Akron Football Secures MAC East Title with 24-14 Wagon Wheel Victory over Kent State

Tuesday, November 21

Akron, OH

7 PM

University of Akron

7-5 , 6-2

Kent State

2-10 , 1-7

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

KENT STATE

Akron

Akron Football Secures MAC East Title with 24-14 Wagon Wheel Victory over Kent State

November 21 | Football

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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron football team captured the 2017 Mid-American Conference East Division title on the strength of a 24-14 victory over rival Kent State while claiming its third consecutive Wagon Wheel victory at InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field on Tuesday night.

With the win, Akron improved to 7-5 overall and 6-2 in league play. The Zips will play for the 2017 MAC Championship on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Noon at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. UA's opponent will be determined following Friday's MAC action. [Ticket information is listed below]. Kent finished the season at 2-10 overall and 1-7 in MAC play.

Also with the win, Akron earned one point for the Crystal Clinic Orthopedic Wagon Wheel Challenge, bringing the overall tally to 3.5 to 1.5 in the Zips' favor.

The Zips wasted no time entering Kent State territory as redshirt freshman QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) used seven plays to travel 75 yards for Akron's first score. The drive lasted 3:16, and started with a three-yard rush by senior RB Manny Morgan (Naples, Fla.). Nelson followed with a 12-yard strike to senior WR A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) and a 24-yard rush of his own, entering the Golden Flashes' side of the field at the 36-yard line.

Akron continued to pursue the red zone as Nelson tucked the ball and gained 15 more yards on the ground, ending at the Kent State 25-yardline. On the first play from that spot, Nelson found freshman TE Kobie Booker (Barberton, Ohio) on the far sideline. Booker corralled the pass and entered the endzone untouched for six points. Junior PK Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) split the uprights for a 7-0 Akron lead at the 11:44 mark.

Eight minutes later, Akron capitalized on a 52-yard missed field goal by Kent State. Akron started the drive at its 35-yard line, and Morgan used the second play from scrimmage to travel 42 yards with the football. Gasser ended the drive and lifted Akron to a 10-point advantage with a 45-yard field goal, the longest attempt of his career. The Zips' drive lasted six plays and 2:13 before ending on Gasser's foot. At the end of the first period Akron led 10-0.

An Akron miscue led to Kent State's first points of the showdown when KSU's junior CB Demetrius Monday stepped in-front of a Nelson pass, giving the Golden Flashes the ball at the Akron 25-yard line. Three plays later, sophomore RB Justin Rankin crossed the goal line, cutting the Zips' lead to three points, 10-7, with 11:22 left to play in the half.

Over the next 10 minutes, both teams jockeyed for field position, and with 1:39 showing on the clock UA sophomore CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale) gave the Zips new life as he picked off an errant pass by KSU's QB George Bollas. Davis returned his first career interception two yards to the Kent State 40-yard line.

Akron used the momentum to build a 17-7 advantage, traveling 40 yards in six plays. Morgan capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left until halftime.

Gasser booted the kickoff 38 yards to the Kent 27-yard line. On the final play of the half with 17 seconds remaining, Akron junior DL Jamal Davis II (Canton, Ohio) knocked the ball out of the Kent State running back's arms. Junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) picked up the loose ball and ran 40 yards for the score. Gilbert's second touchdown of the season gave Akron a 24-7 halftime advantage.

Redshirt sophomore DB Denzel Butler (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) opened the second half with his first career interception, but Kent State was the first team to put points on the scoreboard. With 1:20 remaining in the third quarter, Golden Flashes lined up in the wildcat formation on the Akron one-yard line. The Zips's defensive front busted through the line, but KSU's RB Rankin tossed the ball to an open receiver for a touchdown.

Akron entered the final frame as 10-point favorites, 24-14, which proved to be enough to claim the MAC East title.

The saying "defense wins championships" was confirmed in the season finale as the Zips forced three turnovers and recorded 12 tackles for a loss of 48 yards. Gilbert, who recovered a fumble and took it the distance, led Akron with 14 tackles, including three tackles for loss of 13 yards. Jamal Davis followed with nine tackles with 1.5 for a five-yard loss while forcing the fumble Gilbert returned. In addition, Alvin Davis and Butler each had an interception.

The Zips' offensive efforts were led by Nelson, completing six passes for 69 yards, which included the 25-yard touchdown pass to Booker. Junior RB Van Edwards, Jr. (Cape Coral, Fla.) carried most of the load on the ground, posting 6.1 yards per carry on nine touches and 55 total yards. Morgan followed with 46 yards and added a touchdown, while Nelson rounded out the ground attack with 21 yards.

TICKET INFORMATION
As the MAC East champion, Akron will participate in the 2017 MAC Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Noon on ESPN at Ford Field in Detroit. The MAC West opponent (Toledo or Northern Illinois) will be determined following Friday's games. Tickets are available for purchase, beginning at $20, in the Akron section by calling or texting 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Specific seat locations will be assigned by Priority Point Donor levels.

Tickets will be available starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning. By purchasing directly through the Akron Zips ticket office, all ticket revenues will stay with the university. Ticket prices and bus transportation options include.

·         Students                $20         includes ticket, bus, t-shirt, reception
·         General Fans        $20         includes ticket
·         General Fans        $55         includes ticket and reception
·         General Fans        $60         includes ticket and bus
·         General Fans        $95         includes ticket, bus, and reception