Akron Zips football gameday: at Bowling Green http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=/2013/09... Akron Zips football gameday: at Bowling Green BOWLING_GREEN_DEFENSE.JPG Bowling Green's defense's has been key to its early success, but gets a test against the high powered Akron Zips. (AP Photo) Elton Alexander, The Plain Dealer By Elton Alexander, The Plain Dealer on September 27, 2013 at 10:01 AM, updated September 27, 2013 at 10:04 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Preview of Akron's football game against Bowling Green. Akron (1-3, 0-0) at Bowling Green (3-1, 1-0) Kickoff: Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Doyt-Perry Stadium. Radio: WARF-AM, 1350. Outlook: Learning to win has been a struggle for the Akron Zips, even as they have been entertaining enough to have their last three games go down to the final play. Could this be the week the Zips finally break through against a FBS opponent? Their style of play does indicate a chance, although Akron's passing attack will be going against the No. 4 pass defense and No. 1 total defense in the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons have already proven their worth, knocking off defending Conference-USA champion Tulsa to start the season, the defending MAC East champion Kent State on the road, all with a first-year quarterback in Matt Johnson, who has already passed for an even 1,000 yards on the season. The Zips pass offense ranks No. 3 in the league at 258.8 yards per game with a MAC best 10 TDs. Akron will need to deliver those kinds of yards, and likely better than two TD in the air, to have a chance. Akron spotlight: To keep high-scoring BG from dominating the football, Akron's offense will have to put together some long drives that keep the Falcons off the field. That means tailbacks Jawon Chisholm (199 yards rushing) and Connor Hundley (149 yards rushing) must produce against the No. 2 run defense (155.2 yards per game) in the league. That would take a huge burden off Akron's defense, which has fared well against the run (169.5 ypg allowed) but ranks 11th in the 13-team league in pass defense, allowing 295.2 yards per game and a MAC high of 11 touchdowns. The Zips have five interceptions, but that can't overcome the yardage, the touchdowns and the missed tackles this group has given up every week. Turn that around, and the upsets could follow. Falcons spotlight: Head coach Dave Clawson has his program finely tuned. And while he is noted for his offense, for the second straight year it is Bowling Green's defense that leads the pack. The Falcons allow 372.0 yards per game, which in the offensive minded MAC where 11 of 13 defenses allow 415.2 yards a game and up, is more than solid. Allowing 19.5 points a game makes it pretty easy to come out on top. 1 of 2 9/28/13 9:25 AM Akron Zips football gameday: at Bowling Green http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=/2013/09... But combine that with an offense averaging 33.2 points a game behind a quarterback (Johnson) who has passed for 1,000 yards and a productive tailback in Travis Greene (102.2 yards per game and two touchdowns) and this team is clearly hard to beat. The Falcons were picked to contend for the MAC East title and have done everything to date to make that stand up. Key to success: For Bowling Green, stay the course. Upsets aside, they should not be tested in league play until an Oct. 26 home date with rival Toledo. Akron, on the other hand, have the Falcons as the first in a three-week gauntlet vs. MAC favorites, including Ohio University and Northern Illinois. Theory holds, the easiest upset to get in a string like this is the first one. The wildcard for the Zips could well be diminutive freshman receiver Franshon Bickley, a 5-6 speedster who had five receptions for 79 yards, including 37- and 28-yard TDs, which should not only catch the Falcons attention, but make things easier for Akron's other talented flankers. Did you know: Bowling Green has defeated Akron four straight seasons … Akron has scored 41 of its 96 points in the fourth quarter … Akron's defense is getting 2.2 sacks per game and nine for the season, last season Akron had 16 total … since going 2-10 in 2010 Bowling Green has improved by three games every season … despite having the No. 1 defense in the MAC, Bowling Green has yet to pick off an interception. Next for Akron: Oct. 5, 2 p.m. vs. Ohio University. Next for BG: Oct. 5, 3:30 p.m. vs. UMass. © 2013 cleveland.com. All rights reserved. 2 of 2 9/28/13 9:25 AM.