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University of Akron vs. Northern Illinois football game | 5 things to know

michael beaven, akron beacon journal
·5 min read
University of Akron quarterback DJ Irons is tripped up by Buffalo defensive end Max Michel on Sept. 30 in Akron.
University of Akron quarterback DJ Irons is tripped up by Buffalo defensive end Max Michel on Sept. 30 in Akron.

The University of Akron football team enters Week 6 of the 2023 season with a 1-4 overall record, an 0-1 mark in the Mid-American Conference and a season-ending injury to starting quarterback DJ Irons.

Joe Moorhead has had better weeks leading into a game, but the second-year Zips coach is not ready to throw in the towel as Northern Illinois (1-4, 0-1) ventures to Akron for a game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at InfoCision Stadium.

Akron lost 13-10 in overtime last week at home to Buffalo after opening its season with a 24-21 loss at Temple, a 24-21 win over visiting Morgan State, a 35-3 loss at Kentucky and a 29-27 loss in four overtimes at Indiana.

Here are five things to know about the matchup:

University of Akron quarterback DJ Irons eludes Buffalo defensive end Jyaire Stevens on Sept. 30 in Akron.
University of Akron quarterback DJ Irons eludes Buffalo defensive end Jyaire Stevens on Sept. 30 in Akron.

Injury sidelines Akron quarterback DJ Irons for the rest of the season

Moorhead confirmed Thursday that Irons will not play Saturday.

"DJ is out for the year with a lower body injury," Moorhead said.

Irons has been Akron's most explosive player on offense and earned the MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week honor after his performance against Indiana.

Akron Zips quarterback Jeff Undercuffler Jr. throws against Morgan State during the first half Sept. 9 in Akron.
Akron Zips quarterback Jeff Undercuffler Jr. throws against Morgan State during the first half Sept. 9 in Akron.

Who does Akron coach Joe Moorhead turn to to play quarterback?

Jeff Undercuffler Jr. and Tahj Bullock are the candidates to start at QB on Saturday.

"We have been giving Jeff and Tahj equal reps throughout the course of the week because they are different styles of quarterback," Moorhead said. "Jeff led us to a [44-12] win over Northern Illinois last year. Tahj brings an element to the run game that Jeff doesn't."

Undercuffler completed 21 of 32 passes for 312 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against NIU last season. His top two targets in the game were current Zips wide receivers Alex Adams and Daniel George. Adams totaled seven receptions for 150 yards and two TDs and George had seven receptions for 96 yards and one TD.

Lorenzo Lingard and Drake Anderson are Akron's leading running backs. Jasaiah Gathings, George and Adams are Akron's leading receivers.

Akron quarterback Taj Bullock throws a pass in practice, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.
Akron quarterback Taj Bullock throws a pass in practice, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.

Can Akron bounce back from another tough loss?

If Akron had a few more plays go its way against Temple, Indiana and Buffalo, the Zips could be 4-1. They held leads in the second half against Temple, Indiana and Buffalo, but couldn't finish strong enough.

On the flip side, the Zips would be 0-5 if Morgan State could have held its lead with under a minute to go in the fourth quarter.

Said Moorhead: "In our last [13] games, I was told, two wins [over Northern Illinois last season and Morgan State this season], a loss to a top-20 Kentucky and losses by one [to Buffalo last season], by two [to Indiana this season], by three [to Temple this season], by three [to Buffalo this season], by three [to Bowling Green last season], by six [to Eastern Michigan last season], by six [to Kent State last season] and by seven [to Central Michigan last season]."

Ohio and Miami of Ohio also topped Akron by double figures during the 13-game span.

Akron Zips linebacker Bryan McCoy (20) celebrates after stopping St. Francis (Pa) inside the 20-yard line on a kickoff return Sept. 1, 2022, in Akron.
Akron Zips linebacker Bryan McCoy (20) celebrates after stopping St. Francis (Pa) inside the 20-yard line on a kickoff return Sept. 1, 2022, in Akron.

"It is equally frustrating and heartbreaking, but in a certain sense encouraging that we have gone from being essentially non-competitive the year before we got here to now having an opportunity to win every game in the fourth quarter that we have played for almost a football season in terms of games played," Moorhead said. "At the end of the day, we have got to find a way to finish and close these games out.

"For our kids, there is heartbreak and there is frustration, but there is encouragement in the sense that the trend of our play has put us in position to win games."

Akron defensive lineman CJ Nunnally IV celebrates sacking Morgan State quarterback Carson Baker on Sept. 9.
Akron defensive lineman CJ Nunnally IV celebrates sacking Morgan State quarterback Carson Baker on Sept. 9.

Defense continues to be a bright spot for Akron

Moorhead and his staff are pleased with Akron's defense, and for good reason.

"The three guys up front — Lama [Lavea], Terray [Jones] and CJ Nunnally IV — are doing a fantastic job, and I think our linebacking corps led by Bryan McCoy and Antavious Fish are doing a really, really nice job," Moorhead said.

University of Akron linebacker Antavious Fish pressures Buffalo quarterback Cole Snyder on Sept. 30 in Akron.
University of Akron linebacker Antavious Fish pressures Buffalo quarterback Cole Snyder on Sept. 30 in Akron.

Joe Moorhead sizes up Akron's Week 6 opponent, Northern Illinois

NIU's top offensive playmakers are quarterback Rocky Lombardi, running backs Antario Brown and Gavin Williams, wide receivers Kacper Rutkiewicz, Trayvon Rudolph, Davis Patterson and Jalen Johnson and tight end Chris Carter.

"Their season has mirrored ours a bit," Moorhead said. "They beat [host] Boston College in the opener by three points [27-24 in overtime], kind of similar to our Indiana game, aside from the result. They lost by three [14-11 at home] to Southern Illinois, got beat at Nebraska [35-11], lost a close one to Tulsa [22-14 at home], kind of like our Temple game, and then a two-point loss at Toledo [35-33].

"I don't think 1-4 reflects how they have played. They play physical up front and present a scheme that you don't see very often in terms of multiple tight ends and fullbacks and gap schemes. They will try to run the ball downhill at you and pair that with play action. ... They have got four of the best defensive linemen in the league."

The four Huskies defensive linemen to watch are Raishein Thomas, James Ester, Devonte O'Malley and Roy Williams.

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: University of Akron vs. NIU football game | 5 things to know