The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Wins First-Ever Conference Title in Thrilling Fashion
December 02 | Football
Dec. 2, 2005
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes
Team Notes:
• The Zips and the Huskies have split the all-time series 5-5. The Zips are 4-2 in the teams last six meetings, including two wins this season.
• Akron held Northern Illinois scoreless in the first quarter. It was the third-straight game in which the defense had not allowed any points in the first quarter and seventh time this season (Zips fall to 6-1 on the season when not allowing their opponent to score in the first quarter).
• The Zips, who allowed only 50 rushing yards on 24 carries in the first meeting this season against Northern Illinois, gave up 124 yards to Garrett Wolfe on 21 carries in the first half.
• With 11:14 remaining in the first half, Northern Illinois got a one-yard touchdown run by Garrett Wolfe. It was the first offensive touchdown the Zips defense had allowed in 151 minutes and 41 seconds of play (previous TD - 12:55 left in the fourth quarter of Ball State game on Nov. 5).
• Garrett Wolfe rushed for over 200 yards against the Zips (235 yards - new MAC Championship game record). He was the first runner to go over 200 in a game since Anthony Davis of Wisconsin did it on Sept. 6 of 2003.
• Over the last three games, the Zips had given up a total of 245 rushing yards on 95 attempts. Against Northern Illinois, Akron gave up 270 to Garrett Wolfe on 42 carries.
• NIU K Chris Nendick's 52-yard field goal was the first field goal over 50 yards against the Zips since Sept. 7 of 2002, when Maryland kicker Nick Novak connected from 51 yards.
Player Notes:
• In the fourth quarter, QB Luke Getsy connected on a 32
yard pass, which moved him into second place on the UA
single-season list. He now has exactly 3,000 yards on the season.
He began the day in fourth place behind Charlie Frye, held each of
the top three single-season performances. Frye's record is 3,549
yards in 2003.
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• Getsy recorded 413 yards passing (30 of 50 passing), a new career-high. It is the third time this season he has gone over 300 yards and the second time he surpassed 400 yards. The last time he did both was against Northern Illinois when he recorded a career-high 406 yards.
• WR Domenik Hixon had eight receptions against Northern Illinois, moving him into third place all-time with 134 career receptions.
• Hixon's eight receptions also set a new single-season record. He has 68 catches on the season breaking the record he set last season with 66 catches.
• Hixon had 239 yards of total offense (144 receiving, 20 rushing, 75 punt return). He finished the game with 2,036 all-purpose yards on the season, breaking the UA single-season record of 1,959 set by Jack Beidelman in 1969.
• Hixon led the Zips with eight receptions against Northern Illinois, it was the ninth game this season that Hixon has led or tied for the team lead in receptions.
• K Jason Swiger 47 field goal in the first quarter snapped four-straight misses from over 40-yard's (on the season Swiger is now 2-7 from beyond 40 yards). It also set a new MAC Championship game record. However, NIU K Chris Nendick broke Swiger MAC Championship game record with a 52-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
• RB Dennis Kennedy scored his first career rushing touchdown, going three yards in the first quarter. It was the first rushing touchdown scored this season by someone other than RB Brett Biggs.
• On Biggs second carry of the game, a 16-yard run, he became the ninth player in school history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards.
• On Biggs 6-yard carry in the third quarter he moved into sixth place on the UA single-season rushing list (which was held by Mike Clark who rushed for 1,172 yards in 1984). He started the day ranked seventh with 1,114 yards and finished the day with 1,184 yards, four yards shy of the fifth best single-season total held by James Black (1982).
• DL Kiki Gonzalez blocked a 49-yard attempt in the first quarter, his first career blocked kick.
