College football: Lakota East’s Gasser provides strong leg for Akron

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Gasser has been Akron’s No. 1 punter the last two seasons, averaging 37.7 yards as a sophomore and 42.2 yards last year as a junior. He kicked off 14 times as a sophomore and 60 times as a junior, also scoring 22 points last season by making 13-of-14 extra points and 3-of-6 field goals.

Tom O’Leary started 2017 as the Zips’ place-kicker, but struggled early on and Gasser took over those duties.

Speaking at Mid-American Conference Media Day last week at Ford Field, Bowden said he’s hopeful that O’Leary, a redshirt senior, returns to form this year so Gasser can focus on punting.

The Zips will open the season at Nebraska on Sept. 1.