The Akron Zips football program pummeled Duquesne University in the first meeting between the two teams in what ought to be called the Keith Dambrot Bowl. With a dominant defensive outing, Akron prevailed 51-7 on Sept. 20 at InfoCision Stadium, meaning the Zips secured their first win of the 2025 season.
Dambrot is the legendary men’s basketball coach from Akron who guided the Zips for 13 seasons (2004-17) and then Duquesne for seven seasons (2017-24). He retired after the 2023-24 season and passed the head coaching torch at Duquesne to Dru Joyce III, one of his former St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and UA players.
This is a lot of basketball content for coverage of a game on the gridiron, but, hey, Akron football aspires to become as successful as its hoops counterpart, which has earned an NCAA Tournament berth in three of the past four seasons.
Here is how the nonconference matchup between Akron (1-3) and Duquesne (1-3) unfolded through our updates:
Akron football defeats Duquesne 51-7
Akron’s defense is the story of the game. A final tally: Two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. A forced fumble and recovery. Two stops on fourth down resulting in turnover on downs.
Oh, Zips running back Jordan Gant was pretty good, too. He rushed 13 times for 161 yards (12.4 average) and three touchdowns.
Matthew Schramm makes 41-yard field goal to give Akron 51-7 lead vs. Duquesne
Akron backup kicker Matthew Schramm made his second field goal of the game, a 41-yard attempt, to give the Zips a 51-7 lead with 5:07 left in the fourth quarter.
Is Schramm a threat to No. 1 Akron kicker Owen Wiley’s job security? Wiley entered the game 2-for-6 on field goals and made a 27-yard try in the first quarter against Duquesne. At the very least, the kicking depth chart is interesting to ponder, especially because Wiley is 0-for-3 on field goals of 40-49 yards this season, and Schramm just made a 41-yard kick.
Akron gives backup kicker a shot, and Zips’ Matthew Schramm makes field goal for 48-7 lead
A sizable cushion gave Akron the luxury to summon some backups in the second half.
Zips backup quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. received extensive playing time, and UA allowed its backup kicker to gain game experience. Matthew Schramm made a 23-yard field goal to give the Zips a 48-7 advantage with 13:13 left in the fourth quarter.
Akron Zips starting quarterback Ben Finley suffers an injury
There should be an asterisk attached to Akron starting quarterback Ben Finley leaving the game early.
In Zips coach Joe Moorhead’s postgame news conference, he explained he was going to pull Finley from the game because it was a blowout, but Finley actually suffered a lower-body injury in the third quarter before he got the rest of the night off.
“There doesn’t appear to be any significant damage,” Moorhead said. “We were taking him out after that series anyway, so there was a little stroke of bad timing. … But, knock on wood, it doesn’t appear to be anything that’s significant or debilitating.”
As Zips players left after the game, Finley was spotted strolling alongside UA’s field house without any obvious limp, braces or walking boots on. He went 13-of-23 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
Akron leads Duquesne 45-7 at the end of the third quarter
Akron led Duquesne 45-7 at the end of the third quarter. The two teams each scored seven points in the third quarter. The main problem for Duquesne, though, is Akron outscored it 28-0 in the second quarter.
Duquesne ends shutout vs. Akron with a touchdown in the third quarter
Well, Akron fell short in its bid to record UA’s first shutout since Nov. 27, 2015, when the Zips beat Mid-American Conference rival Kent State 20-0.
Duquesne running back Ness Davis ripped off a 74-yard run to the Akron 1. Three plays later, Dukes backup quarterback Logan Kushner rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 5:20 left in the third quarter. Akron’s lead went from being 45-0 to 45-7.
Akron defense rejects Duquesne’s attempt to halt shutout on first possession of second half. Zips then go ahead 45-0
Duquesne started the second half with the ball and drove all the way inside the Akron 5-yard line.
Would Duquesne end Akron’s bid for a shutout?
On fourth-and-goal at the UA 4, Duquesne went for it. Quarterback Tyler Riddell threw a pass intended for wide receiver B.J. Alexander in the front of the end zone, but Akron cornerback Malcom DeWalt IV knocked the ball away for a turnover on downs with 10:08 left in the third quarter.
Akron then orchestrated a 96-yard scoring drive and went ahead 45-0 with 7:05 left in the third quarter. Quarterback Ben Finley finished the six-play march with a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tim Grear Jr.
Akron leads Duquesne 38-0 at halftime
This is a beatdown. Akron is crushing Duquesne 38-0 at halftime.
Akron outgained Duquesne 318 to 48 yards. The Zips had 15 first downs compared with the Dukes’ six.
Akron didn’t even need superb quarterback play to haul off on Duquesne. Ben Finley went 10-of-18 passing for 166 yards and a touchdown with an interception in the first half. The real hero for the offense in the first half was running back Jordan Gant. He rushed eight times for 105 yards (13.1 average) and three touchdowns.
But nobody’s fingerprints are on this game more than Akron’s defenders. They generated three turnovers, including an interception returned for a touchdown, and a turnover on downs in the first half.
Duquesne’s most promising drive of the first half ends with Akron forcing and recovering a fumble. Zips capitalize and boost lead to 38-0
The Akron defense is teeing off on Duquesne quarterback Tyler Riddell.
With Duquesne threatening Akron’s shutout, the Dukes faced third-and-7 at the UA 30-yard line. Safety Rodrick Hunter blitzed and recorded a strip-sack on Riddell. Akron defensive lineman Cyrus Durham recovered the fumble at the UA 41 with 2:13 left in the second quarter.
Do you know what the Zips did seven plays later? They scored again, with running back Jordan Gant rushing for an 8-yard touchdown, and went ahead 38-0 with 29 seconds left in the second quarter.
Akron’s blowout evolves into 31-0 advantage
After a slow start, Akron’s offense has caught up to its defense. Now the Zips are dominating on both sides of the ball.
Akron built a 31-0 lead with running back Jordan Gant rushing for a 9-yard touchdown a play after he ripped off a 27-yard run. Gant also had a 17-yard run to start the four-play, 53-yard scoring drive.
Gant scored his second TD of the game with 8:35 remaining in the second quarter, and it came a series after Akron’s defense forced a three-and-out.
Akron goes ahead 24-0 with cornerback Malcom DeWalt IV’s interception return for a touchdown
The rout is on.
Akron went ahead 24-0 with its defense continuing to dominate Duquesne.
UA cornerback Malcom DeWalt IV stepped in front of wide receiver Khiryn Boyd, bobbled the ball and intercepted a pass on second-and-18 from quarterback Tyler Riddell. DeWalt returned the interception 22 yards for a touchdown with 11:18 left in the second quarter.
The pick six came a play after Akron defensive end Bruno Dall sacked Riddell for an 18-yard loss.
Akron capitalizes on turnover and takes 17-0 lead vs. Duquesne
Four plays after Akron cornerback Elijah Reed’s interception, the Zips took advantage of the takeaway.
On first-and-10, quarterback Ben Finley threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kyan Mason with 12:11 remaining in the second quarter. The Zips bolstered their lead to 17-0.
You know what coaches call this? Complementary football — the stuff of gridiron dreams.
Akron Zips cornerback Elijah Reed records interception in second quarter
Duquesne gained three first downs early in the second quarter after failing to pick up a first down in the entire opening quarter. For the record, two of those first downs were the result of defensive pass interference penalties called on Akron.
Either way, the Dukes didn’t do much else during the drive because they committed a dreaded turnover.
On first-and-10 at the Duquesne 39-yard line, Dukes quarterback Tyler Riddell threw up a jump ball under pressure, and Akron cornerback Elijah Reed intercepted it with 13:22 left in the second quarter.
With the takeaway, the Zips took control at their 44.
Akron leads Duquesne 10-0 at the end of the first quarter
The Zips led 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. The main reason is defense, defense, defense.
Duquesne did not gain a first down in the opening quarter. The Dukes finished the first quarter with 14 plays for 7 net yards.
For the sake of comparison, Akron had seven first downs and 21 plays for 144 net yards.
Akron Zips extend lead to 10-0 vs. Duquesne with Owen Wiley’s 27-yard field goal
Akron extended its lead to 10-0 when kicker Owen Wiley made a 27-yard field goal with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.
On the previous play, there was some confusion. Zips quarterback Ben Finley appeared to throw an incomplete pass to the right flat. However, the officials were slow to rule the pass incomplete. Running back Jordan Gant grabbed the ball and ran into the end zone. Why not? Gant’s 9-yard TD on third-and-2 would have counted if the officials had ruled Finley threw a backward pass and thereby ruled it a fumble.
Anyway, the play ultimately yielded a ruling of incomplete pass, and the Zips summoned their kicker on fourth down.
Akron defense gets four consecutive stops to start game vs. Duquesne
Akron’s defense tallied four stops to begin the game, forcing three three-and-outs and a turnover on downs.
Unfortunately for Akron, quarterback Ben Finley had a rough first quarter. Finley threw an interception on the game’s opening drive, and he nearly threw another one on UA’s third possession. With 5:55 left in the first quarter, Finley took a hit and fired the ball to his right. Then safety TJ Jones dropped a would-be interception.
Akron held a 7-0 lead with 3:12 left in the first quarter, when UA took possession after its fourth defensive stop.
Duquesne gifts Akron possession in red zone with puzzling fake punt, and Zips capitalize by taking a 7-0 lead with 8:02 left in the first quarter
Duquesne was about to go three-and-out for its second consecutive possession to start the game, but then the Dukes did something unexpected.
On fourth-and-2 at their 28-yard line, Duquesne faked a punt. Punter Michael Hartshorn tried to run to his right, but he stood no chance. Akron safety Jamari Somerville tackled Hartshorn for an 11-yard loss at the Duquesne 17-yard line.
Akron running back Jordan Gant rushed for a 17-yard touchdown on the next play, Owen Wiley made the extra-point kick and the Zips seized a 7-0 lead with 8:02 remaining in the opening quarter.
Akron Zips quarterback Ben Finley throws interception on game’s opening drive vs. Duquesne
Akron began the game with the ball, marched and faced first-and-goal at Duquesne’s 15-yard line when Zips quarterback Ben Finley threw an interception while targeting a receiver in the front of the end zone.
Duquesne linebacker Jabari Odoemenem intercepted the pass and had a short return to the Dukes’ 11.
The good news for Akron? The UA defense responded well during its first series and forced a three-and-out.
The bad news for Akron. Its offense went three-and-out during its second series and punted.
The game is in a scoreless tie with 9:35 left in the first quarter.
Here is some pregame information:
Akron Zips football 2025 key individual stats through three games
Passing leader: Starting quarterback Ben Finley has gone 42-of-94 passing (44.7%) for 475 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
Rushing leaders: Running back Sean Patrick has carried the ball 36 times for 171 yards (4.8 average) and one TD. Running back Jordan Gant has carried the ball 25 times for 117 yards (4.7 average).
Receiving leaders: Wide receiver Israel Polk has compiled seven catches for 116 yards and two TDs. Wide receiver Myles Walker has caught eight passes for 89 yards.
Defensive leaders: Linebacker Shammond Cooper has a team-high 25 tackles. Defensive lineman Bruno Dall has a team-high 3.5 tackles for loss and a team-high two sacks. Linebacker Markus Boswell leads UA with one interception. Defensive backs Justin Anderson and Alex Branch are tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries with one apiece. Boswell and defensive lineman Cyrus Durham lead UA with one forced fumble each. Defensive back Malcom DeWalt IV and Dall lead the Zips with three pass breakups apiece.
Akron Zips 2025 football schedule and results
Note: An FCS program, Duquesne lost 61-9 at Pitt on Aug. 30, beat Division II Lincoln 55-14 on Sept. 6 and lost 35-21 to Lehigh on Sept. 13.
How can I watch or listen to the Akron Zips football game today?
Akron vs. Duquesne will be televised on ESPN+ with Anthony Lima serving as the play-by-play announcer and Craig Haubert as the analyst. It can be heard locally on the radio via WHLO (640-AM) with David Skoczen working as the play-by-play announcer and Joe Dunn as the analyst.
Is Akron favored against Duquesne football?
Akron is a 7½-point favorite to defeat Duquesne, according to many online betting websites, including FanDuel Sportsbook.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron football score, recap vs. Duquesne | Zips secure first win of 2025 season
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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