Quarterback Ryan Hawk is likely to get the starting nod for the second straight week. Fred Ray has practiced but is still doubtful for the tomorrow's game.
Ohio coach Brian Knorr said the team would be careful with Ray to prevent yet another irritation of his shoulder injury.
He only took one hit against Buffalo
and he was right back out Knorr said.
Defensive linemen Andre Parker and Perrier Paul are also questionable. Paul left practice on Tuesday with an undisclosed injury.
Safety Rob Stover broke a finger against Kent State but will play defensively against Akron.
It will hinder his backup long snapping duties Knorr said.
Last game for Akron
While Ohio has two games on the schedule after Akron, it is the last game of the year for the Zips.
Akron is one of three teams to play its last regular season game Saturday. Minnesota and Connecticut also complete their schedules, while Boise State, Syracuse and Hawaii each have four games left.
Knorr said Akron has done a good job despite having no breaks.
When you think that they've been 12 weeks in a row without a bye
it's tough sledding
he said. But they've done a great job of staying healthy. They've played really well.
Special teams competition pushes players
Kicking struggles have opened up competition again.
After kicker Greg DiMarino missed one short field goal and barely made another against Buffalo on Oct. 25th, punter Matthew Miller was given a shot to try something new: place kicking.
I didn't kick in high school or anything like that
Miller said. I really only started practicing last week.
After hitting them all week in practice, Miller missed the first extra point of the game against Kent State. DiMarino then tried and made three extra points and two field goals later in the game.
Miller said punting and kicking are really two different things.
It's a different leg swing
different muscles
he said. Field goals use your groin
while punting is mostly your hip flexors and hamstrings.
Place kicks are still different than kickoffs too.
I'm used to kicking off a tee
so I hit the ball in a different spot that extra points and field goals
so I'd miss them
