UAB Football Secures a 31-28 Win Over Akron

Saturday, September 13

Birmingham, AL

7:30 p.m.

UAB

2-1 , 0-1

Akron

0-3 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Akron

UAB

UAB Football Secures a 31-28 Win Over Akron

9/14/2025 12:05:00 AM | Football

Box Score UAB 31, Akron 28 2025 UAB Football Stats Akron Postgame Notes

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team put up 31 points in the first half and held on to defeat Akron 31-28 on Saturday night at Protective Stadium.

The Blazers (2-1) tallied over 400 yards of offense for a third-consecutive game, finishing with 422 yards, and UAB's defense came up with key stops down the stretch to secure the victory.

Jalen Kitna threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns, while Solomon Beebe had 190 all-purpose yards. It was Kitna's second straight game with 300+ passing yards and the fourth of his career, while Beebe has now gone over 100 all-purpose yards in all three games this year.

Tylan McNichols (8) and Chris Burge (7) led UAB's defense that tallied five sacks, eight tackles for loss and eight pass breakups. Burge added 1.5 sacks, including one in the waning moments of the game on third down.

Beebe opened the game in style by returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It was Beebe's first career kickoff return for a touchdown, and the first for UAB since the 2019 (Myron Mitchell vs. Alabama State).

However, Akron tied the game on its first offensive play as Ben Finley found Isreal Polk for a 75-yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7 just 22 seconds into the contest.

Polk then caught his second touchdown pass at the 8:36 mark to give Akron a 14-7 lead, but UAB backup quarterback Nate Rogers scored his first career touchdown on an 8-yard rush to even the score with 4:21 remaining in the first.

Akron led 17-14 after one, but the Blazers outscored the Zips 17-3 in the second quarter to take a 31-20 lead at the break. The scores came on a pair of passing touchdowns from Kitna to Jevon Jackson and Corri Millner, along with a 44-yard field goal from Jonah Delange. For Milliner, it was his fifth straight game with a touchdown reception.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, then Akron was able to get within three at 31-28 following a 12-play, 83-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard rushing score and a successful 2-point conversion with 12:38 remaining in the contest.

Following that touchdown, both teams traded multiple punts, and Akron had the ball with 1:44 remaining at their own 20 with a chance to win or tie the game, but UAB's defense forced three incomplete passes and had a sack by Burge to seal the win.

The Blazers now travel to Rocky Top next Saturday, Sept. 20, for a non-conference game at Tennessee. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET/11:45 a.m. CT on SEC Network.