The University of Akron Athletics
Tuesday, November 17
Kent, Ohio | Dix Stadium
8:00 PM
University of Akron
0-3 , 0-3
35
at
69
Kent State
3-0 , 3-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Akron
7
21
0
7
35
Kent State
14
21
20
14
69
Zips Unable to Overcome Golden Flashes in Annual Wagon Wheel Battle
November 17 | Football
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BOXSCORE (PDF) | AKRON PRESS CONFERENCE | KENT STATE PRESS CONFERENCEÂ
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KENT, Ohio - University of Akron junior RB Teon Dollard (Lake City, Fla.) rushed for a career-high 202 yards, including scoring four touchdowns, but Kent State (3-0, 3-0 MAC) retained the Wagon Wheel with a 69-35 victory over the Zips (0-3, 0-3 MAC) in Mid-American Conference football action on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Dix Stadium, as part of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge.
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Dollard became the first Akron player to rush for more than 200 yards since Dennis Kennedy post a 277-yard effort against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 18, 2008. He also finished with four touchdowns on the ground, the most for a Zip since Bobby Hendry rushed for five scores versus Eastern Michigan on Nov. 24, 2001.
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Akron finished the game registering more than 350 total yards of offensive production for the second consecutive game as the Zips collected 366 yards on the strength of 212 yards on the ground and 154 through the air. Kent State concluded the game with 390 yards passing and 360 rushing.
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Freshman WR Tony Grimes, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led the Zips with 51 yards receiving on the strength of a team-high four catches, while redshirt freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.) was 9-of-15 for 154 yards.
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Redshirt junior LB Bubba Arslanian (Aurora, Ohio) directed Akron's defensive efforts turning in a season- and team-high 15 tackles, including nine solo stops. Sophomore CB A.J. Watts (Columbus, Ga.) added a career-best 12 tackles, with nine solo tackles.
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The Golden Flashes got on the scoreboard first as Kent State capitalized on an interception driving five plays on 46 yards capped by a three-yard touchdown run by Marquez Cooper at the 12:05 mark of the first quarter.
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After being unsuccessful on their opening drive, the Zips made a key special-teams play as Kent State's Isaac Vance fumbled the ball on the punt return with the ball being recovered at the Golden Flashes' 10-yard line by Arslanian at the 8:49 mark.
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On a third-and-goal play from the five-yard line, Gibson rushed for three yards before the ball was fumbled into the end zone. Recovering the ball for the Zips for the touchdown was redshirt freshman OL Xavior Gray (Massillon, Ohio) to knot the score at seven with 7:52 left in the opening quarter.
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The Golden Flashes answered on the ensuing drive with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive as QB Dustin Crum rushed 15 yards into the endzone to give Kent State a 14-7 lead with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter.
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The Zips took the ball with 13:50 remaining in the half and went 86 yards on eight plays to even the score at 14 on a 28-yard touchdown run by Dollard.
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On a 3rd-and-16 play from the Akron 34-yard line, Gibson hit senior WR Nate Stewart (Bethlehem, Pa.) for a 26-yard reception to the Kent State 40-yard line. Gibson then connected with Grimes for a 17-yard catch to the Golden Flashes' 23-yard line.
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After an Akron penalty back the ball up five yards, Dollard took the handoff and found the back of the endzone for the first time as a Zip.
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A 75-yard touchdown pass from Crum to Isaiah McCoy on the opening play of the next drive gave the Golden Flashes a 21-14 lead at the 9:56 mark.
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Dollard had an answer for the Zips taking the opening play of the next drive 59 yards to the back of the house for his second touchdown of the quarter with 9:38 left before halftime. It marked Akron's longest run since senior QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) went on a 55-yard scamper against Kent State on Oct. 20, 2018.
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Kent State then drove 79 yards on nine plays to assume a 28-21 advantage after Cooper scored a 19-yard touchdown with 5:42 remaining in the half.
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The Zips again had an answer going 64 yards on nine plays over 4:44 to knot the contest at 28 after Dollard's third touchdown of the quarter, a 13-yard run, with 58 second left before halftime.Â
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Key plays in the drive were a 12-yard reception from Gibson to Grimes Jr. on 3rd-and-6 from the Kent State 46-yard line, as well as a 15-yard catch over the middle of the field by redshirt junior TE Maverick Wolfley (Morgantown, W.Va.) to the Golden Flashes' 30-yard line.
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Kent State went into the intermission maintaining a 35-28 lead as Crum completed an 11-yard pass to Ja'Shaun Poke with 15 seconds left in the half.
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Dollard led the Zips with 144 yards rushing on 16 carries in the opening half and scored three touchdowns. Grimes Jr. pulled in a team-high four catches for 51 yards in the first half.
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Gibson passed for 112 yards in the opening half as part of 264 total offensive yards for Akron.
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Watts and Arslanian registered eight and seven tackles, respectively, in the first half.
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The Golden Flashes extended their lead to 42-28 on a nine-yard rush by Crum at the 13:08 mark of the third quarter, before Cooper rushed for one yard for a touchdown to make it 49-28 at the 9:14 mark.
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Akron moved down to the Kent State 13-yard line on their next possession but were unable to convert a 4th-and-4 play turning the ball over on downs.
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Crum added another touchdown pass, this time 13 yards to Bryan Bradford with 20 second left in the third quarter to extend the lead for the Golden Flashes to 55-28 after the two-point conversion failed.
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Dollard continued his ground assault on the evening scoring his fourth touchdown of the night on an eight-yard run with 12:50 left in the game.
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The Golden Flashes added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to account for the final margin.
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With the victory, Kent State assumes a 1.0-0.0 lead in the 2020-21 Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge.
Akron continues its 2020 campaign hosting Miami University in a 1 p.m. tilt on Saturday, Nov. 28. The game will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Dave Skoczen and Joe Dunn calling the action, as well as on ESPN3.
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BOXSCORE (PDF) | AKRON PRESS CONFERENCE | KENT STATE PRESS CONFERENCEÂ
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KENT, Ohio - University of Akron junior RB Teon Dollard (Lake City, Fla.) rushed for a career-high 202 yards, including scoring four touchdowns, but Kent State (3-0, 3-0 MAC) retained the Wagon Wheel with a 69-35 victory over the Zips (0-3, 0-3 MAC) in Mid-American Conference football action on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Dix Stadium, as part of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge.
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Dollard became the first Akron player to rush for more than 200 yards since Dennis Kennedy post a 277-yard effort against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 18, 2008. He also finished with four touchdowns on the ground, the most for a Zip since Bobby Hendry rushed for five scores versus Eastern Michigan on Nov. 24, 2001.
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Akron finished the game registering more than 350 total yards of offensive production for the second consecutive game as the Zips collected 366 yards on the strength of 212 yards on the ground and 154 through the air. Kent State concluded the game with 390 yards passing and 360 rushing.
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Freshman WR Tony Grimes, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led the Zips with 51 yards receiving on the strength of a team-high four catches, while redshirt freshman QB Zach Gibson (Alpharetta, Ga.) was 9-of-15 for 154 yards.
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Redshirt junior LB Bubba Arslanian (Aurora, Ohio) directed Akron's defensive efforts turning in a season- and team-high 15 tackles, including nine solo stops. Sophomore CB A.J. Watts (Columbus, Ga.) added a career-best 12 tackles, with nine solo tackles.
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The Golden Flashes got on the scoreboard first as Kent State capitalized on an interception driving five plays on 46 yards capped by a three-yard touchdown run by Marquez Cooper at the 12:05 mark of the first quarter.
Â
After being unsuccessful on their opening drive, the Zips made a key special-teams play as Kent State's Isaac Vance fumbled the ball on the punt return with the ball being recovered at the Golden Flashes' 10-yard line by Arslanian at the 8:49 mark.
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On a third-and-goal play from the five-yard line, Gibson rushed for three yards before the ball was fumbled into the end zone. Recovering the ball for the Zips for the touchdown was redshirt freshman OL Xavior Gray (Massillon, Ohio) to knot the score at seven with 7:52 left in the opening quarter.
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The Golden Flashes answered on the ensuing drive with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive as QB Dustin Crum rushed 15 yards into the endzone to give Kent State a 14-7 lead with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter.
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The Zips took the ball with 13:50 remaining in the half and went 86 yards on eight plays to even the score at 14 on a 28-yard touchdown run by Dollard.
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On a 3rd-and-16 play from the Akron 34-yard line, Gibson hit senior WR Nate Stewart (Bethlehem, Pa.) for a 26-yard reception to the Kent State 40-yard line. Gibson then connected with Grimes for a 17-yard catch to the Golden Flashes' 23-yard line.
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After an Akron penalty back the ball up five yards, Dollard took the handoff and found the back of the endzone for the first time as a Zip.
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A 75-yard touchdown pass from Crum to Isaiah McCoy on the opening play of the next drive gave the Golden Flashes a 21-14 lead at the 9:56 mark.
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Dollard had an answer for the Zips taking the opening play of the next drive 59 yards to the back of the house for his second touchdown of the quarter with 9:38 left before halftime. It marked Akron's longest run since senior QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) went on a 55-yard scamper against Kent State on Oct. 20, 2018.
Â
Kent State then drove 79 yards on nine plays to assume a 28-21 advantage after Cooper scored a 19-yard touchdown with 5:42 remaining in the half.
Â
The Zips again had an answer going 64 yards on nine plays over 4:44 to knot the contest at 28 after Dollard's third touchdown of the quarter, a 13-yard run, with 58 second left before halftime.Â
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Key plays in the drive were a 12-yard reception from Gibson to Grimes Jr. on 3rd-and-6 from the Kent State 46-yard line, as well as a 15-yard catch over the middle of the field by redshirt junior TE Maverick Wolfley (Morgantown, W.Va.) to the Golden Flashes' 30-yard line.
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Kent State went into the intermission maintaining a 35-28 lead as Crum completed an 11-yard pass to Ja'Shaun Poke with 15 seconds left in the half.
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Dollard led the Zips with 144 yards rushing on 16 carries in the opening half and scored three touchdowns. Grimes Jr. pulled in a team-high four catches for 51 yards in the first half.
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Gibson passed for 112 yards in the opening half as part of 264 total offensive yards for Akron.
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Watts and Arslanian registered eight and seven tackles, respectively, in the first half.
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The Golden Flashes extended their lead to 42-28 on a nine-yard rush by Crum at the 13:08 mark of the third quarter, before Cooper rushed for one yard for a touchdown to make it 49-28 at the 9:14 mark.
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Akron moved down to the Kent State 13-yard line on their next possession but were unable to convert a 4th-and-4 play turning the ball over on downs.
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Crum added another touchdown pass, this time 13 yards to Bryan Bradford with 20 second left in the third quarter to extend the lead for the Golden Flashes to 55-28 after the two-point conversion failed.
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Dollard continued his ground assault on the evening scoring his fourth touchdown of the night on an eight-yard run with 12:50 left in the game.
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The Golden Flashes added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to account for the final margin.
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With the victory, Kent State assumes a 1.0-0.0 lead in the 2020-21 Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge.
Akron continues its 2020 campaign hosting Miami University in a 1 p.m. tilt on Saturday, Nov. 28. The game will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Dave Skoczen and Joe Dunn calling the action, as well as on ESPN3.
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Team Stats
AKRON
KENTST
Total Yards
366
750
Pass Yards
154
360
Rushing Yards
212
390
Penalty Yards
35
80
1st Downs
21
37
3rd Downs
5
11
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
29:21
30:39
1st Quarter
AKRON 0, KENTST 7
KENTST - COOPER, Marquez 3 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 5 plays, 46 yards, TOP 1:18
AKRON 7, KENTST 7
AKRON - GRAY, Xavior 0 yd fumble recovery (SMIGEL, Cory kick)
AKRON 7, KENTST 14
KENTST - CRUM, Dustin 15 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:02
2nd Quarter
AKRON 14, KENTST 14
AKRON - DOLLARD, Teon 28 yd run (SMIGEL, Cory kick), 8 plays, 86 yards, TOP 3:42
AKRON 14, KENTST 21
KENTST - MCKOY, Isaiah 75 yd pass from CRUM, Dustin (TRICKETT, Matt kick) 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:12
AKRON 21, KENTST 21
AKRON - DOLLARD, Teon 59 yd run (SMIGEL, Cory kick), 1 plays, 59 yards, TOP 0:10
AKRON 21, KENTST 28
KENTST - COOPER, Marquez 19 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 9 plays, 79 yards, TOP 3:52
AKRON 28, KENTST 28
AKRON - DOLLARD, Teon 13 yd run (SMIGEL, Cory kick), 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:44
AKRON 28, KENTST 35
KENTST - POKE, Ja'Shaun 11 yd pass from CRUM, Dustin (TRICKETT, Matt kick) 6 plays, 58 yards, TOP 0:37
3rd Quarter
AKRON 28, KENTST 42
KENTST - CRUM, Dustin 9 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 7 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:46
AKRON 28, KENTST 49
KENTST - COOPER, Marquez 1 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 5 plays, 36 yards, TOP 1:35
AKRON 28, KENTST 55
KENTST - BRADFORD, Bryan 13 yd pass from CRUM, Dustin (CRUM, Dustin passfailed) 12 plays, 87 yards, TOP 4:54
4th Quarter
AKRON 35, KENTST 55
AKRON - DOLLARD, Teon 8 yd run (SMIGEL, Cory kick), 6 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:23
AKRON 35, KENTST 62
KENTST - WILLIAMS, Xav. 49 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:50
AKRON 35, KENTST 69
KENTST - WILLIAMS, Jav. 1 yd pass from SCHLEE, Collin (TRICKETT, Matt kick) 7 plays, 27 yards, TOP 4:43
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
9
TD
0
YDS
154
INT
1
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
TE
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