Minnesota Shuts Out Akron for 52 Minutes and Wins 41-7
Akron did not score until 7:44 was left in the fourth quarter, down 41 points. Credit where it is due: the Zips got on the board. It just took 52 minutes and some change.
Minnesota scored first, a 16-yard Drake Lindsey touchdown pass to Roman Voss. Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 24-yard field goal, and then Lindsey hit Noah Jennings from 6 yards for a 17-0 lead. Drzewiecki added a 43-yarder with two seconds left in the half, and Lindsey threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Smith early in the second half. A.J. Turner ran in from 4 yards, and TJ Thomas Jr. broke off a 71-yard touchdown run two minutes later to make it 41-0.
The turnover column is where Akron gave this one away. It lost two fumbles and managed 224 total yards, with 51 of them on the ground. Minnesota had 399 total yards, a 195-yard rushing day, and one interception of its own that did no damage. Marquese Williams finally ran in from 10 yards for the Zips, which ended the shutout bid.
Minnesota moves to 2-1. Akron falls to 1-2.
For fantasy, Lindsey threw three touchdown passes for 25.4 points, and Thomas's 71-yard run did most of the work in his 20.4 on 13 carries.