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'Look in the mirror and not out the window': Akron moves forward after rough football opener
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- 'Look in the mirror and not out the window': Akron moves forward after rough football opener
The University of Akron football team entered the 2025 season with momentum after ending 2024 with wins over Kent State and Toledo .
That momentum appears to be gone after the University of Wyoming ventured to Akron and earned a 10-0 win Aug. 28 at InfoCision Stadium.
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"I thought we had a good week of preparation in all three phases," Akron coach Joe Moorhead said after the loss. "I thought we played hard. The defense really did an excellent job of keeping points off the scoreboard. A little bit of bend, but don't break, but definitely a winning performance.
"Offensively, we had some opportunities throughout the course of the game. We were second-and-goal at the 5, and the only thing that we can't do there is turn the football over. Disappointed in the offense, and from an accountability standpoint, disappointed in myself because I put the game plan together and call the plays. We gotta do a better job on offense, and that starts with me."
More Akron sports coverage: Larry Nance Jr. at college football game in Akron to watch alma mater Wyoming play Zips
The second-and-goal play Moorhead referenced ended with Wyoming senior Brayden Johnson intercepting a pass by Akron redshirt senior Ben Finley in the end zone and then running the ball out to the Cowboys 18-yard line with 2:05 to go in the third quarter.
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"Under 50 percent [at 16 of 38], only 139 yards passing, we didn't throw a touchdown and had the one critical interception," Moorhead said of Finley. "Before I say anything about how Ben played, I know that Ben is his own toughest critic and wants to play better, and he and I share the same thought process.
"As a senior and a captain and a guy who has played some really good football for us, I think he will look at it and say there is a bunch of things he needs to do better and I will look at it and say the same thing. We will watch the tape and work to improve against an obviously very talented Nebraska team [at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6]."
Akron totaled 13 first downs and 228 yards. Zips redshirt sophomore Marquese Williams ran for 30 yards on six carries.
Akron Zips quarterback Ben Finley, center, looks for an open receiver against Wyoming on Aug. 28, 2025, in Akron.
How much did the tranfer portal change Akron's offense?
Akron's top running backs from last season both departed, with Jordon Simmons transferring twice, initially to Mississippi and then Georgia State, and Charles Kellom landing at Eastern Illinois. The Zips added redshirt junior Jordan Gant from Tennessee State and redshirt junior Taven Curry from Louisiana-Monroe.
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Redshirt freshman Sean Patrick was a bright spot in Akron's offense against Wyoming with five carries for 26 yards and four catches for 47 yards before he left the game with 54 seconds remaining in the second quarter with what Moorhead called an "upper body injury."
Akron Zips quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. (15) picks up yardage as an Wyoming defender closes in Aug. 28, 2025, in Akron.
Redshirt senior quarterback Michael Johnson Jr., a Syracuse transfer, ran for 21 yards on four carries and is expected the fill the void of Tahj Bullock, who transferred to Colorado State .
The offensive line looks very different with Josh Blanchard completing his eligibility, Jayvin James transferring twice, initially to Maryland and then Mississippi State , and Tyhler Williams landing at Georgia State.
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Redshirt junior Keylen Davis and redshirt senior Colin Lyons started against the Cowboys along with freshman Kenneth McManus IV, redshirt junior Maasai King (Lackawanna College transfer) and redshirt senior Darrell Johnson, Jr. (Western Kentucky transfer).
Akron Zips wide receiver Myles Walker catches a pass against Wyoming on Aug. 28, 2025, in Akron.
Four of Akron's top wide receivers from last season left the program: Adrian Norton (transferred to Marshall), Bobby Golden (transferred to Louisville ), Jarvis Rush (transferred to Alcorn State ) and Ahmarian Granger.
Moorhead welcomed back redshirt senior wide receivers Alex Adams and Myles Walker, who have dealt with injuries, to a starting lineup that also included redshirt freshmen Kyan Mason and Marcel Williams (Marshall transfer).
Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Kaden Anderson, left, is taken down by Akron Zips linebacker Shammond Cooper on Aug. 28, 2025, in Akron.
How much did the tranfer portal change Akron's defense?
Akron's defense was also hit hard by the transfer portal as the following starters left: tackle Marcus Moore Jr. ( Purdue ), end CJ Nunnally IV (Purdue), linebacker Bryan McCoy ( Oklahoma State ), linebacker Antavious Fish (Sam Houston State), cornerback Devonte Golden-Nelson ( West Virginia ) and safety Darrian Lewis (West Virginia).
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End Bennett Adler, lineman Nathan Kapongo and safety Paul Lewis III were starters who completed their eligibility. Lewis is playing professionally in Europe.
Moorhead was able to trot out three returning starters against Wyoming — redshirt senior Justin Anderson (nine tackles Thursday) and redshirt junior Elijah Reed in the secondary and redshirt senior Gage Summers at linebacker.
The other key defensive players for the opener were freshman Markus Boswell (interception), redshirt sophomores Bruno Dall, Catrell White and Cyrus Durham (Arizona transfer), sophomore Ronald Hull, redshirt juniors Julien Laventure (Penn West-California transfer) and Kiawan Murphy and redshirt seniors Shammond Cooper (10 tackles), DiMarco Johnson (eight tackles) and Kent State transfer Alex Branch (nine tackles).
Akron Zips football coach Joe Moorhead leads the team through warmups before the season opener against Wyoming on Aug. 28, 2025, in Akron.
"We rotate a lot of guys through there," Moorhead said. "I don't think there is anyone on the defense that you would look at and necessarily say they are an elite level player, but our sum is greater than our parts. They played well together. Good complementary football. Good gap integrity."
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Wyoming totaled 19 first downs and 426 yards. Sophomore Kaden Anderson completed 19 of 36 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown, sophomore Chris Durr Jr. had eight catches for 190 yards and a TD and senior Sam Scottt ran for 132 yards on 29 carries. Seniors Brayden Johnson (eight) and Andrew Johnson (six) were Wyoming's leading tacklers.
"Our defense played well enough for us to win the football game," Moorhead said. "Offensively, we did not. Missed some opportunities, but at the end of the day when you get shut out it is not close to being good enough. From an accountability standpoint, like I said, I put the game plan together and I call the plays. There were certainly things there that were good opportunities ... and we didn't score. We gotta find a way to regroup. We gotta find a way to identify what was wrong and why, and make a plan to fix it."
Akron Zips football coach Joe Moorhead leads the team through warmups before the season opener against Wyoming on Aug. 28, 2025, in Akron.
How much did the tranfer portal change the Akron's special teams?
The roster turnover also extended to the specialists, with last year's long snapper Liam Reardon transferring to Northwestern, kicker Garrison Smith transferring to Florida Atlantic and punter Avery Book completing his eligibility.
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Moorhead said he was pleased with the way his punters performed in the opener. Junior Joseph Castle averaged 49.5 yards with a long of 69 yards on six punts and graduate student Brayden Johnson averaged 44.5 yards with a long of 49 yards on two punts.
"We are going to have to look in the mirror and not out the window," Moorhead said. "I start with myself. Point a thumb and not a finger, find a way to get better as a football team, and most importantly as an offense."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips football team moves forward after losing to Wyoming Cowboys
