MIAMI FOOTBALL

Miami seeks second MAC win; faces upset-minded Akron

By MIKE SMITH
Two teams that have show some resilience will battle for a third victory Saturday when Miami's RedHawks visit Akron at InfoCision Stadium.
The Zips are 2-4 (1-1 MAC) after bouncing back from a 45-3 loss to Toledo to defeat Central Michigan 28-22 last Saturday. Miami, meanwhile, is 2-3 (1-0 MAC) after rallying to beat Northern Illinois 25-14 last week in DeKalb. It was the second straight "W" for MU after opening the season with three losses. 

MAC play is generally when . . . 

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Cole Weaver caught a career-high five passes for 67 yards against NIU. (MVSmith/MRO)

. . . coach Chuck Martin's RedHawks put the pedal to the metal, and last week's win seemed like a good sign, especially after the first quarter as MU seized momentum. However, Miami's 2025 roster  reflects massive personnel changes (graduation and portal). Combine that with numerous injuries through five games, and the RedHawks are still working on the consistency Martin values. 

Miami's schedule gets considerably tougher down the stretch, so MU can ill-afford any "slip-ups" along the way. If anything, Akron's recent win serves as a warning. It should also be remembered that UA closed last year with wins over rival Kent State and a strong Toledo team. 
The Zips are 2-1 at home this season, with the loss coming in Week 1 when Wyoming posted a 10-0 victory.
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• • • • •  AKRON has been hot and cold on offense this season. The Zips scored three or less points in three of four losses. However, they registered 28 or more points in three contests.
• Overall, UA ranks ninth among MAC teams in scoring offense (18.3 ppg) and is 10th in scoring defense (30.5 ppg). 
• Central Michigan led UA 10-7 midway through the second quarter Saturday. However, Akron scored the next 21 points before CMU tallied the final 12 points.
• Junior Jordan Gant (5-10, 205) is fourth among MAC rushers with an average production of 79.3 ypg. He exploded for 176 yards on 32 carries during Saturday's win over CMU. 
• Senior quarterback Ben Finley completed 18 of 29 passes for 252 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. 
• Freshman Kyan Mason (5-9, 145) led UA receiving with five catches totaling 125 yards with one TD. 

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Keith Reynolds returns a kickoff. Reynolds' 100-yard kickoff return against UNLV is one of several big special teams scores this year. (MVSmith/MRO)

• • • • •  MIAMI leads the all-time series with Akron 23-9-1 and has won the last seven meetings. The two teams did not meet last year, but MU shut out Akron 19-0 on the way to Miami's 2023 MAC championship. 
• Senior Kenny Tracy leads RedHawk rushers with 272 yards on 49 carries (1 TD). However, he was hurt on the first play at NIU. With Josh Ringer out (pregame warmup injury), MU went to senior power back Jordan Brunson (6-0, 233). He logged 20 carries for 73 yards against the Huskies. 
• Quarterback Daquan Finn, who was knocked out of the UNLV game, returned against Northern Illinois. As a passer, he completed 14 of 26 attempts totaling 170 yards with one TD. He also ran a team-high 21 times for 90 yards. 
• Finn did not throw an interception for the first time in four starts. 
• Freshman RB D'Shawntae Jones (5-10, 245) carried six times for 23 yards and a touchdown at NIU.
• Kam Perry caught three balls totaling 76 yards, while Cole Weaver posted career highs in catches (5) and yards (67) versus NIU. 
• Perry is averaging 28.5 yards per reception, which ranks first in the country. 
• The RedHawks have 16 sacks this season (3.2 per game - eighth-best nationally). Adam Trick has contributed 4.0 sacks (16th nationally). 
• Koy Beasley picked off a tipped pass for an interception at NIU. 

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• For the second straight week, Miami blocked a punt. The block against Lindenwood resulted in a touchdown (by Tommy Agee). Saturday's block by Agee went out of the end zone for a safety. Miami is the only team in the country to have scores by kick return, punt block for TD and punt block for safety -- all in a span of three games.