The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
4-6 , 3-3
UMass
0-9 , 0-5
Zips Cruise Past UMass, 44-10
November 04 | Football
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron Zips football team scored in every quarter as it took down UMass 44-10 Tuesday night at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Health Field.
Ben Finley led Akron's air game with 197 yards, tossing two touchdowns without throwing an interception. The signal caller also added 28 rushing yards, seven yards per carry, and one touchdown.
Jordan Gant totaled 153 yards, his third 150+ yard rushing performance of the season, to lead the Zips' ground attack and added two touchdowns in the game, picking up 5.5 yards per carry. Taven Curry also tacked on 55 yards on the ground, picking up 6.9 yards per carry. Akron recorded a big outing on the ground, totaling 237 rushing yards while averaging 5.2 yards per carry and out-rushing UMass by 160 yards.
Finley's most prolific target was Marcel Williams, who caught four passes for a career-high 104 yards. Williams also set a career-high for longest reception (46 yrd). Kyan Mason caught four passes for 38 yards and one touchdown while Max Whisner reeled in two catches for 33 yards.
The Zips won the turnover battle in Tuesday's game, forcing three turnovers while coughing the ball up one time, with Akron turning those takeaways into 21 points.
Akron's defense limited UMass'Â offense, giving up 169 total yards. The Zips kept UMass under 100 yards on both the ground and through the air, allowing only 92 passing and 77 rushing yards. This was the first time September 12, 2009 that the Zips kept an opponent under 200 total yards (Morgan State, 127 yrds).
Shammond Cooper and Malcom DeWalt IV led the Zips' defense in tackles with seven each. DeWalt tied his career-high of seven tackles against the Minutemen. Gage Summers recorded four tackles while recovering two fumbles; with one being returned 25 yards for a touchdown. Julien Laventure recorded six tackles, 2.5 tfl (26 yrds) and a forced fumble that Summers recovered for a score. In addition, Laventure had multiple sacks negated by flags.Â
The Zips improved to 4-6 on the year and 3-3 in Mid-American Conference play, while the Minutemen fell to 0-9 and 0-5.
Akron took a 7-0 lead over UMass after scoring the game's first points on a 15-yard pass from Finley to Mason with 14:11 left in the first quarter. Another Zips score then expanded the lead to 14-0 when Israel Polk caught a 13-yard pass from Finley.
UMass used a one-yard TD pass and a 55-yard field goal to make it a 14-10 game before Akron responded with 11:48 left in the second quarter to extend its lead to 21-10 on a two-yard rushing TD from Finley. The Zips continued to extend their lead, scoring again to go ahead 27-10 when Summers recovered a fumble for 25 yards with 6:33 left in the third.
Akron continued to grow its lead, scoring again with 2:23 left in the third quarter to go ahead 37-10 when Matthew Schramm connected on a 42-yard field goal.The Zips kept scoring, tacking on a nine-yard rushing TD from Gant to increase their advantage to 44-10 with 12:18 left in the 4th quarter. Neither team scored again in the game.
Game Notes» Finley has thrown at least one touchdown over his past seven starts, while throwing two TDs in four games and three TDs in two.
» Gant has recorded 150+ yards in three games this season after running for 153 against UMass.
» Gant recorded his second multi-rushing TD game of the season.
» M. Williams set career-highs in receiving yards (104) and longest reception (46 yrds).
» Summers scored his first career TD, recovering a fumble for 25 yards.
» Summers' returned fumble was the first for Akron since Liam Reardon did it last season against Bowling Green at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (10/5/24).
» Akron outgained UMass 467-169, including a 237-77 advantage on the ground.
» Akron won the turnover battle 3-1 after recovering three fumbles.
» The Zips scored first with 14:11 remaining in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the game on their way to victory.
» Akron had their highest scoring quarter in the first period, when they put up 14 points.
» Akron converted 6 of 11 third downs while UMass was successful on 2 of 12.
» The Zips didn't allow a sack in the contest.
» Akron won the time of possession battle 35:13 to 24:47.
» The Zips ended the game on a high note, scoring 30 unanswered points to close out the contest.
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What's Next?
Akron returns to InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field for the Wagon Wheel game against crosstown rival Kent State on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Team Stats
MAS 0, AKR 7
AKR - Mason,Kyan 15 yd pass from Finley,Ben (Schramm,Matthew kick) 3 plays, 19 yards, TOP 00:42
MAS 0, AKR 14
AKR - Polk,Israel 13 yd pass from Finley,Ben (Schramm,Matthew kick) 9 plays, 71 yards, TOP 04:42
MAS 7, AKR 14
MAS - von Saldern,Magnus 1 yd pass from Hairston,AJ (Morris,Derek kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 02:53
MAS 10, AKR 14
MAS - Morris,Derek 55 yd field goal 10 plays, 25 yards, TOP 04:16
MAS 10, AKR 21
AKR - Finley,Ben 2 yd run (Schramm,Matthew kick), 7 plays, 78 yards, TOP 03:13
MAS 10, AKR 27
AKR - Gant,Jordan 1 yd run (), 3 plays, 53 yards, TOP 01:02
MAS 10, AKR 34
AKR - Summers,Gage 25 yd fumble recovery (Schramm,Matthew kick)
MAS 10, AKR 37
AKR - Schramm,Matthew 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 36 yards, TOP 02:49
MAS 10, AKR 44
AKR - Gant,Jordan 9 yd run (Schramm,Matthew kick), 2 plays, 13 yards, TOP 00:00
