Akron outlasts CMU football 28-22
Central Michigan University football players get ready to run onto the field during their home opener game against Wagner College at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. The players ran out surrounded by a tunnel of fans and the Central Michigan University cheerleaders. (CM-Life | Zoey Morse)
What began as a back-and-forth afternoon at InfoCision Stadium ended in frustration for Central Michigan, as the Chippewas couldn’t complete a late comeback and fell 28–22 to Akron on Saturday.
After building early momentum behind a strong rushing attack, CMU watched Akron string together four touchdown passes and control the middle quarters. The loss sends the Chippewas into their bye week with plenty to address before staying on the road against Bowling Green on Oct. 19.
The Chippewas opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a 46-yard field goal from kicker Cade Graham, capping an eight-play, 64-yard drive. Akron quickly responded early in the second, as quarterback Ben Finley connected with wide receiver Kyan Mason on a 22-yard touchdown pass.
Quarterback Angel Flores answered on the next possession, breaking through the middle for a 28-yard rushing touchdown that briefly put CMU ahead 10–7. But the Zips countered again before halftime, finding running back Jordan Gant for a 16-yard touchdown to send Akron into the locker room up 14–10.
The third quarter belonged to Akron as Finley found tight end Conner Cravaack for a short touchdown, and backup quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. added a 1-yard scoring toss to tight end Max Whisner. Those drives, both 80-plus yards, gave the Zips a 28–10 cushion midway through the period.
Despite being sacked five times and trailing by three scores, CMU showed fight down the stretch. Graham hit a 35-yard field goal late in the third, and Flores punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth to cut the deficit to 28–19. Graham later added a 47-yarder with 1:33 remaining to make it a one-possession game, but Akron recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.
The Chippewas were again powered by their run game, which piled up 238 yards on 40 attempts. Brock Townsend led the way with 108 yards on just eight carries, highlighted by a 46-yard burst in the first quarter. Flores added 95 yards and both of CMU’s touchdowns on 16 carries.
Quarterback Joe Labas completed 12 of 21 passes for 134 yards and was sacked four times. Wide receiver Tyson Davis led CMU receivers with 51 yards on three catches, while Nasir Williams and Justin Ruffin Jr. each added gains of 20-plus.
CMU’s defense faced a tall task against Finley, who finished 18-for-29 for 252 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski led the Chippewa defense with 10 total tackles, while Fernando Sanchez III added seven. Defensive lineman Jaion Jackson recorded CMU’s lone sack of the afternoon, and Caleb Spann snagged an interception in the fourth quarter that briefly shifted momentum.
With the loss, CMU enters its bye week at 3–3 overall and 1–1 in conference play. The Chippewas will stay on the road against Bowling Green on Oct. 19.
