Game 7 Preview: Akron Zips host the Miami RedHawks

Saturday, October 11

Akron, Ohio

NOON

University of Akron

Miami

Tickets

Game 7 Preview: Akron Zips host the Miami RedHawks

October 08 | Football

Game Notes

Game 7 – Miami RedHawks (2-3, 1-0 MAC) at Akron Zips (2-4, 1-1 MAC)

WHATS AHEAD
On Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, the Akron Zips welcome the Miami RedHawks to InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field. Kickoff is set for Noon ET as the ESPN+ will broadcast the game with Michael Reghi (PxP) and Ryan Cavanaugh (Analyst) on the call.

TV: ESPN+ - Michael Reghi (PxP) and Ryan Cavanaugh (Analyst)
Radio: Akron Sports Network - (iHeart Radio,) - David Skoczen (pxp), Joe Dunn (analyst), Mark LaRose (Sideline)
WHLO 640 AM (flagship), WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM, iHeart Radio, TheVarsityNetwork.com
Video Link: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required)
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com

HEAD COACHES
Miami RedHawks (2-3, 1-0 MAC)
Chuck Martin (Millikin, 1990)
at Miami (12th): 67-70
Overall (18th): 141-77

Akron Zips (2-4, 1-1 MAC)
Joe Moorhead (Fordham, 1996)
at Akron (4th): 10-32
Overall (10th): 62-57

SERIES HISTORY
Series: Miami leads 23-9-1
Last Meeting: Miami def. Akron, 19-0 (Oxford, Ohio - Nov.8, 2023)
Last Meeting in Akron: Miami def. Akron, 27-9 (Akron, Ohio - Oct. 29, 2022)

Akron is meeting Miami for the 34th time in program history with the RedHawks owning a 23-9-1 series advantage and a seven-game winning streak. In the last meeting between the two schools, Miami registered a 19-0 win over the Zips in Oxford, Ohio on Nov. 8, 2023. The last time the game was played in Akron (Oct. 29, 2022), Miami defeated Akron 27-9.

The series between the two schools dates back to the 1916 campaign when Miami earned a 23-6 road victory over Akron. The two teams played eachother 14 straight seasons from 2010-2023 until the streak was snapped in 2024 as the Zips and RedHawks did not play last season.

SCOUTING MIAMI
Under 12th-year head coach Chuck Martin, the RedHawks currently sit at 2-3 overall and 1-0 in MAC play, defeating NIU 25-14 to open MAC play. Miami averages 23.6 points per game on 344.0 total yards of offense per game. The RedHawks attack averages 195.4 yards through the air and 148.6 yards on the ground. Defensively, opponents average 23.4 points on 331.0 yards per game, allowing 186.6 yards in the air and 144.4 on the ground.

QB Dequan Finn leads the offense, completing 44 of 79 attempts with four interceptions for 635 yards (158.8 avg) and three touchdowns. Also behind center is Henry Hesson (21 of 38, 342 yards, 3 TDs). Kam Perry leads the receiving corps with 428 yards and 85.6 yards per game on 15 receptions with two touchdowns. Keith Reynolds (16-168 yds), Kenny Tracy (11-121 yds, 2 TDs) and Cole Weaver (10-121 yds) follow over 100 yards. Tracy and Finn provide the bulk of the work on the ground, averaging 5.6 and 4.4 yards per carry, respectively. Tracy carried the ball 49 times for 277 yards (54.4 yds/g) with a TD, while Finn scored one touchdown on 209 yards (52.3/g) with 48 attempts.

Defensively, Miami generated 31 tackles for loss of 137 yards with 16 sacks (108 yds). Eli Blakey paces the defense with 44 tackles. Corban Hondru and Jackson Kuwatch follow with 32 total tackles each as Kuwatch owns five TFL (21 yds) and three sacks. Adam Trick leads the squad in TFL and sacks with 5.5 (49 yds) and 4 (46 yds), respectively.

AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2025 CAMPAIGN
The Zips elected senior QB Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) as captain for the second consecutive season. Finley is joined by senior OL Colin Lyons (McKeesport, Pa.), junior DL Julien Laventure (Upper Darby, Pa.) and sophomore DL Cyrus Durham (Atherton, Ca.) as captains in 2025.

GANT EARNS DOAK WALKER NATIONAL RUNNING BACK OF THE WEEK (Oct.7)
Akron running back Jordan Gant led all FBS players in rushing yards last weekend with his career-high 176 yards and added a receiving touchdown as the Zips defeated Central Michigan 28-22. Gant is the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week.

Gant's 16-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 3:13 left before halftime put Akron (2-4, 1-1) ahead for good at 14-10. He finished with a season-high of 28 receiving yards to total 204 all-purpose yards.

It was a banner effort for the 5-foot-10 redshirt junior from Lakeland, Fla. Gant has posted 100-yard rushing games in two of Akron's last three games and he is now tied for 19th in FBS rushing with 476 yards with three touchdowns. Akron outgained Central Michigan 417-374 and the run game helped them convert 9 of 15 third downs.

Both of Akron's wins have come with Gant topping 100 yards, although his first start didn't come until Sept. 27 at Toledo. His other top game was taking 13 carries for 161 yards and three touchdowns in a Sept. 20 win against Duquesne, a performance that made him the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week. His 5.73 yards per carry on the season (83 attempts) list 42nd nationally. The surge in the past three games for Akron's rushing leader has upped his per-game yardage to 79.3 for the season.

Gant transferred to Akron following three seasons at Tennessee State. In 2024 he appeared in 14 games and rushed for 251 yards on 70 attempts, scoring one rushing touchdown and twice with receptions.

Gant now joins the members of the preseason Doak Walker Award candidates list among the strong group of players vying for the prestigious honor.

GANT EARNS MAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Sept. 22)
Jordan Gant MAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday (Sept. 22). Gant anchored the offensive efforts for the Zips in a 51-7 win over Duquesne (Sept. 20). Akron registered 514 yards of total offense, including 265 yards on the ground. Of the 265 rushing yards, Gant was responsible for 161 yards on only 13 carries, recording 12.4 yards per rush. Gant found the endzone three times, scoring 21 of the Zips 51 points. Gant set a career high in all three categories; rushing yards, touchdowns and yards per rushing attempt. Gant scored the initial touchdown of the game on a 17 rush, while PK Owen Wiley buried the PAT, with 8:02 left in the first quarter. Gant found paydirt twice in the second quarter to help give the Zips a commanding 38-0 advantage. His second TD of the game came with 8:34 left in the second frame, finishing a 53-yard drive with a nine-yard rush to the endzone. For his final score of the evening, Gant finished a 7-play, 60-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown. Wiley made both PATs.

THE ZIPS...
DEFENSIVE STANCE
Akron's defense has shown flashes of real promise in 2025, highlighted by disruptive playmakers across all three levels. The Zips have forced six turnovers in six games. The defense has also been strong in the red zone, limiting opponents to scores on just 76.2% of trips, including forcing three turnovers inside the 20., including a key stop at the end of the half against CMU. As a unit, the Zips' defense has demonstrated the ability to limit big plays and create turnovers, keeping the team competitive in every matchup. With continued growth and cohesion, Akron's defense is poised to remain a cornerstone of the team's success as the season progresses.

Individually, linebacker Shammond Cooper (39 tackles) and fellow linebacker DiMarco Johnson (35) anchor the middle, combining for 12.33 tackles per game. Defensive back Malcom DeWalt IV has emerged as a difference-maker with 31 tackles, five breakups and a pick-six, while corner Elijah Reed and safety Markus Boswell have added interceptions to bolster the secondary. Up front, Bruno Dall has provided steady pressure with 6.5 tackles for loss (29 yds) and three sacks (21 yds), giving Akron a proven disruptor on the defensive line. The defensive line posted five sacks against Central Michigan and recorded 12 for the season with a loss of 73 yrads. Julien Laventure (2-15 yds) , Cyrus Durham (2-4 yds) and Gage Summers (1-8 yds) all agaunst CMU.

OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
The University of Akron Zips' 2025 offense has shown real promise, highlighted by strong individual performances. QB Ben Finley has been the offensive cornerstone, leading the team with 946 passing yards. His performance includes a notable 252-yard, three-touchdown outing against Central Michigan.

RB Jordan Gant has emerged as a dynamic force in the backfield. After transferring from Tennessee State, Gant has accumulated 476 rushing yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. His breakout performance came in Week 6 against Central Michigan, where he rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown, earning him the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week honor. Sean Patrick has also contributed for the RB room (42 att, 199 yds, 4.7/rush, 1 TD, 25 yd long, 49.8 yds/g).

WR Kyan Mason leads the receiving corps with 266 yards and two TDs. WRs Myles Walker and Israel Polk follow with 185 and 193 yards receiving, while Polk earned paydirt twice. TE room also productive in the passing game as Conner Cravaack and Max Whisner caught TD passes against CMU.

The O-Line faced challenges early, but has held ground as of late to establish a consistent running game and protecting the quarterback.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Akron's special teams have been a consistent strength in 2025, providing the Zips with strong field position and momentum. P Joseph Castle has averaged 44.4 yards per punt, with seven kicks over 50 yards and 10 pinned inside the 20-yard line. Brayden Johnson adds depth, averaging 43.9 yards per punt. In the return game, Brandon Hills leads with 330 yards on 15 returns (22.0-yard average), including a long of 33 yards. Terence Thomas contributes with 48 yards on two returns (24.0-yard average), highlighted by a 25-yard return. Sean Patrick has handled punt returns, posting a 9.7-yard average with a long of 15. On the kicking front, Owen Wiley and Matthew Schramm are a combined 6-of-11 on field goals, including makes from 39 and 41 yards, respectively. Akron is a perfect 12-for-12 on PATs. With strong punting, reliable returns, and dependable placekicking, Akron's special teams have been a dependable strength and a unit the Zips can continue to lean on.

WHO IS WEARING NO. 1
Senior WR Myles Walker and junior DL Julien Laventure and have emerged as leaders under fourth-year head coach Joe Moorhead and the duo was recently rewarded with the No. 1 jerseys for 2025.

Under Moorhead at Akron, head strength and conditioning coach Orie Sahlfeld identifies one player on each side of the ball that demonstrated their leadership both on and off the field over the course of the spring to earn the privilege of wearing the No. 1 jersey in the Akron Blue and Gold for the 2025 season.

"Coach Moorhead and I spoke about performance and leadership and all the qualities you want in someone in an elite or leadership position," said Sahlfeld. "They earned it all the way from January being accountable, holding their teammates to higher standards, doing all the little things right on a day-to-day basis and being consistent. They have a voice on the team and when they talk people listen. Both are the leaders on their side of the ball when it comes to holding their teammates accountable, having a high standard for themselves and their teammates and bringing people with them and picking people up when they're having bad days."

UP NEXT
The Zips on on the road for two-straight weeks, traveling to Muncie, Ind. to play Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+. Akron will then travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to battle the Bulls on Oct. 25 with game time TBA.