By Pete Conrad

Staff Writer

OXFORD — The University of Akron is the only football team in the Mid-American Conference without a league victory.

Still, when Don Treadwell talks about the Zips and their confidence, he isn’t alone. And with good reason.

Akron came within a two-point conversion of scoring a dramatic comeback victory against Central Michigan last Saturday, and last year the Zips came within 8 yards of knocking off Miami.

“Hopefully, we can gain some confidence from that, some resolve from that,” said Akron coach Rob Ianello, whose team faces Miami tonight in a game to be televised by ESPNU.

According to Treadwell, “We know Akron will come in very hungry. They came very close to a MAC victory last week and they’ll be very confident.”

Akron trailed Central Michigan 20-0 late in the third quarter last week and stormed back. Wide receiver Marquelo Suel caught a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Clayton Moore in the final three minutes, the second with no time remaining to pull the Zips to within a point, 23-22.

Akron tried a two-point conversion pass, and it was incomplete.

“We already made the decision prior to that drive that we were going for two when we score and go for the win,” Ianello said.

“We showed great resolve and great fight,” he said. “I certainly felt we made some strides in that game.”

The RedHawks, who will be gunning for their fourth victory in the last five games, have been making strides of their own.

“There’s a reason they’re the defending MAC champions,” Ianello said, “so we’ll have to roll up our sleeves and go to work. ... It’ll be a tremendous challenge for us on national television.”

Last Nov. 17, Akron nearly prevented Miami from going to the MAC Championship Game.

Miami prevailed 19-14 at InfoCision Stadium, but only after Jordain Brown forced an Akron fumble, which Jordan Gafford recovered, at the Miami 8-yard line in the final minute.

Still, the season has been a struggle for the Zips. Their only victory came against VMI, a Football Championship Subdivision team, 36-13 on Sept. 24.

Akron ranks next-to-last in the MAC in total offense and total defense.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or Pete.Conrad@coxinc.com.