Story by
Quarterback DJ Irons sharp in University of Akron Zips Blue & Gold Spring Football Game
- Story by
- Quarterback DJ Irons sharp in University of Akron Zips Blue & Gold Spring Football Game
University of Akron first-year football coach Joe Moorhead shook hands, chatted and shared a few laughs as he walked off the synthetic turf field inside Stile Athletics Field House on Saturday.
Moorhead was a happy man after watching his players compete in the UA Blue & Gold Spring Game.
Advertisement
A score was kept, and for record-keeping purposes the Blue Team topped the Gold Team 27-20 before an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,000 spectators that included Zips fans, band members, cheerleaders and alumni.
More on the Zips: Two weeks into practice Joe Moorhead sees progress in University of Akron football team
Multiple players competed on both teams, including Cory Smigel, a junior kicker who made a total of four field goals and five extra points in what was officially UA's 15th and final spring practice.
"We tried to split the teams up as evenly as we could to make it a competitive game, and I think it was," Moorhead said. "We kept it vanilla schematically in all three phases. We wanted the guys to come out here with great energy and play with unbelievable effort. We wanted to see the execution and precision improve, and it did. I think for our 15th opportunity, we took another positive step."
Advertisement
Akron Football Recruiting News: Massillon football's Marcus Moore Jr. commits to the Akron Zips
DJ Irons impresses at quarterback
Junior quarterback DJ Irons was one of the standouts on offense for the Blue Team with three touchdown passes — one apiece to sophomore Alex Adams, senior Shocky Jacques-Louis and sophomore Blake Hester.
Irons, a returning quarterback who played for former Zips coach Tom Arth last season, completed 13-of-21 passes for 112 yards Saturday.
"I felt like I played straight, but I could have done some things better," Irons said. "I will take this, listen and just add on and keep getting better every day."
Advertisement
Adams hauled in a 30-yard dart from Irons for a touchdown in the second quarter to give the Blue Team a 10-3 lead. Irons connected with Jacques-Louis for a 5-yard touchdown to put the Blue Team ahead 17-10 four seconds before halftime.
Irons found Hester for a 25-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give the Blue Team a 24-17 advantage.
"He started a little bit slow," Moorhead said of Irons. "There were some things early on that he either misread or held the ball a little bit long, but he collected himself from there. I thought the line held up and protected well and did a nice job run blocking.
"We have got a pretty solid arsenal of receivers to get the ball to. He has got to be just like a great point guard, identify who to get the ball to and let those guys play with great speed in space."
Advertisement
More on the Zips: Players return looking to establish winning culture for University of Akron football
Joey Marousek throws dart for TD
Sophomore Jonzell Norrils paced the Gold Team's offense with seven carries for 30 yards and a 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter to tie the score at 10-10.
Gold Team sophomore quarterback Joey Marousek contributed a 40-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Jasaiah Gathings with 10:10 remaining in the third quarter to tie the score at 17-17.
Sophomore Tony Grimes, Jr. finished with a game-high five catches for 78 yards and Gathings had two catches for 45 yards for the Gold Team.
Advertisement
Sophomore transfer Cam Wiley was the Blue Team's top rusher with 25 yards on six carries. Adams and Jacques-Louis had four receptions apiece for 44 and 34 yards, respectively.
More on the Zips: University of Akron linebacker Bubba Arslanian likes what he sees in defensive scheme
Bubba Arslanian 'playing fast' at linebacker
Senior linebacker Bubba Arslanian led the Blue Team defense with six tackles and sophomore linebacker Camari Harris had four tackles.
"I thought we were out here flying around, playing smart and playing fast," Arslanian said. "That is what we need to do this year. We are on the right track."
Advertisement
Sophomore defensive back Darrian Lewis (St. Vincent-St. Mary) paced the Gold Team in tackles with four.
"For us not really blitzing and playing base, I thought they did a good job against the run," Moorhead said. "A couple of things in the pass that we need to clean up in coverage, but I thought more than anything we need to play with physicality and effort. We will clean up the rest with the scheme. If you are not playing hard and you are not playing physical, you don't have a chance."
The Zips will open the 2022 season against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sept. 1 at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.
Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Quarterback DJ Irons efficient in Akron Zips football Spring Game
