How to Steal Yards When You’re Outmatched: Akron’s Creative Calls Against the Buckeyes

When you're lining up against a roster like Ohio State, trying to trade punches with pure talent is a losing battle. You’ve got to find answers in your scheme. Akron gave us a great example of that approach, showcasing creativity, leveraging personnel flexibility, and stealing yards with well-designed calls.

This is the kind of film every coach with a talent gap should study.

Jet Rollback Shoot

Akron lines up in a tight 2x2 squeeze set and brings the slot on jet motion, except it’s their second quarterback. He takes the handoff, rolls back against the grain, and they layer an over concept coming back to the jet side. It’s a great call against a defense that’s fast-flowing and built on speed. They don’t hit a chunk play, but that’s not the point. This is about neutralizing speed with eye candy and misdirection, smart football.

Jet to Bash with a Shoot Tag

Another creative wrinkle from Akron. They show jet motion again, then wrap the center in a bash concept. Looks like zone-read with a QB run built in. But then the RB who’s acting like a lead blocker peels off into a backside shoot route. Now the QB has options: run it or hit the quick shoot. It only nets a small gain, but it's the kind of play that gives your offense a shot against a superior front.

Tight End Fake Sneak to Boundary Shoot

Short yardage. Most teams would sneak it. Akron goes window dressing. They line up with their tight end like he’s going to push the pile on a sneak, then he peels into the boundary on a shoot route. Easy conversion. When you know you’re outmanned up front, this is how you move the sticks—use the defense’s expectations against them.

Same Side Zone to Y-Sail

Trips to the field. TE in the boundary. Akron shows same-side zone, but the QB is reading it out. He pulls, gets depth, and hits the tight end on a Y-sail route for a big gain. It’s a pass built off a base run look, perfect for catching linebackers flat-footed and creating space for a vertical stem off play action.

Final Thoughts

When you're the underdog, the scoreboard doesn’t always tell the full story. Akron didn’t win the game, but they found ways to win on the whiteboard, and that matters. These plays weren’t overly complicated. They didn’t require wholesale personnel changes. What they did require was a staff that understood where they were outmatched and designed calls to create leverage anyway.

For any coach walking into a mismatch, this is a great example of what smart, creative football looks like. Scheme your way into the game and give your kids something to believe in.