Week 4 Preview: Akron Returns to InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field

Saturday, September 20

Akron, Ohio

6:00 pm

University of Akron

Duquesne

Tickets

Photo by: KENEMATIC SHOTS

Week 4 Preview: Akron Returns to InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field

September 16 | Football

WHATS AHEAD
On Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, the Akron Zips return to InfoCision Stadium Summa Health Field to host the Duquesne Dukes for the final non-conference game of the season. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET as the ESPN+ will broadcast the game with Anthony Lima (PxP) and Craig Haubert (Analyst)on the call.

TV: ESPN+ - Anthony Lima (PxP) and Craig Haubert (Analyst)
Radio: Akron Sports Network - (iHeart Radio,) - David Skoczen (pxp), Joe Dunn (analyst)
WHLO 640 AM (flagship), WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM, iHeart Radio, TheVarsityNetwork.com
Video Link: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required)
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com

HEAD COACHES
Jerry Schmitt (Westminster, 1983)
at Duquesne (21st): 129-88
Overall (10th): 157-109

Akron Zips (0-3, 0-0 MAC)
Joe Moorhead (Fordham, 1996)
at Akron (4th): 8-31
Overall (10th): 60-56

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game is the first meeting between Akron and Duquesne in series history.

SCOUTING DUQUESNE
Duquesne under 21st year head coach Jerry Schmitt sits at 1-2 after three weeks, opening the season with a lopsided loss at Pitt (61-9), rebounding with a rout of Division II Lincoln, Pa. (55-14), and dropping a close nonconference test in Week 3 to Lehigh (35-21).

Graduate transfer Tyler Riddell has provided stability under center for the Dukes, throwing for 8 touchdowns on 46 0f 71 passing and 604 yards. WR Joey Isabella is the top target with 22 receptions for 319 yards averaging 14.5 yds per catch with three touchdowns and a 66 yard long reception this season. B.J. Alexander and Jermaine Johnson follow with 7 and 6 receptions, respectively, for 98 and 90 yards. Alexander has caught two TD passes. On the ground, RB Taj Butts (22 carries)) and Shawn Solomon Jr. (20 carries) have split rushing attempts, as Butts gained 103 yards and Solomon Jr. has 81 with a TD. Defensively, Duquesne is led in tackles by Jabari Odoemenem with 20 takedowns, including 2.5 tackles for loss of three yards. Ethon Cole follows with 15 tackles (2 TFL, 2 yds), while Dallas Harper and Caleb Jones are tied with 12 tackles apiece.

As a team, the Dukes average 336.7 total yards of offense, generated by 229.67 passing and 107.0 rushing. They score 28.33 points per game on 12 TDs. Duquesne allows opponenst to average 36.37 points on 241.33 yards passing and 115.7 yards rushing for15 TDs.

AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2025 CAMPAIGN
The Zips elected senior QB 10 Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) as captain for the second consecutive season. Finley is joined by senior OL 72 Colin Lyons (McKeesport, Pa.), junior DL 1 Julien Laventure (Upper Darby, Pa.) and sophomore DL 10 Cyrus Durham (Atherton, Ca.) as captains in 2025.

PRESEASON HONORS
Five Akron football players have been named to Phil Steele's 2025 preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams. Earning preseason second-team All-MAC honors was WR Alex Adams (Osyka, Miss.). Named to the preseason third-team All-MAC were TE Jake Newell (Springfield, Ore.) and LB Gage Summers (Chandler, Ariz.) followed by a pair of fourth-team recipients in QB Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) and DB Elijah Reed (Louisville, Ky.).

Seven Zips were named to Athlon Sports' 2025 preseason All-MAC teams as WR Alex Adams and TE Jake Newell earned preseason second-team All-MAC accolades. OL Keylen Davis and LB Shammond Cooper earned third-team recognition, while QB Ben Finley, LB Gage Summers and DB Elijah Reed were selected as fourth-team honorees.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Markus Boswell recorded his team-leading second interception of the season on a 44-yard return.
• Rodrick Hunter led the Zips' defense with a career-high eight tackles.
• Malcom DeWalt IV set a new career-high in tackles with seven.
• Bruno Dall set a career-high in sacks with 1.5.
• The Akron defense has recorded 60 or more tackles in the past two games (66 at both UAB and Nebraska).
• Sean Patrick set career-highs in rushing yards (81) and rushing touchdowns (1)
• Ben Finley set a career-high for longest pass with a 75-yard strike.
• Israel Polk set career-highs in touchdown catches (2), receiving yards (99) and longest reception (75).
• Joseph Castle leads the MAC for longest punt, 68 yds) and owns a 49.5 yd. avg
• Castle pinned Wyoming inside their own 20 with 3-of-6 punts
• Markus Boswell broke out the Turnover Tire with the Zips first interception of 2025
• The Zips had four players with more than 8 tackles vs Wyoming led by Shammond Cooper (10), Justin Anderson (9), Alex Branch (9), DiMarco Johnson (8)
• Akron went 2-for-3 on fourth down, converting on 66.7 percent of attempts
• Akron held Wyoming to three points with two trips to the red zone.
• Akron returns 57 players from the 2024 squad - 29 offense, 25 defense and 3 specials.
• The Zips added 46 newcomers - 21 offense, 21 defense and 3 specials.
• The 46 newcomers feature 33 transfers and 13 true freshmen.
•The Zips return 13 starters - 7 offensive starters and 6 defensive starters
• UA entered the 2025 on a two-game win streak: def. Kent State (38-17 at Kent) and Toledo (21-14 OT in Akron)
• Ben Finley returns at QB with key targets, Alex Adams, Myles Walker and Jake Newell
• Daymon David (1) and Elijah Reed (1) recorded 2 of 3 Zips interceptions last season
• Justin Anderson (44), Gage Summers (35) and Reed (32) are top returners for tackles

WHO IS WEARING NO. 1
Senior WR Myles Walker and junior DL Julien Laventure and have emerged as leaders under fourth-year head coach Joe Moorhead and the duo was recently rewarded with the No. 1 jerseys for 2025.

Under Moorhead at Akron, head strength and conditioning coach Orie Sahlfeld identifies one player on each side of the ball that demonstrated their leadership both on and off the field over the course of the spring to earn the privilege of wearing the No. 1 jersey in the Akron Blue and Gold for the 2025 season.

"Coach Moorhead and I spoke about performance and leadership and all the qualities you want in someone in an elite or leadership position," said Sahlfeld. "They earned it all the way from January being accountable, holding their teammates to higher standards, doing all the little things right on a day-to-day basis and being consistent. They have a voice on the team and when they talk people listen. Both are the leaders on their side of the ball when it comes to holding their teammates accountable, having a high standard for themselves and their teammates and bringing people with them and picking people up when they're having bad days."

2025 MAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Toledo (7) -- 135 points                              8. Eastern Michigan -- 68 points
2. Miami (3) -- 131 points                               9. Central Michigan -- 65 points
3. Ohio (3) -- 123 points                                 10. Ball State -- 41 points
4. Buffalo -- 115 points                                   T11. Akron -- 39 points
5. Northern Illinois -- 94 points                      T11. Massachusetts -- 39 points
6. Bowling Green -- 81 points                         13. Kent State -- 12 points
7. Western Michigan -- 71 points                   MAC Champion: Toledo – 6; Miami – 4; Ohio – 3
First Place votes in ( ) | *Coaches were not able to vote for themselves

UP NEXT
The University of Akron football opens Mid-American Conference play at The Glass Bowl, battling Toledo on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.