2017 CHERIBUNDI TART CHERRY BOCA RATON BOWL
Akron (7-6, 6-2 MAC) vs. Florida Atlantic (10-3, 8-0 C-USA)
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 • 7:00 pm ET • Boca Raton, Fla. • FAU Stadium (30,000)
ESPN Announcers: Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline)
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Akron Notes: Akron Notes;
MAC Notes
Under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron stands 7-6 overall following a 45- 28 loss to Toledo in the MAC Championship game on Dec. 2. Akron returns 57 lettermen, including 15 starters. The Zips utilize a spread offense and a 4-3 defense.
Senior running back Manny Morgan is the team’s leading rusher with 393 yards and four touch- downs on 99 carries. Under center, redshirt freshman Kato Nelson is 61-of-125 for 909 yards and eight touchdowns. Redshirt senior wide receiver Tra’Von Chapman is the top receiver with 50 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, junior linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III leads the Zips with 128 tackles, five sacks, five hurries, four break-ups, three in- terceptions, and a fumble recovery. Junior wide receiver Kwadarrius Smith is the Zips’ scoring leader with seven touchdowns for 42 points.
• Claimed its third MAC East title and first since 2005.
• Won at least five games for five consecutive seasons (2013-17).
• Finished with six MAC victories (the most since joining the league in 1992) for the second time.
• Appeared in its second MAC Championship game and first since 2005.
• Accepted a bowl invitation for the second time in three seasons, a program first.
Akron Against Conference USA: Over the years, Akron has faced six teams from Conference USA. Since Division I FBS play began in 1987, Akron is 5-9 against C-USA teams. The most recent contest was Akron’s 65-38 win at Marshall on Sept. 17, 2016.
Akron Coaching Staff is Bowl Experienced: Strolling the Akron sidelines is a very experienced coaching staff. Led by sixth-year head coach Terry Bowden, the Zips’ staff boasts 143 combined bowl appearances, including 34 bowl appearances by defensive coordinator Chuck Amato. All of the Zips’ coaches are former college football players.
Nelson Takes Over at QB: Three-star recruit Kato Nelson redshirted last year while learning under three-year starter Thomas Woodson. In his first collegiate start at Miami on Nov. 7, Nelson went 19-of-38 for 218 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 12 yards and a touchdown. Both touchdowns were career firsts. In his second career start in as many weeks, Nelson went 22-of-38 for a career-high 322 yards and career-best four touchdowns while guiding the Zips to a 37-34 win over Ohio on Nov. 14 to stay atop the MAC East standings. In the 24-14 win over Kent State on Nov. 21, Nelson went 6-of-20 for 69 yards and a 25-yard touchdown pass while guiding the Zips to the MAC East title. In the MAC Championship game against Toledo on Dec. 2, Nelson started the game. He went 8-of-18 for 177 yards and two touchdowns. In nine games this season, Nelson is 61-of-125 for 909 yards and eight touchdowns. He has rushed 81 times for 177 yards and a touchdown.
Gilbert Leads Zips Defense: The Zips’ defense is led by linebacker Ulysees Gilbert. After 13 games, Gilbert is the Zips’ top defender with 128 tackles, 8.5 TFL, a team-best five sacks, five hurries, four break-ups, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery. He also has two touchdowns for 12 points. Gilbert was named All-MAC First Team.
Experienced O-Line Provides Protection: Five new starters took the line to start the 2016 with a combined nine total starts. In 2017, four of five linemen return to their starting roles, led by junior RG Kyle Ritz, who has started 31 career games. Other starters returning include senior C LaVonne Gauthney, senior LG Stephen Ericksen, and senior RT Jovann Letuli. New to the starting line-up is sophomore LT Trevor Brown.
