FACTS & STATS: Site: Rynearson Stadium (30,200) -- Ypsilanti, Michigan. Television: None. Home Record: Akron 0-3, EMU 1-2. Away Record: Akron 3-1, EMU 1-3. Neutral Record: Akron 0-0, EMU 0-0. Conference Record: Akron 1-2, EMU 1-2. Series Record: Akron leads, 15-11.

GAME NOTES: Mid-American Conference play will take place this Saturday afternoon at Rynearson Stadium when the Eastern Michigan Eagles host the Akron Zips. The Zips dropped their fourth game of the season this past weekend with a heartbreaking, 37-33 loss to Bowling Green this past weekend. Surprisingly the Zips have been outstanding on the road this season, winning three of their four contests away from home. Akron however, is just 1-2 in league play this season and since the start of the 2006 season the team is just 7-12 in conference action. As for the Eagles, they suffered their fifth loss of the year this past weekend with a rough, 17-13 setback to Army. Eastern Michigan has not enjoyed much success at home over the past few seasons, posting a mere 6-9 mark at Rynearson Stadium dating back to the beginning of the 2005 season. In terms of the all-time series between the two schools on the gridiron, the Zips hold a slim, 15-11 edge over Eastern Michigan.

The Zips scored 33 points this past weekend against Bowling Green, and if not for a late collapse defensively the Zips would have walked away with a win. Akron totaled 367 yards in the win, but the majority of the damage was done by the ground game, which churned out 206 yards. Dennis Kennedy was outstanding in the loss, rumbling for 182 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Chris Jacquemain also had a solid showing under center in the loss, as the quarterback threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Jacquemain has been inconsistent throughout the season however. Although the signal caller has thrown for 1,618 yards, he has just 12 TDs against 10 interceptions. As for Kennedy, he has been the top option out of the backfield, as the RB is currently pacing the team with 473 yards and six touchdowns.

As mentioned earlier the Zips had a strong lead over BGSU, that was until the fourth quarter when the defense surrendered 23 points. Akron was abused for 410 total yards and that includes 244 yards and four touchdowns through the air. On the season the Zips are holding teams to just 185.1 ypg through the air, but out of the 23 touchdowns allowed by the defense, 14 have come via the pass. The major problem for this team has come against the run, as teams are pounding the front line of Akron for 215.4 ypg on 4.8 ypc. What has helped this unit is its ability to force turnovers, as the team has collected 18 takeaways thus far, including 13 fumble recoveries. Kevin Grant has been the heart and soul of this unit, leading the team with 54 tackles and 6.5 TFLs.

As for the Eagles, they have been a tad inconsistent this season offensively, which is why the squad is posting just 20.0 ppg. The team is averaging 374.4 total ypg, but the majority of the team's success has come from the ground attack, which is producing 175.4 ypg, and out of the 17 offensive touchdowns, 13 have come via the run. Terrence Blevins and Dwayne Priest have been a tough tandem in the backfield for EMU, as Blevins has rushed for 380 yards and seven TDs, while Priest has collected 377 yards and three scores. Unfortunately the offense struggled this past week against Army, as the Eagles finished with just 255 total yards. Eastern Michigan finished with just 117 yards, and all of the damage was done by Priest, who rumbled for 118 yards on 17 carries. Blevins added 17 yards and one touchdown for EMU, but it was not enough to help the team land in the win column.

The major problem for this unit has been its inability to stop the run, as opposing teams are rushing for 206.7 ypg on 5.1 ypc. Overall the Eagles are being abused for 350.7 total ypg, and that has led to 29.9 ppg. Seven games into the season the defense has surrendered 28 touchdowns, and 19 of those scores have come via the run. Eastern Michigan has also been unable to make many big plays, as the team has forced just nine turnovers, while collecting only nine sacks as well. The struggles against the run were evident this past weekend, as the Black Knights totaled 341 yards, all of which came on the ground. The defense did force two turnovers in the loss, and although the squad held Army to just 5-of-13 on third down attempts, the defense also allowed the Black Knights to convert on 3-of-4 red zone chances.

The Eagles have been terrible against the run all year, and that trend should continue this weekend against Akron. The Zips did a tremendous job running the ball last week and should continue that in Ypsilanti this weekend.