The University of Akron Athletics
Football Prepares for 43rd Wagon Wheel Game
November 14 | Football
AKRON - Both programs had greater expectations for 2000. Now both are working to put a positive cap on their respective seasons. Akron-Kent. Two universities 15 miles apart. A trophy game. A rivalry that dates back to 1923. One team will celebrate. The other will ache all winter.
"It's good to have this game at the end (of the season)," explained UA coach Lee Owens. "Now that we are out of the competition for the Eastern Division championship, this at least gives us some incentive and motivation to prepare real hard."
There is plenty at stake for the Zips (5-5, 4-1 MAC East). Sitting at 5-5, Saturday will be the punctuation mark on their season: 6-5 or 5-6.
And there is a big difference! Akron is trying to put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1985-86 and for the first time as I-A program.
The Golden Flashes (1-9, 0-5) have had an extra week to prepare since a 20-17 overtime loss at Buffalo on Nov. 4. Coach Dean Pees and his team would like to build a bridge into next season with a win over their rivals. Kent has lost three straight to Akron, including a 45-16 decision at Dix Stadium in 1998.
Owens has been a part of two great Ohio football rivalries. As an assistant at Ohio State from 1992-94, he witnessed first hand what was at stake when the Buckeyes played Michigan. As head coach at Massillon Washington HS from 1988-91, he guided the Tigers to three wins in four years over arch-rival Canton McKinley. His Akron teams are 4-1 against Kent. The 43rd renewal of the Wagon Wheel game is Saturday at 2 p.m.
Football Game Day Info
Date: Nov. 18, 2000
Site: Kent, Ohio
Stadium: Dix (30,520)
Kickoff: 2 p.m. ET
Team Records: UA is 5-5, 4-1 in the MAC-E; KSU is 1-9, 0-5 in the
MAC-E
Radio: ESPN 1350-AM. Steve French and Joe Dunn are the talent
TV: none
Series: 22-18-2, Zips (series began in 1923)
Zip Football Quick Facts
Location: Akron, Ohio (NE Ohio, pop. 223,000)
Enrollment: 23,264
Founded: 1870
Conference: Mid-American
President: Dr. Luis M. Proenza
AD: Michael J. Thomas
Head Coach: Lee Owens
Alma Mater: Bluffton, 1977
Age: 44
6th Yr. at Akron: 24-41
Overall: same
1999: 7-4, 5-3 MAC (3rd East)
HS Record: 89-32-2 (11 yrs.)
Offense: Offset-I
Defense: Flex 50
Kent Coach: Dean Pees
At KSU: 3-29, three years
Overall: same
Last Week
Akron: beat Buffalo, 49-14
Kent: idle
MEDICAL UPDATE: Three Zips are out for Saturday's game: senior DL Jason Wiggins (knee), senior wide receiver Nevara Smith (head) and redshirt freshman linebacker Matt Robinson (back). Senior DT Jermaine Williams (high ankle) is questionable.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?: 43rd Wagon Wheel Game, Zips lead all-time series 22-18-2 ... Akron has won 4 of the last 5 meetings under Lee Owens ... Acme-sponsored game at Kent ... Acme will sponor next year's Akron-Kent game at the Rubber Bowl ... high scoring games the last four years ... average score Akron 37, Kent 29 ... final game of Akron's 100th season ... Zips attempting to put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1985-86 and for the first time at the Division I-A level.
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Butchie Washington |
OFF THE CUFF: Zips rolled up a season-high 550 yards of offense in a 49-14 win over Buffalo ... Dwight Smith moved into a tie for first in the nation in interceptions with 9 (.90 per game) ... Smith is tied with Anthony Floyd of Louisville ... Football Writers Association voted on First-Team All-America Monday ... Smith has stung Kent each of the last two years with long kickoff returns (61 in 98, 51 in 99) ... Lavel Bailey has the nation's 16th longest streak with at least one reception in 23 straight games ... Butchie Washington will make his 38th consecutive start Saturday at Kent - second longest string in the nation behind Houston's Jason McKiney (40) ... Brandon Payne is the nation's 13th-ranked pass-receiving running back with 20 catches for 209 yards ... Payne (14 tds) is two touchdowns shy of tying the Akron season mark.
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Dwight Smith |
THORPE SEMIFINALIST: The accolades continue to mount for Akron senior defensive back Dwight Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central). Last week, Smith was named one of 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, recognizing the nation's premier defensive back. Already the 5-11, 205-pounder has been listed among 15 finalists for the Football News Defensive Player of the Year Award. He is one of five defensive backs on that elite list. Four d-backs are on both lists: Smith, Oklahoma's J.T. Thatcher, Mississippi State's Fred Smoot and Southern Mississippi's Leo Barnes. Three Thorpe finalists will be named Nov. 21. They will be invited to attend ESPN's College Football Awards Show, broadcast from Disney World on Dec. 7, at which the winner will be announced.
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Lavel Bailey |
RECORDS FALLING: With 19 seniors being recognized last Saturday vs. Buffalo, it's no wonder the statistician's eraser is getting a workout. With quarterback Butchie Washington (Columbus/Beechcroft) and wide receiver Lavel Bailey (Cleveland/JFK) in the midst of a records sweep, two records slipped past the SID. Senior running back-kick returner Jimmie Gray (Cleveland Heights) broke Akron's season and career kick return marks. Gray's tally to date of 33 returns for 649 yards surpassed the 11-year old mark of Scott Rindfuss (23 ret., 513 yards). He also has topped Mac Thomas' (1971-73) career mark of 45 returns for 995 yards. Gray's career total is: 58 ret., 1,189 yards. He is the first Zip kick returner in history to eclipse 1,000 yards. His career all-purpose yardage: 2,210 yards.
RECORD WATCH
Career receiving yards
1. Lavel Bailey (1997-00) 2,558
2. Dan Ruff (1967-70) 2,541
Season receiving yards
1. Dan Ruff (1968) 1,041
Lavel Bailey (2000) at: 857
Season TD receptions
1. Dan Ruff (1968) 11
Lavel Bailey (2000) at: 8
Season passing yards
1. Butchie Washington (2000) 2,206
2. Mike Johnson (1988) 2,170
Season TD passes
1. Butchie Washington (2000) 16
2. Mic Hutton (1969) 15
First I-A rusher to top 1,000 yards
Brandon Payne (2000) 895
Season total offense
1. Mike Johnson (1988) 2,432
2. Butchie Washington (2000) 2,300
Season scoring (points)
1. Jack Beidleman (1969) 98
Brandon Payne (2000) at: 84
Season touchdowns
1. Beidleman (1969) 16
Brandon Payne (2000) at: 14
Most Points Scored by Two Players:
1.Jack Beidleman and Dan Ruff (1969) 160
Beidleman (98) and Ruff (62)
Brandon Payne and Zac Derr (2000) at: 145
Payne (84) and Derr (61)
**Lavel Bailey (48)**
Interception return yards
1. Shawn Vincent (1990) 191
Dwight Smith (2000) at: 140
MAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Three Zips were nominated for MAC Player of the Week, after last Saturday's 49-14 win over Buffalo: OFFENSIVE- Butchie Washington (12-of-24 passing, 287 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 298 yards of total offense), DEFENSIVE- Dwight Smith (59-yd INT return for a score, 8 solo tackles), SPECIAL TEAMS- Zac Derr (11 kicking points, two field goals).
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Brandon Payne |
PATS: The Zips scored at least 28 points in each of their six home games and averaged 36.7 ppg. ... Zips (419.2 yards/game) are one of five MAC teams averaging 400 or more yards of total offense per game (1. No. Illinois, 2. Akron, 3. Marshall, 4. Ohio, 5. W. Michigan) ... Akron is third in the league in sacks allowed (total of 9 for 40 yards lost), fifth in first downs and fifth in third-down conversions ... Butchie Washington ranks first in the MAC in pass efficiency (132.4), 11th all-time in the MAC in passing yardage (see page 5) and third in total offense (230.0 per game) ... Lavel Bailey ranks second in the MAC in reception yards per game (85.7) and ranks third nationally at 20.4 yards per catch ... Jake Schifino is sixth in the MAC in rec yards per game (71.9) ... Brandon Payne is 105 yards shy of becoming Akron's first Division I-A 1,000-yard rusher ... Payne is fifth in the MAC in all-purpose yardage (126.5 per gm), fourth in scoring (8.4), fifth in rushing (89.5), and sixth in punt returns (8.9) ... Akron has had 13 of its 20 quarterback sacks in three games (four at BG, six against Marshall, three vs. UB) ... 11 different Zips have at least one sack, led by freshman DE JDwayne Lefall with 4.5 ... Lefall leads the team with 8 TFLs.
ACADEMIC NOMINATIONS: Four Zips have been nominated for the GTE Academic All-District Team: junior PK Zac Derr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler), junior TE Tim Ritley (Lake Perry), senior DL Jason Wiggins (Columbus/St. Francis DeSales) and junior fullback Matt Zuercher (Waynedale). Ritley is an honorable mention choice for the 2000 Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete award (Drew Brees winner) and was first-team All-District last fall.
1-2 PUNCH: How about the pass-catching duo of senior Lavel Bailey and junior Jake Schifino? Thru 10 games, they've combined for 80 catches, 1,576 yards and 12 TDs.
INVITED: Dwight Smith has been invited to play in the Tyco Gridiron Classic Jan. 13, 2001, at the Florida Citrus Bowl and the Delchamps Senior Bowl, Jan. 20, in Mobile, Ala. The Gridiron Classic matches Team Florida against Team USA. Ex-Zip great Jason Taylor played in the 1997 Senior Bowl and was the North Defensive MVP.
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Tony McCray |
VETERAN CREW: There are 19 seniors on this year's Akron squad, with 10 of the 19 being starters. The Zips' captains for the 2000 season are: FB Tony McCray, DB Rich Reliford, DB Dwight Smith and QB Butchie Washington all seniors. McCray is the younger brother of former Zip captain Andre McCray and might be the fastest fullback in the MAC. His younger brother, Junior McCray, wears #13 as well.
THE STEEL CURTAIN: Both are from Pittsburgh, Pa., and both have produced plenty of points for the Zips: junior place kicker Zac Derr (Shaler) and sophomore tailback Brandon Payne (Woodland Hills). Both are among Akron's top six all-time leading scorers (181, 170 points) and have combined for 351 points.
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Tim Ritley |
WATCH LISTS: Four Zips have been nominated for national awards. Aside from Dwight Smith, who is a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, three other Zips have been nominated for national awards.
Sophomore tailback Brandon Payne (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) has been on the Watch List for the Doak Walker Award, which recognizes the nation's outstanding running back. The 1999 MAC Freshman of the Year has had 207- and 188-yard rushing games this season. He is 105 yards shy of becoming Akron's Division I-A 1,000-yard rusher.
Sure-handed Tim Ritley (Perry/Lake Perry) has been nominated for the inaugural John Mackey Award, symbolic of the country's outstanding tight end. A candidate for Academic All-American, Ritley has 15 receptions for 239 yards (one TD at BG) to date and has 35 career catches and four touchdowns in 32 career games. He also caught a two-point pass vs. NIU. He was an honorable mention pick for the Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete Award.
In addition, senior captain and leading tackler (73 total tackles) Rich Reliford (Bolingbrook, Ill.) has been nominated for the National Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship Awards.
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK: Zip quarterback Butchie Washington is the 25th rated passer in the nation at 132.4, two spots AHEAD of Purdue Heisman Trophy candidate Drew Brees (132.2). Florida State's Chris Weinke is first with an amazing rating of 166.5.
CAREER PASSING YARDS
Yds Name School Yrs 11,299 Tim Lester W. Mich. 96-99 10,688 Chad Pennington Marshall 97-99 10,280 Brian McClure B. Green 82-85 9,002 Walt Church E. Mich. 96-00 8,717 Brad Tayles W. Mich. 89-92 7,592 Charlie Batch E. Mich. 93-97 7,267 Gene Swick Toledo 73-75 6,862 Rich Dackin B. Green 86-89 6,722 Jose Davis Kent 97-99 6,672 Ryan Huzjak Toledo 93-96 6,586 B. Washington Akron 97-00 6,528 Jeff Bender C. Mich. 88-91 6,420 Mike Bath Miami 97-00 6,271 Mike Neu Ball State 90-93 6,148 Jay McDonagh W. Mich. 92-95 6,072 Erik White B. Green 89-92 6,023 Kevin Meger Toledo 89-92
FOOTBALL NEWS: Zip senior All-America candidate Dwight Smith is one of 15 semifinalists for the Football News National Defensive Player of the Year award. He is the only Ohio collegian and the only MAC player listed among the FB News 30 Offensive and Defensive semifinalists. Smith is one of five defensive backs on the elite list.
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Jeremiah Danielson |
SENIOR MEMBER: Zip offensive guard Jeremiah Danielson (American Samoa/City College of San Francisco) turned 28 on Sept. 28. Next to Florida State's Chris Weinke, Danielson is the second oldest player in Division I-A after having served four years in the Navy, including two-plus years with the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington, D.C.
MID-AMERICAN ROUNDUP
Last Week's Scores
Akron 49, Buffalo 14
Toledo 31, Ball State 3
Ohio 23, Bowling Green 21
C. Michigan 21, W. Michigan 17
E. Michigan 39, No. Illinois 32
Marshall 51, Miami 31
Idle- Kent
This Week's Games
Akron at Kent, 2 p.m.
C. Michigan at N. Illinois, 1:05 CT
Miami at Buffalo, 1:00
E. Michigan at W. Michigan, 1:00
Connecticut at Ball State, 1:00
Marshall at Ohio, 4:00
Wednesday, Nov. 22
Bowling Green at Toledo, 6:30 (ESPN2)
2000 MAC Standings
East Division Conf* Overall Marshall 5-0 6-4 Akron 4-1 5-5 Ohio 3-2 6-4 Miami 3-2 5-5 Buffalo 2-3 2-8 Bowling Green 1-5 2-8 Kent 0-5 1-9 West Division Conf* Overall Toledo 4-1 9-1 W. Michigan 3-1 8-2 E. Michigan 2-2 3-7 Ball State 2-3 4-6 Northern Illinois 1-3 5-5 C. Michigan 1-3 2-8 *Conf record will count only games within the division. Cross-over games will be used in the event of a three-way tie.
MAC Championship Game
Dec. 2 Huntington, W. Va.
Motor City Bowl, Dec. 27
Pontiac Silverdome
Nov. 13, 1999
Akron 37, Kent 34
Akron Rubber Bowl
Flashes 7 7 7 13 34 Zips 0 6 10 21 37
AKRON - The Akron Zips rallied from a 21-6 deficit and stunned Kent, 37-34, Saturday in the 42nd Wagon Wheel game played at the Rubber Bowl. The Zips have now won three straight against the Golden Flashes, and four of the last five under head coach Lee Owens. All-time series: 22-18-2, Akron.
"We told our players we were not going to keep it close to the vest," said an exhausted but happy Owens. "That back and forth at the end, it's what this rivalry can become. Two teams laid it on the line."
There were two turning points in the fourth quarter which enabled Akron to complete its comeback.
Leading 27-22 and facing 4-and-1 at its own 29 with almost 10 minutes to play, Kent gambled and lost. DeMarlo Rozier was stopped for no gain. The Zips, aided by a huge pass intereference penalty, took the lead on a 2-yard scoring pass from Butchie Washington to FB Matt Zuercher. Washington added the two-point play, Akron led 30-27 with 5:31 to play. Kent marched right back down the field and regained the lead, 34-30, on a 27-yard screen pass from Jose Davis to Chante Murphy with 3:41 left on the clock.
Trying to stay away from Dwight Smith, who had popped a 51-yard KOR early in the fourth quarter, Kent kicker Dave Pavich attempted a squibb kick. But the squibb looked more like an onsides kick. It ricocheted off an unsuspecting Akron player and a mad scramble ensued. The officials ruled Akron's Brad Detwiler covered the loose ball, and the Zips had life at the Kent 39.
Another short field for Akron's red-hot offense. The Zips were forced to convert on 4th-and-1, as Washington rolled out and kept it on a 13-yard run around left end to the Kent 17. With 38 seconds to play, Washington scored on a similar play from four yards out.
Scoring Summary
KS Rozier 2 run (Pavich kick), 8:30
KS Gavadza 58 pass from Davis (Pavich kick), 12:25
UA Derr 25 FG, 3:22
UA Derr 48 FG, 1:11
KS Davis 3 run (Pavich kick), 11:20
UA Derr 33 FG, 7:50
UA Payne 3 run (Derr kick), 4:34
KS Rozier 1 run (2-pt failed), 14:56
UA Payne 1 run (2-pt failed), 11:51
UA Zuercher 2 pass from Washington (Washington rush), 5:31
KS Murphy 27 pass from Davis (Pavich kick), 3:41
UA Washington 4 run (Derr kick), 0:38
Team Stats KS UA First Downs 18 26 Rushing yards 42-164 58-254 Passes 16-22-2 11-23-1 Passing yards 275 178 Total offense 64-439 81-432 Punts-avg 3-38.7 1-40.0 Fumbles-lost 3-1 1-0 Penalties-yards 10-99 3-35 Possession time 25:27 34:33
Individual Leaders
Rushing UA: Payne 34-161, Culler 10-45: KS: Davis 13-66, Vann 8-44,
Murphy 14-40.
Passing UA: Washington 11-23-1-178; KS: Davis 16-22-2-275.
Receiving UA: Schifino 5-61, Bailey 2-63; MU: Kelly 6-85, Gavadza
3-108.
Nov. 11, 2000
Akron 49, Buffalo 14
Rubber Bowl
Bulls 7 0 7 0 14 Zips 7 24 15 3 49
AKRON - On Senior Night at the Rubber Bowl, Akron's seniors broke a bundle of records and lifted the Zips to a 49-14 victory over the Buffalo Bulls.
Akron evened at 5-5, 4-1 in the Mid-American Conference East Division. The Zips, however, were eliminated from the East race with Marshall pounding Miami, 51-31. Buffalo fell to 2-8, 2-3 in the MAC East.
"I think all the seniors stepped up tonight," said UA coach Lee Owens. "They played hard and it was great for them to finish out here with a big win. We're proud of what they have accomplished and put us in a position to maybe have another winning season."
Akron exploded for 24 second-quarter points, broke up a 7-all contest, led 31-7 at half and never looked back. With 3:21 left in the half, senior defensive back Dwight Smith picked off an errant Joe Freedy pass and raced 59 yards down the visitors sideline to make it 24-7. It was Smith's ninth pick of the season and forged him into a tie with Louisville's Anthony Floyd for the nation's interception lead.
The Zips broke several long-standing records against the Bulls and rolled up 550 yards of offense. Receiver Lavel Bailey caught five passes for 111 yards and one score to break Dan Ruff's (1967-70) career receiving yardage record. Bailey's best grab was fingertip, 43-yard catch which set up Akron's final touchdown of the first half and ran the score to 31-7. Zip QB Butchie Washington floated the ball deep on a hook-and-go pattern, and the 5-10 speedster laid out for it and came up big. He caught a 21-yard TD strike from Washington to open the second half.
Washington, meanwhile, tossed three scoring strikes and ran his season total to 16 - one better than the previous record of 15 set by Mic Hutton in 1969. The Columbus native also topped Mike Johnson's 1988 season of 2,170 passing yards.
Scoring Summary
UA Payne 7 run (Derr kick), 8:23
UB Grundy 1 run (Keller kick), 1:38
UA Zuercher 1 pass from Washington (Derr kick), 13:16
UA Derr 35 FG, 6:22
UA D. Smith 59 INT return, 3:21
UA T. McCray 29 run (Derr kick), 1:10 UA Bailey 21 pass from
Washington (Zuercher pass), 12:48
UA Schifino 85 pass from Washington (Derr kick), 10:40
UB Grundy 2 run (Keller kick), 8:49
UA Derr 41 FG, 13:31
Team Stats UB UA First Downs 22 22 Rushing yards 54-243 42-263 Passes 9-26-1 12-25-2 Passing yards 100 287 Total offense 80-343 67-550 Punts-avg 4-38.2 2-39.0 Fumbles-lost 4-3 0-0 Penalties-yards 6-82 12-120 Possession time 33:41 26:19
Individual Leaders
Rushing UA: McCray 4-89, Payne 11-41; UB: Dwarte 25-173.
Passing UA: Washington 12-24-2-287; UB: Freedy 9-26-1-100.
Receiving UA: Bailey 5-111, Schifino 4-136, Payne 1-20, Ritley
1-19, Zuercher 1-1; UB: Shaughnessy 3-44, Singfield 2-25, Barber
2-18.
2000 Zips' Football Schedule (5-5, 4-1 MAC-E*)
Sept. 2 Virginia Tech 52, Akron 23 Sept. 9 Central Michigan 17, Akron 7 Sept. 16 Akron 35, UCF 24 Sept. 23 Akron 23, Ohio 20* Sept. 30 Akron 37, Miami 20* Oct. 7 Akron 27, Bowling Green 21* Oct. 14 No. Illinois 52, Akron 35 Oct. 21 Connecticut 38, Akron 35 Oct. 28 Marshall 31, Akron 28* Nov. 11 Akron 49, Buffalo 14* Nov. 18 Akron at Kent* (Wagon Wheel) 2:00 pm *MAC East game All Times are Eastern
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