Akron Visits Rival Kent State in Coveted Wagon Wheel Game

Saturday, October 20

Kent, OH | Dix Stadium

3:30 PM

University of Akron

Kent State

Akron Visits Rival Kent State in Coveted Wagon Wheel Game

October 15 | Football

Pregame Coverage:
Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Bowden's Weekly Press Conference Video
MAC Weekly Media Teleconference Audio
MAC Weekly Release

Gameday Coverage:
Buy Tickets
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn.com)
Follow Free Live Statistics

AKRON (2-3, 0-2 MAC) at KENT STATE (1-6, 0-3 MAC)

CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE

Saturday, Oct. 20

Dix Stadium [25,319] | Kent, OH

3:30 PM ET | ESPN+

THIS WEEK
Akron travels 11 miles to visit rival Kent State in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge game on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 3:30 p.m. at Dix Stadium.

ESPN+ will televise the contest with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst) calling the game.

The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron-IMG Sports Network [SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), 1420 WHK in Cleveland, 1440 WHKZ in Warren/Youngstown] with Steve French calling the action, Brad Detwiler providing analysis, and Joe Dunn with sideline report. The pregame show starts one hour prior to kickoff. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.

Under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron stands 2-3 overall and 0-2 in MAC play after a 24-6 loss at Buffalo on Oct. 13. UA returns 58 letterwinners, including 15 starters, to its spread offense and 4-3 defense.

Senior RB Van Edwards (Cape Coral, Fla.) is the Zips' top rusher, gaining 244 yards and two touchdowns on 56 carries. Under center, sophomore Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) is 76-of-146 for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. Sophomore WR Andre Williams (Orlando, Fla.) is the top receiver with 289 yards and three touchdowns on 19 receptions. Defensively, junior LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) is the top Zip with 42 tackles, 3.0 TFL, and a break-up.

In the NCAA statistics, Akron is the national leader in red zone offense (1.000). The Zips also rank No. 2 in defensive touchdowns (4), and No. 39 in fumbles recovered (5).

Individually, junior CB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is No. 1 in interceptions per game (1.3) and No. 1 in total interceptions (1). Senior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.) is No. 8 in fumbles recovered (2). Senior PK Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) is No. 9 in field goals (1.80).

The Golden Flashes, under the guidance of first-year head coach Sean Lewis, stand 1-6 overall and 0-3 in MAC play after a 31-6 loss at Miami. Kent State returns 47 letterwinners, including 14 starters, to its spread offensive and 3-4 defensive schemes.

Junior RB Justin Rankin is Kent State's top rusher with 511 yards and three touchdowns on 94 carries. Sophomore QB Woody Barrett is 157-of-256 for 1,560 yards and seven touchdowns. Freshman WR Isaiah McKoy is the leading receiver with 342 yards and two touchdowns on 32 receptions. Defensively, senior LB Matt Bahr has 65 tackles, 4.5 TFL, two hurries, and a forced fumble.

In the NCAA stats, Kent State ranks No. 3 in fumbles recovered (8), No. 10 red zone defense (0.694), No. 10 in blocked punts (1), No. 11 in turnovers gained (14), No. 12 in blocked kicks (2), and No. 24 in first downs (154). Individually, senior DB Matthew Trickett is No. 24 in field goals (0.818). Senior LB Matt Bahr is No. 27 in solo tackles (5.4) and No. 36 in total tackles (9.3).

CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Akron visits Kent State for the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge. The 14-sport rivalry series between Akron and Kent State is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Akron has won the last three Wagon Wheel football games.

Since the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include 14 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. To learn more about the rivalry and follow the results and standings, visit:

www.WagonWheelChallenge.com

AKRON-KENT STATE CONNECTIONS
The Akron and Kent State campuses are just 11 miles apart.

Kent State has three players from the city of Akron– sophomore OL Zach Corrigall [St. Vincent-St. Mary HS], junior S Jae'Vante Ray [Ellet HS], and redshirt freshman QB Pyrce Taylor [Buchtel HS].

Kent State head coach Sean Lewis, the youngest head coach in FBS (age 31), was a graduate assistant coach at Akron during the 2011 season.

KSU's video coordinator Tom Cleaver was a graduate assistant at Akron for two seasons (2016-17).

KSU's director of player personnel Steve Schrum served as an assistant recruiting coordinator at Akron during the 2016 season.

AKRON-KENT STATE: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the 61st meeting between Akron and Kent State in series history, which began in 1923. The Zips lead, 34-24-2. Since the coveted wooden Wagon Wheel trophy has been at stake (dating to 1946), the series is tied, 23-23-1. The Zips are 25-9-2 in the series when playing at home (4-1 at InfoCision Stadium).

Last fall, Akron football 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 Nov. 21.

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

In a wild finish at Dix Stadium in 2016l, the Akron Zips traveled 57 yards with 1:02 left on the clock as TE Mykel Traylor-Bennett ran three yards into the endzone to secure a 31-27 victory over cross-town rival Kent State to keep control of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel.

The thrilling victory marked the first time since 2004 that Akron won a Mid-American Conference opener on the road (at Kent State, 24-19) and the first win at Dix Stadium since the 30-27 double overtime win in 2008.

After Kent State scored a touchdown to take a 27-24 lead with 1:02 left on the clock, the Zips didn't let the lack of time on the clock phase them, as Akron used four plays to travel 57 yards for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown.

In 2015 at InfoCision Stadium on Black FryeDay, Akron re-claimed the coveted Wagon Wheel with a 20-0 shutout of Kent State. The shutout was the Zips' first over the Golden flashes since 1985 and
first over any team since 1992. Akron held Kent to just 10 yards rushing.

Zips' QB Thomas Woodson went 11-of-19 for 140 yards and a touchdown. In his final home game, senior RB Conor Hundley rushed for 98 yards and touchdown on 22 carries, while WR Jerome Lane had four catches for 75 yards. Defensively, senior LB Jatavis Brown led the Zips with eight tackles and a forced fumble.

SERIES INFORMATION
Akron all-time vs. Kent State: 34-24-2
Akron in games at Akron: 25-9-2
Akron in games at Kent State: 9-15
Akron in games at a neutral site: 0-0
First meeting in series: 1923, at Akron, W, 32-0
Last meeting in series: 2017, at InfoCision Stadium, W, 24-14

LAST GAME
Akron football dropped a 24-6 decision at Buffalo in Mid-American Conference play on Oct. 13 at UB Stadium. Penalties and turnovers limited Akron offensively, while Buffalo remained undefeated in league play.

For the Zips, senior Van Edwards, Jr. led the rushers with 55 yards on seven carries. Under center, sophomore QB Kato Nelson went 12-of-29 for 115 yards. Sophomore WR Andre Williams was the top receiver with three catches for 47 yards. Defensively, junior LB John Lako had eight tackles, including seven solo stops.

POSTGAME NOTES

Redshirt freshman TE Maverick Wolfley (Morgantown, W.Va.) and sophomore DB Zaire Jacobs (Miami Gardens, Fla.) made their first appearance in the starting line-up.
Senior CB Kyron Brown intercepted the ball in the second quarter on the two-yard line. It was the sixth interception of his career and his first this season.
Senior PK/P Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) converted two field goals in the first half, the first a 48-yarder and the second a 40-yarder.
Freshman WR Jeremiah Knight (Jefferson, Ohio) returned the first punts of his collegiate career. He had two returns for 14 yards.
Junior LB John Lako led Akron with eight tackles, including a career-high seven solo stops, and a career-high 1.5 TFL for a loss of five yards.

UP NEXT
Akron returns home to host Central Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Noon on ESPN3 in its Hometown Heroes recognition game. Any military member or first responder, which includes police, firefighters, and paramedics, will get a FREE ticket with a work I.D. The Zips will also host Trunk-or-Treat in the tailgate lots prior to the game for young children.