Chippewas trounce Zips 41-17 on Homecoming Day

For the first 20 minutes of Saturday's contest at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, it looked as if fans would be in for a tense fight.

Neither Central Michigan (3-2, 1-0 MAC) nor Akron (1-4, 0-1 MAC) were able to score in the game's first quarter, with both teams sputtering on offense whenever there was even the potential to score points.

But after Angel Flores' 55-yard run on fourth-and-one from CMU's 45-yard line knotted the score back up at 7-7 with 10:37 to go in the second quarter, the dam broke, with CMU racing out to a 41-3 scoring run to put the game on ice before the Zips added a touchdown in the waning moments, giving the Chippewas a 41-17 victory on Homecoming Weekend.

The first 17 minutes of game action were all about the Zips; Akron held the ball for 9:12 of the first quarter over five possessions– while CMU ran 12 total plays– and made their way to the Chippewa red zone twice.

After going three-and-out on their first possession, the Zips would be granted a golden opportunity, as Angel Flores fumbled the ball on first-and-10 from the CMU 20, with Dahvon Frazier recovering for the defense.

Brayden Roggow, starting once again in place of Cibastian Broughton, struck quickly, finding Kyan Mason for an 11-yard catch to put the Zips on the doorstep at the CMU nine-yard line. However, on second-and-goal, Jaxon Cherry would squeeze through the offensive line to put pressure on Roggow, who scrambled away in an attempt to escape but was dragged down by Cherry and Xavier White for a 14-yard loss. Mason, the hero of the previous play, became a goat after the sack, drawing a unsportsmanlike conduct call to put an additional 15 yards on the sack. Akron was unable to recover, and was forced to punt on fourth-and-goal from the 38-yard line.

Akron's defense stood tall once again to force a Central three-and-out, giving the offense the ball at their 37-yard line. Roggow hit Miles Burris on a 33-yard play on the first play of the series, then hit him again for a 29-yarder just in front of the goal line– but a holding call nulled the play. Instead, Akron would have to eventually settle for a field goal after failing to recover from first-and-20.

The field goal attempt from 41 yards out would be blocked by Max van Fleet, keeping the score at 0-0.

Akron would finally find success once the first quarter ended, bridging a drive over the break and carrying it to fruition on a Jordan Gant touchdown run from nine yards out to put the score at 7-0 for the visitors with 13:59 to go second quarter.

Flores' 55-yard fourth-down scamper in reply would tie the game right back up, and put the pressure squarely back on the visitors.

Akron faltered, going three-and-out on offense on their two remaining possessions of the half while giving up a 48-yard passing touchdown from Flores to Shawn Foster (CMU's first of 2026) and a five-yard score by Brock Townsend on a slotback sweep look to put the halftime score at 21-7.

The Zips never recovered, as CMU would score right away in the third quarter to extend their unanswered streak to 28 points before Matthew Schramm kicked though a field goal to put the score at 28-10 with 7:43 to go in the third.

CMU would get two more touchdowns courtesy of a 31-yard rushing touchdown on third-and-eight by Jayden Clarveaux and a 71-yard receiving score by Langston Lewis on a screen play, while the defense intercepted Brayden Roggow on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter to put away any shot of a comeback. Akron's Brandon Hills hauled in an eight-yard receiving score with 33 seconds remaining to put the game at its final tally.

Central dominated the middle quarters, with over 10:39 of possession in the second quarter and 8:01 in the third quarter, scoring maximum points on every possession in those two frames.

They were able to do so thanks in large part to their ground game, compiling 332 yards as a team. Four different Chippewas scored a touchdown on the ground, with QB Angel Flores lighting up the scoreboard once again before being pulled in the middle of the third quarter. Flores finished his day with 154 rushing yards, 78 passing yards (on 7-of-14 passing) and two total touchdowns (one each passing and rushing).

Jadyn Glasser relieved Flores at QB in the late going, nothing the long passing TD to Langston Lewis (who led the team in receiving yards). Shawn Foster led the team in receptions (two) and had 53 yards and a touchdown. Jayden Clerveaux was the leading halfback, with 12 carries for 82 yards and a score. Nick Woodford (five carries, 42 yards) and Brock Townsend (three carries, 12 yards) also contributed to the scoreboard with rushing touchdowns.

Transfer linebacker Mayson Hitchens led CMU with seven tackles on the day, while Jaxon Cherry highlighted in pass rush with 1.5 sacks and tackles-for-loss. Justin Taylor, Ty Williams and Coen Ali each notched interceptions to contribute to CMU's turnover margin.

Brayden Roggow finished 15-of-32 for 180 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions for Akron in his second full start. Jordan Gant eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the first time this season, with 103 yards and the early score on the ground. Kyan Mason led the team in receptions (three), while Marcel Williams led in yards (36).

Dwight Nunoo was once again a highlight player for Akron, leading the way with nine tackles. Roderick Hunter had eight tackles and a pass break-up in the secondary, while Dahvon Frazier had the team's lone TFL and a fumble recovery.

CMU now goes on the road for a meeting with the Ohio Bobcats in Athens for their next tilt, while Akron will host the Eastern Michigan Eagles for their Homecoming game.

Both games are scheduled to kick off on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time.