University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
0-9 , 0-5
Akron
4-6 , 3-3
Football Drops Midweek Contest At Akron
November 04, 2025 | Football
Derek Morris made a program-record 55-yard field goal on Tuesday night.
Head Coach Joe Harasymiak Post-game Press Conference
AKRON, Ohio. – Playing the first of four consecutive midweek Maction games, the Massachusetts football team dropped a 44-10 decision to the Akron Zips on Tuesday night at Infocision Stadium (5,046).
The Minutemen made it a 14-10 game when Derek Morris connected on a program-record 55-yard field goal but the Zips pulled away from there.
Linebacker Rashad Henry led the defense in tackles with a career-high 16, followed by Tyler Martin and Marques White with seven each. Martin added a tackle for loss.
Additionally, Kendall Bournes registered his first career forced fumble, with Zeraun Daniel coming up with his first career fumble recovery.
AJ Hairston earned the start as quarterback, going 12-for-20 for 54 yards and a touchdown. Grant Jordan entered the game in the first, taking snaps throughout the game. Jordan went 4-for-8 for 38 yards, and rushed for 51 yards, including a career-long run of 47 yards.
How It Happened
After a fumble recovery on the first play from scrimmage, Akron took an early 7-0 lead with a 15-yard touchdown catch by Kyan Mason. The Zips pulled ahead 14-0, as Israel Polk caught a 13-yard pass to complete a nine-play, 71-yard drive.
On a second-and-one to start UMass' next drive, Grant Jordan entered the game at quarterback and ran for a career-long 47 yards to move the Minutemen down to the one-yard line. On second-and-goal, Magnus von Saldern caught his first career pass for a one-yard touchdown to get the Minutemen on the board. Derek Morris made the extra point to make it a 14-7 contest.
Massachusetts forced a three-and-out and then started its next drive from its own 39. A 10-play drive ended with Derek Morris connecting on a 55-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in the first quarter to make it a 14-10 game. With the kick, Morris broke his own school record (a 53-yard kick earlier this season).
Ben Finley rushed up the middle for a two-yard touchdown to pull Akron ahead, 21-10 at the 11:53 mark of the second quarter. A three-play, 53-yard drive finished with a one-yard scamper from Jordan Gant for a touchdown to extend the Zips lead to 27-10.
In the third quarter, Akron pushed ahead, 34-10, after a Gage Summers scoop-and-score for 25 yards on a UMass fumble at the 6:33 mark. It followed UMass forcing a fumble on the goal line to stop the Zips just six plays earlier.
Matthew Schramm made a 42-yard field goal to give Akron a 37-10 lead with 2:22 remaining.
Akron added to its total at 44-10 with a nine-yard rush up the middle from Gant to complete a two-play, 13-yard drive. The drive started at 12:18 mark after the Zips recovered a muffed punt.
Notes
- Rocko Griffin, Jaquon Gibson, Jovoni Borbon and Keegan Andrews served as the UMass game captains.
- In addition to previously announced long term injuries, David Onuoha, Ryan Barnes, Matt Ogunniyi, Reece Adkins and Luke Painton missed the game.
- Grant Jordan rushed for a career-long 47 yards to move UMass down the field in the first quarter.
- Magnus von Saldern recorded his first career receiving touchdown for one yard at the 5:43 mark of the first.
- Derek Morris set a new school record with a 55-yard field goal attempt, surpassing the 53-yard field goal record previously set by Morris earlier in the season against Bryant (9/6).
- Kendall Bournes forced a fumble at the goal line on Akron's first drive of the second half for his first forced fumble with UMass and the third of his career.
- Zeraun Daniel came up with his first career fumble recovery on the Bournes forced fumble.
- Rashad Henry finished the night with a career-high 16 tackles, including nine solo.
Next Up
Massachusetts returns home for a #MACtion game against Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12 on ESPNU (tickets).
Team Stats
MAS 0, AKR 7
AKR - Mason,Kyan 15 yd pass from Finley,Ben (Schramm,Matthew kick) 3 plays, 19 yards, TOP 00:42
MAS 0, AKR 14
AKR - Polk,Israel 13 yd pass from Finley,Ben (Schramm,Matthew kick) 9 plays, 71 yards, TOP 04:42
MAS 7, AKR 14
MAS - von Saldern,Magnus 1 yd pass from Hairston,AJ (Morris,Derek kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 02:53
MAS 10, AKR 14
MAS - Morris,Derek 55 yd field goal 10 plays, 25 yards, TOP 04:16
MAS 10, AKR 21
AKR - Finley,Ben 2 yd run (Schramm,Matthew kick), 7 plays, 78 yards, TOP 03:13
MAS 10, AKR 27
AKR - Gant,Jordan 1 yd run (), 3 plays, 53 yards, TOP 01:02
MAS 10, AKR 34
AKR - Summers,Gage 25 yd fumble recovery (Schramm,Matthew kick)
MAS 10, AKR 37
AKR - Schramm,Matthew 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 36 yards, TOP 02:49
MAS 10, AKR 44
AKR - Gant,Jordan 9 yd run (Schramm,Matthew kick), 2 plays, 13 yards, TOP 00:00
