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Cibastian Broughton's Akron Zips comeback could create silver lining. Opinion
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- Cibastian Broughton's Akron Zips comeback could create silver lining. Opinion
Akron 's Cibastian Broughton limped off the field at InfoCision Stadium late in the third quarter.
Later, the quarterback nicknamed "Worm" missed two snaps after Ohio nose tackle Nathan Hale spun him around and slammed him to the turf late in the fourth quarter.
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But Broughton kept returning.
In Broughton's first game back from a leg injury, he took a beating and made a crucial mistake during Akron's 28-20 loss to Ohio on Tuesday, Nov. 3. But the combination of Broughton's playmaking ability and toughness also gives the Zips a glimmer of hope as they stare down the barrel of a one-win season.
Without Broughton completing a comeback from a five-game absence, Akron (1-8, 0-5 in the Mid-American Conference) would not have put Ohio (7-2, 5-0) on upset alert in front of a national TV audience.
During Akron coach Joe Moorhead's postgame news conference, he spotted Broughton enter the back of the makeshift interview room. Moorhead paused to tell Broughton, "Keep your head up. You hear me?" Broughton understood the message.
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Moorhead and his players were devastated about blowing the 17-14 lead they earned against Ohio with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter of a game televised in prime time by ESPN2. Akron running back Jordan Gant pushed the pile and dragged defenders during a 12-play drive he capped with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Then Broughton connected with wide receiver Marcel Williams in the end zone, giving the Zips the three-point advantage.
But Aidan Stire's ensuing kickoff was fair caught by Ohio at its 40-yard line, giving the Bobcats good field position and setting the stage for their rally. Moorhead explained Akron had hoped to execute a "sky kick" to the Ohio 25, not the 40, while avoiding dynamic Bobcats return man Darren James-Hamilton.
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On the next play, quarterback Nick Poulos connected with wide receiver Dom Dorwart for a 60-yard touchdown, and Ohio went ahead 21-17 with 9:22 remaining. Later, one play after a turnover on downs by Akron, Ohio running back Duncan Brune broke loose for a 91-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Bobcats' lead to 28-17 with 3:57 left.
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Although Stire made a 43-yard field goal (his fourth successful attempt of the night) with 1:56 remaining, Ohio recovered the ensuing onside kick as Akron's upset bid evaporated.
Sep 19, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Akron Zips quarterback Cibastian Broughton (11) makes a pass against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
This has been a nightmarish season for Akron. The Zips intended for Broughton to back up transfer QB Reese Poffenbarger, but Poffenbarger never played for UA because of NCAA eligibility issues. He is no longer listed on the roster.
Broughton started the first three games (those were also his first starts in college). However, he suffered a leg injury in the third game on Sept. 19 against Minnesota. Third-string QB Brayden Roggow started five games while Broughton fought to return from injury.
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Even with Broughton behind center, Akron will need to stun one of its final three opponents to avoid going winless in the MAC. UA will close the season against Western Michigan (6-3, 4-1) on Nov. 10, at UMass (4-4, 1-3) on Nov. 18 and against Buffalo (6-3, 4-1) on Nov. 27.
Moorhead said it best: This is the predicament the Zips are facing after "losing 12 of your best 15" players in the NCAA transfer portal "and then not having the guy that you signed specifically to come in to be QB1."
Akron Zips quarterback Cibastian Broughton throws a pass against Wake Forest on Sept. 3, 2026, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The primary contingency plan at QB, Broughton went 22-of-34 passing for 232 yards with one interception against Ohio. The pick qualifies as a crucial mistake because Ohio safety DJ Walker returned it 45 yards for a touchdown with nine seconds left in the first quarter. Broughton took three sacks. He rushed 20 times for 58 yards (20 net yards).
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Broughton conceded he didn't do enough for the Zips to prevail, but he vowed to keep gutting it out for them, just like he did to return from injury.
"I owe a lot to my team," Broughton said. "I didn't think I would be in this position, but my team believed in me ever since I got to the school, so I really owe them a lot — and the coaching staff."
Akron quarterback Cibastian Broughton looks downfield against Robert Morris on Sept. 12, 2026, in Akron.
Broughton has intangibles the Zips should covet. He accepts coaching. He doesn't blame teammates. He takes his leadership role seriously, even making a concerted effort to maintain it during his rehabilitation from injury.
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"I'll take 105 of those guys because, one, it's important to him," Moorhead said. "Two, he busts his butt in preparation, and then he competes his butt off."
Akron could use more of what Broughton possesses. UA is now guaranteed to finish with a worse record than the one it posted in 2025, when it went 5-7, 4-4 in the MAC. In many ways, this is a lost season.
Yet, if the Zips could look back to the final stretch and tell themselves they have a quarterback worth building around next year, a silver lining would exist.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be emailed at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cibastian Broughton's Akron Zips comeback could create silver lining. Opinion
