Story by
Akron football falls to Kent State in OT despite several statistical advantages
- Story by
- Akron football falls to Kent State in OT despite several statistical advantages
The University of Akron football team had an edge over rival Kent State University in several of the most important statistical categories Nov. 11 at InfoCision Stadium.
KSU had the edge in the final score with a 42-35 win in overtime to recapture the wooden Wagon Wheel after UA won the coveted trophy in each of the past two seasons between the Mid-American Conference foes .
Advertisement
Golden Flashes quarterback Dru DeShields connected with wide receiver Ardell Banks on a 25-yard touchdown pass on the first play in overtime and Will Hryszko kicked his sixth extra point.
The Zips (4-7, 3-4) tried to draw even, but the Flashes (4-6, 3-3) didn't allow it as Mason Woods and CJ Young combined for a tackle for loss on first down and Derrick Jackson III applied excellent pass defense on fourth down.
"You gotta give credit to [KSU] coach [Mark] Carney and his staff and players on playing a great game," Akron coach Joe Moorhead said. "It's a shame someone had to lose, and it's a bigger shame that it was us, but that was a heck of a rivalry game. I told our kids all week, '60 minutes or as long as it took, no clock, no scoreboard.' Unfortunately, they made one more play then we did."
The Zips lead the all-time series against the Golden Flashes 37-29-2.
Advertisement
Akron finished with an edge in first downs (32-14), rushing yards (106-57), passing yards (424-317), total offensive yards (530-374) and kickoff return yards (103-20). The Zips were also penalized for fewer yards (30-71).
Kent had six sacks to Akron's one, and turned two Akron turnovers into 14 points.
Akron Zips quarterback Ben Finley (10) looks to throw during the first half of the Wagon Wheel Rivalry football game at InfoCision Stadium, Nov. 11, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
"When it's close, it's going to come down to a handful of plays, and you are never sure which play it is going to be," Moorhead said.
Akron scored 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to erase a 35-17 deficit and force overtime.
Zips QB Ben Finley threw a 12-yard TD pass to Marcel Williams and Matthew Schramm made an extra point at 10:53. Williams recovered an onside kick by Owen Wiley and then Schramm kicked a 20-yard field goal at 7:12. Malcom DeWalt IV forced a fumble that Ronald Hull recovered at 5:09, Finley threw a 13-yard TD pass to Israel Polk at 1:59 and then Finley caught a 2-point conversion pass from Marcel Williams to even the score.
Advertisement
"That [comeback] is certainly a tribute to our leadership and our culture and our never-say-die mentality that the game isn't over until the last second ticks off the clock," Moorhead said. "It was very similar to the game here two years ago [against Kent] when I believe we were down 17 with about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter [and won 31-27 ].
Akron Zips quarterback Ben Finley (10) scores a two point conversion ahead of Kent State defensive back DJ Barnes (19) during the second half of the Wagon Wheel Rivalry football game at InfoCision Stadium, Nov. 11, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
"Our kids kept swinging and making plays. This is a testament to their persistence and our culture and our belief. I feel bad for our team and I feel bad for the seniors that weren't able to finish that one off."
Finley finished 32-of-59 passing for 424 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The completed passes, attempts and yards are single-game highs for Finley.
Advertisement
"He was distraught after the game and we are going to go through the film and see a bunch of plays that we could have made in all three phases," Moorhead said. "... We are not in that position to win the game without Ben. To see his growth over the last two years, and particularly the last four or five games, has been impressive. To go for over 400 with three touchdowns, catch a two-point conversion, have some crucial scrambles, outside of one interception and a couple of overthrows, I thought he played a really good football game."
Akron Zips wide receiver Marcel Williams (2) scores a touchdown ahead of Kent State defensive back Terrell Miller (18) during the first half of the Wagon Wheel Rivalry football game at InfoCision Stadium, Nov. 11, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
Williams also set single-game personal highs in catches (14), receiving yards (206) and touchdowns (two).
"I feel like from the start, I saw the ball come to me on the first play and I just know that I am going to get off to a good start and continue from there," Williams said.
Advertisement
Polk totaled four catches for 67 yards and a TD, Jean Louis III contributed four catches for 56 yards, Conner Cravaack had four catches for 33 yards and Kyan Mason added three catches for 46 yards. Jordan Gant ran for 96 yards and a TD on 22 carries, and had two catches for 14 yards.
"[Wide receivers] coach [JD] Brookhart is a guy that has coached two Biletnikoff Award winners [Antonio Bryant and Larry Fitzgerald at Pittsburgh], so it ain't his first rodeo developing wide receivers," Moorhead said. "... Our receiving corps has really developed nicely over the course of the season."
Akron Zips wide receiver Marcel Williams (2) races past Kent State defensive back Joel Cordoba (21) during the first half of the Wagon Wheel Rivalry football game at InfoCision Stadium, Nov. 11, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
KSU won with big plays in all three phases of the game.
Advertisement
DeShields, a West Branch graduate, completed 17 of 25 passes and set his own single-game highs in yards (317) and passing touchdowns (five). Da'Realyst Clark, Cade Wolford, Terik Mulder, Da'Shawn Martin and Massillon graduate Banks each caught a TD pass.
KSU punter Charlie Durkin, an Akron native and Hoban graduate, averaged 40.8 yards and placed three of his six punts inside the Akron 20-yard line, including a first-quarter boot that bounced off a Zips player and was recovered by long snapper Gus Goodell on the 9-yard line. Two plays later, Gavin Garcia ran for a TD.
KSU's Terrell Miller intercepted a Finley pass in the third quarter and had a 37-yard return to put the ball on UA's 12-yard line. Three plays later, DeShields threw his third TD pass.
Finley faced consistent pressure as KSU's Jamond Mathis had 1½ sacks, Young, Woods and Darian Blachewicz had one sack apiece, and Canaan Williams, Mattheus Carroll and Thomas Aden each had a half sack.
Advertisement
"DeShields did a really nice job pushing the ball down the field," Moorhead said. "Coach [Clay] Patterson and coach Carney did a nice job scheming it up to create throws down the field. ... They had a bunch of explosive plays, and those were the ones that got us."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron football rallies, but falls to Kent State in Wagon Wheel game
