * FloSports L 29–377,284
October 123:30 p.m. Kent State Dagger-14-plain.png
ESPN3 L 3–2622,692
October 193:00 p.m. Buffalo
  • InfoCision Stadium
  • Akron, OH
ESPN3L 0–2116,909
October 263:30 p.m.at Northern Illinois ESPN3L 0–499,027
November 22:00 p.m.at Bowling Green ESPN+L 6–3512,113
November 126:00 p.m. Eastern Michigan
  • InfoCision Stadium
  • Akron, OH
ESPNews L 14–4210,811
November 207:30 p.m.at Miami (OH) ESPNU L 17–2022,921
November 266:00 p.m. Ohio
  • InfoCision Stadium
  • Akron, OH
ESPN+L 3–5221,414

Source: [6]

Personnel

Coaching staff

[7]

Game summaries

At Illinois

1234Total
Zips30003
Fighting Illini141414042
StatisticsAKRILL
First downs1622
Total yards192401
Rushing yards64207
Passing yards128194
Turnovers20
Time of possession31:3728:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AkronPassingKato Nelson10/24, 122 yards, INT
RushingDeltron Sands14 rushes, 47 yards
ReceivingNate Stewart5 receptions, 79 yards
IllinoisPassing Brandon Peters 14/23, 163 yards, 3 TD
RushingMike Epstein8 rushes, 45 yards
ReceivingRicky Smalling4 receptions, 54 yards

UAB

1234Total
Blazers71014031
Zips6001420
StatisticsUABAKR
First downs1516
Total yards402393
Rushing yards8334
Passing yards319359
Turnovers12
Time of possession27:3732:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UABPassingTyler Johnston III15/24, 319 yards, 4 TD, INT
RushingSpencer Brown16 rushes, 35 yards
ReceivingAustin Watkins Jr.3 receptions, 95 yards, 2 TD
AkronPassingKato Nelson25/44, 359 yards, 2 TD
RushingKato Nelson13 rushes, 31 yards
ReceivingDustin Burkhart8 receptions, 217 yards

At Central Michigan

1234Total
Zips01001424
Chippewas32431545
StatisticsAKRCMU
First downs1621
Total yards326533
Rushing yards42189
Passing yards282344
Turnovers21
Time of possession31:1028:50
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AkronPassingKato Nelson26/42, 241 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingKato Nelson16 rushes, 28 yards
ReceivingNate Stewart5 receptions, 78 yards, TD
Central MichiganPassingDavid Moore20/31, 316 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Kobe Lewis 27 rushes, 146 yards, 3 TD
Receiving Kalil Pimpleton 7 receptions, 116 yards, TD

Troy

1234Total
Trojans71414035
Zips70007
StatisticsTROYAKR
First downs3210
Total yards485242
Rushing yards27039
Passing yards215203
Turnovers12
Time of possession41:1718:43
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TroyPassingKaleb Barker27/37, 214 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingD. K. Billingsley22 rushes, 100 yards, TD
ReceivingLuke Whittemore7 receptions, 64 yards
AkronPassingKato Nelson15/29, 200 yards, TD
RushingBrandon Lee6 rushes, 38 yards
ReceivingNate Stewart4 receptions, 89 yards

At UMass

1234Total
Zips777829
Minutemen71314337
StatisticsAKRMASS
First downs2224
Total yards406433
Rushing yards71220
Passing yards335213
Turnovers31
Time of possession29:0230:58
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AkronPassing Zach Gibson 12/16, 173 yards, TD
RushingMichiah Burton8 rushes, 25 yards, TD
Receiving Boogie Knight 5 receptions, 100 yards
UMassPassingMichael Curtis17/31, 173 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingBilal Ally15 rushes, 97 yards
ReceivingSamuel Emilus6 receptions, 70 yards, TD

Kent State

1234Total
Golden Flashes7100926
Zips03003
StatisticsKENTAKR
First downs2419
Total yards382288
Rushing yards23395
Passing yards149202
Turnovers01
Time of possession29:3430:26
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing Dustin Crum 16/21, 149 yards, TD
RushingWill Matthews25 rushes, 126 yards, TD
ReceivingIsaiah McKoy7 receptions, 80 yards, TD
AkronPassingKato Nelson17/28, 202 yards
RushingKato Nelson14 rushes, 64 yards
ReceivingNate Stewart4 receptions, 71 yards

Buffalo

1234Total
Bulls707721
Zips00000
StatisticsBUFFAKR
First downs1611
Total yards254196
Rushing yards1893
Passing yards65193
Turnovers14
Time of possession34:3725:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BuffaloPassing Kyle Vantrease 14/23, 65 yards
Rushing Jaret Patterson 17 rushes, 88 yards
ReceivingDaniel Lee6 receptions, 30 yards
AkronPassing Zach Gibson 22/39, 193 yards, INT
RushingDecavilon Reese8 rushes, 37 yards
ReceivingJulian Hicks9 receptions, 51 yards

At Northern Illinois

1234Total
Zips00000
Huskies714141449
StatisticsAKRNIU
First downs721
Total yards145345
Rushing yards94274
Passing yards5171
Turnovers31
Time of possession20:3539:25
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AkronPassing Zach Gibson 4/15, 36 yards, INT
RushingBrandon Lee10 rushes, 76 yards
ReceivingJulian Hicks3 receptions, 22 yards
Northern IllinoisPassingMarcus Childers7/9, 71 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Tre Harbison 31 rushes, 158 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingMitchell Brinkman2 receptions, 36 yards, TD

At Bowling Green

1234Total
Zips60006
Falcons7147735
StatisticsAKRBGSU
First downs717
Total yards100276
Rushing yards29156
Passing yards71120
Turnovers41
Time of possession22:5837:02
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AkronPassingKato Nelson9/24, 60 yards, 2 INT
RushingPeter Hayes-Patrick4 rushes, 23 yards
ReceivingNate Stewart3 receptions, 26 yards
Bowling GreenPassingGrant Loy12/20, 113 yards, TD
RushingAndrew Clair29 rushes, 86 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Quintin Morris 4 receptions, 53 yards, TD

Eastern Michigan

1234Total
Eagles71414742
Zips007714
StatisticsEMUAKR
First downs2514
Total yards498342
Rushing yards25254
Passing yards246288
Turnovers01
Time of possession33:4526:15
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Eastern MichiganPassingMike Glass III20/25, 246 yards
RushingShaq Vann28 rushes, 142 yards, 4 TD
ReceivingMatthew Sexton4 receptions, 76 yards
AkronPassingKato Nelson20/33, 288 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingPeter Hayes-Patrick13 rushes, 43 yards
Receiving Boogie Knight 6 receptions, 121 yards

At Miami (OH)

1234Total
Zips037717
RedHawks3143020
StatisticsAKRMOH
First downs1119
Total yards202355
Rushing yards5238
Passing yards197117
Turnovers02
Time of possession26:5433:06
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AkronPassingKato Nelson15/25, 197 yards, TD
RushingPeter Hayes-Patrick6 rushes, 17 yards
ReceivingNate Stewart3 receptions, 66 yards
MiamiPassing Brett Gabbert 10/21, 117 yards, 2 INT
RushingJaylon Bester21 rushes, 128 yards, TD
ReceivingJack Sorenson3 receptions, 46 yards

Ohio

1234Total
Bobcats141771452
Zips30003
StatisticsOHIOAKR
First downs257
Total yards60374
Rushing yards25141
Passing yards35233
Turnovers22
Time of possession37:3422:26
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
OhioPassing Nathan Rourke 20/28, 308 yards, 4 TD
Rushing De'Montre Tuggle 9 rushes, 78 yards
ReceivingTyler Walton5 receptions, 82 yards
AkronPassing Zach Gibson 3/11, 23 yards, INT
RushingPeter Hayes-Patrick14 rushes, 42 yards
Receiving Boogie Knight 2 receptions, 22 yards

References

  1. "College Football Rankings 2019 - CBS Sports 130". CBS Sports . December 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  2. Caron, Emily (December 14, 2018). "UT-Chattanooga's Tom Arth Named Akron Football Coach". Sports Illustrated.
  3. "Akron Football Adds Assistant Coaches, Staff". GoZips.com. University of Akron. January 9, 2019.
  4. "Arth Completes Akron Football Staff". GoZips.com. University of Akron. March 8, 2019.
  5. "MAC Announces 2019 Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  6. "2019 Akron Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  7. "Football Coaches - University of Akron Athletics". Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.