Football Falls to UNLV, 38-10, in Jim Dennison PMA Game

Saturday, September 26

Akron, Ohio

Noon

University of Akron

1-3 , 0-0

UNLV

2-2 , 1-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
UNLV	7	7	17	7	38
Akron	7	3	0	0	10

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Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Football Falls to UNLV, 38-10, in Jim Dennison PMA Game

September 26 | Football

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AKRON, Ohio — Akron put together a strong opening half behind first-time starting quarterback Brayden Roggow before UNLV pulled away after the break for a 38-10 victory Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Health Field.

Playing without quarterback Cibastian Broughton and key contributors Catrell White and Omari Abor because of injuries, the Zips (1-3) went into halftime trailing just 14-10. Akron accumulated 227 yards and 17 first downs over the opening two quarters and controlled the football for 18:26.

Roggow, making his first career start, completed 14 of 25 passes for 194 yards. Marcel Williams caught six passes for 83 yards, while Kyan Mason added three receptions for 73 yards, including a 46-yard connection with Roggow in the third quarter. Jordan Gant paced the ground game with 80 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

Akron made an early statement, taking the opening kickoff and marching 75 yards in seven plays. Gant finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run to give the Zips a 7-0 advantage with 11:58 remaining in the first quarter.

UNLV (2-2) answered on its first possession when Jackson Arnold connected with Jai'Den Thomas for a 40-yard touchdown to even the score.

Akron continued to move the ball in the opening quarter. The Zips produced 124 yards, 11 first downs and converted all three of their third-down opportunities while possessing the ball for more than nine minutes. Gant rushed for 42 yards and Sean Patrick added 36 in the period.

The Rebels moved in front for the first time on Thomas' 2-yard touchdown reception from Arnold with 7:21 remaining in the second quarter.

Akron responded with another sustained possession. The Zips drove 57 yards in 10 plays, with Aidan Stire connecting on a 36-yard field goal to cut UNLV's advantage to 14-10 with 2:44 remaining before halftime. Akron outgained the Rebels 103-87 in the second quarter and held the ball for 9:15.

The second half belonged to UNLV.

Thomas capped a five-play, 75-yard opening drive with a 16-yard touchdown run, and Ramon Villela's 38-yard field goal pushed the margin to 24-10 midway through the third quarter. After an Akron interception, Arnold connected with Taz Reddicks for a 59-yard touchdown two plays later to extend the lead to 31-10.

The Zips continued to push the ball downfield. Roggow found Mason for 46 yards on Akron's ensuing possession, setting the Zips up at the UNLV 29. The drive eventually ended with a missed 44-yard field-goal attempt.

UNLV closed the scoring when Mumu Bin-Wahad returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown with 7:19 remaining.

The Rebels finished with 493 yards of offense, including 290 through the air, while Akron totaled 301. UNLV also turned three Akron interceptions into 14 points. The Zips were efficient in the red zone, scoring on both of their opportunities, and were penalized just twice for 25 yards. 48036

Arnold completed 17 of 29 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns for UNLV, while Thomas rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 54 yards and two scores.

Defensively, Tairan Davis Jr. and Dwight Nunoo led Akron with eight tackles apiece, while Donelius Johnson finished with seven and Rodrick Hunter added six, including a tackle for loss.

UP NEXT
Akron's Mid-American Conference football opener at Central Michigan will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Fans can follow the contest from Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium live on ESPN+ and the Akron Sports Radio Network via 640 WHLO-AM, the flagship station.