Wagon Wheel on the Line as Akron Hosts Rival Kent State

Saturday, November 20

Akron, Ohio

12:00 PM

University of Akron

Kent State

Wagon Wheel on the Line as Akron Hosts Rival Kent State

November 18 | Football

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GAME NO. 11 - AKRON VS. KENT STATE NOTES (11/20)

Akron (2-8, 1-5 MAC) vs. Kent State (5-5, 4-2 MAC)
Saturday, Nov. 20
InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field
Akron, Ohio • 12 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 35-26-2
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Television: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Radio: 640 WHLO AM (Dave Skoczen - pxp and Joe Dunn - color)

WHAT'S AHEAD
It is rivalry week for the University of Akron football team as the coveted Wagon Wheel is on the line with the Zips hosting Kent State for the latest installment of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge this year on Saturday, Nov. 20. The showdown with the Golden Flashes is set for 12 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Je'Rod Cherry calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Kent State: Sean Lewis (Wisconsin, 2007), overall record: 17-22 (Fourth Season)/record at KSU: 17-22 (Fourth Season)
Akron: Oscar Rodriguez, Jr. (Fort Hays, 2005), overall record - 0-1 (First Season/Third Overall)/record at Akron - 0-1 (First Season/Third Overall)

SERIES HISTORY
Akron leads, 35-26-2
Last Meeting: Kent State def. Akron, 69-35 (Kent, Ohio - Nov. 17, 2020)
Last Meeting in Akron: Kent State def. Akron, 26-3 (Akron, Ohio - Oct. 12, 2019)

Akron is meeting Kent State for the 64th time in program history with the Zips owning a 35-26-2 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, the Golden Flashes registered a 69-35 triumph past Akron on Nov. 17, 2020 at Dix Stadium. Akron and Kent State last met in Akron on Oct. 12, 2019 as the Golden Flashes posted a 26-3 victory.

The series between the two schools dates back to the 1923 campaign when Akron earned a 32-0 home victory over Kent State. The Zips and Golden Flashes have met every season since 1992.

CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Akron tackles Kent State as part of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge during its game on Saturday, Nov. 20. 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 four of the last six Wagon Wheel football games. The Golden Flashes lead the current series this year, 2.0-1.0, through four events.

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

SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State enters action on Saturday, Nov. 20 on the heels of a 54-30 setback at Central Michigan on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

Senior QB Dustin Crum has passed for 2,414 yards en route to connecting on 13 touchdowns through the air. Sophomore RB Marquez Cooper has sparked the Golden Flashes' rushing attack running for 814 yards, including finding the endzone nine times, while Crum has rushed for eight touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore WR Dante Cephas has registered 907 yards en route to seven touchdowns.

Defensively, the trio of junior S Dean Clark, senior S Nico Bolden and senior LB AJ Musolino have combined to record 193 tackles, including posting 75, 60 and 58 stops, respectively. Musolino owns team-high marks in tackles for a loss (8.5) and sacks (3.0).

As a unit, the Golden Flashes average 31.5 points per game, while registering 474.1 yards per game, including throwing for 248.7 yards and rushing for 225.4 yards per tilt.

Kent State is ranked first in the NCAA in turnover margin (1.30), ninth in first down offense (254), 10th in turnovers gained (20), 12th in rushing offense (225.4), 13th in total offense (474.1), 21st in kickoff return defense (17.38), 30th in fumble recoveries (7), 43rd in passing yards per completion (12.89), 44th in scoring offense (31.5) and 47th in team passing efficiency (145.96). Individually, Crum is rated 20th in total offense (286.0), 33rd in passing yards (2,414), 34th in points responsible for (126), 40th in passing yards per contest (241.4) and yards per pass attempt (8.38), 42nd in passing yards per completion (13.05), 43rd in points responsible for per tilt (12.6), 44th in completions per game (18.50), 48th in passing efficiency (148.2) and 49th in completion percentage (.642), while Clark is 19th in solo tackles (5.2) and senior CB Elvis Hines, redshirt junior CB Montre Miller and senior CB Keith Sherald, Jr. are ranked 20th in interceptions (3).

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 17, 2020 - KENT, OHIO)
Akron RB Teon Dollard rushed for a career-high 202 yards, including scoring four touchdowns, but Kent State retained the Wagon Wheel with a 69-35 victory over the Zips in Mid-American Conference football action on Nov. 17, 2020, at Dix Stadium, as part of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge.

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.

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.

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.

LAST GAME
Akron battled down to the final play of the game with a chance to secure the victory only to come up five points shy in 45-40 setback at Western Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Playing in their first game under interim head coach Oscar Rodriguez, Jr., the Zips showed fight and resiliency putting up a season-high 40 points on 428 yards of total offense.

QB Zach Gibson registered his second consecutive and third overall 300-yard passing game for Akron this season going 26-of-40 for 305 yards and two touchdowns.

Freshman WR Konata Mumpfield (Hoschton, Ga.) recorded career-high marks in catches (11) and receiving yards (122), while sophomore WR Michael Mathison (Covington, Ga.) added his third 100-yard receiving effort of the season. Mathison concluded the game with 273 all-purpose yards, which included a 94-yard kickoff return in the second quarter.

Redshirt sophomore LB Jeslord Boateng (Dublin, Ohio) led the Zips with a game-high nine tackles, including a career-best eight solo stops. Redshirt junior S Jaylen Kelly-Powell (Detroit, Mich.) also collected a game-high nine tackles for Akron. Senior DL Zach Morton (Detroit, Mich.) added a pick-six touchdown for the Zips in the third quarter.

RODRIGUEZ, JR. NAMED AKRON'S INTERIM HEAD COACH
Oscar Rodriguez, Jr., was named Akron's interim head coach on Nov. 4, becoming the seventh active Hispanic/Latino head coach in NCAA Division I. He joins the Dave Aranda (Baylor), Marcus Arroyo (UNLV), Andy Avalos (Boise State), Mario Cristobal (Oregon), Manny Diaz (Miami) and Danny Gonzales (New Mexico). He also becomes the first head football coach of Hispanic/Latino heritage in program history.

MATHISON NAMED MAC EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Akron WR/KR Michael Mathison was recognized by the Mid-American Conference as its MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday, Nov. 15.

Mathison put together a career game versus Western Michigan rolling up a career-high 273 all-purpose yards, including a career-best 161 yards on kickoff returns, with a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Mathison returned four kicks for 161 yards, highlighted by the first kickoff return for a TD for a Zip since Dashan Miller raced 98 yards against Syracuse on Oct. 24, 2009. His kickoff return brought Akron within three, 17-14, in the second quarter.

Offensively, Mathison registered his third 100-yard receiving game of the season, equaling a career-high eight receptions en route to collecting 112 yards through the air.

ZIPS TO HONOR A TRIO OF SENIORS
The Zips' contest versus Kent State on Saturday, Nov. 20, will mark the final home games in the careers of seniors K Jerry Fitschen (Orange, Calif.), QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) and senior OLB Dean Ramicone (Brunswick, Ohio). The trio will be honored in pregame Senior Day festivities.

MUMPFIELD GARNERS FRESHMEN MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Akron freshman WR Konata Mumpfield was recognized for his outstanding campaign as The Athletic tabbed him to its freshmen midseason All-America squad on Oct. 19.

Having started each of Akron's 10 games this season, Mumpfield has hauled in a team-high 57 receptions on the year for a team-best 684 yards, including scoring eight touchdowns, which is tied for first in the Mid-American Conference.

Mumpfield is rated second in among freshmen wide receivers on the D1 NCAA BCS level in receiving touchdowns (8) and third in receptions per game (5.7) and receiving yards (684).

He enters play versus Kent State on Saturday, Nov. 20, owning a trio of 100-yard receiving games this season, including a career-best 11-catch, 122-yard effort at Western Michigan on Nov. 9. Additionally, he collected 10 catches for 109 yards at Miami on Oct. 16 and six catches for 106 yards at Bowling Green on Oct. 9.

Mumpfield has scored a touchdown in six of the Zips' 10 contests this fall, including a pair in a come-from-behind 34-20 triumph at Bowling Green on Oct. 9, while also pulling in seven catches for 67 yards and a touchdown at Ohio State on Sept. 25.

ZIP TIDBITS
• WR Konata Mumpfield registered a career-high 122 yards receiving on a career-best 11 catches at Western Michigan. Earlier in the campaign, he recorded 109 and 106 yards, respectively, at Miami on Oct. 16 and at Bowling Green on Oct. 9.
• WR Konata Mumpfield and teammate Michael Mathison have combined to post six 100-yard receiving games this season.
• WR Michael Mathison's 94-yard second quarter kickoff return at Western Michigan was the first for Akron since a 98-yard return by Dashan Miller vs. Syracuse on Oct 24, 2009.
• In the fourth quarter, one play after the Zips moved to within seven, 38-31, senior DL Zach Morton stepped in front of the Kaleb Eleby pass and intercepted the attempt and returned it to the endzone for a 24-yard touchdown return. The pick-six was the first of his Akron career and initial interception return for a TD since John Lako had a 64-yard return versus Miami in Nov. 2019.
• The Zips set season-high marks in completions (27) and attempts (43) at Western Michigan on the strength of QB Zach Gibson registering his third 300-yard passing effort of the season going 26-for-40 for 305 yards and two touchdowns.
• Freshman S DiMarco Johnson (Irmo, S.C.), junior DB Charles Amankwaa (Hillsborough, N.J.), sophomore DL Ryan Johnson (Starkville, Miss.), and redshirt freshman DL Curtis Fann, Jr. (Stillmore, Ga.) with six, five, three and two tackles, respectively.
• QB Zach Gibson is having a strong campaign for Akron going 95-for-136 through the air with 10 touchdowns while not surrendering an interception. His 69.9 completion percentage would rank 12th in the NCAA if he qualified for national rankings based on games played.
• WR Michael Mathison pulled in career-high marks in catches (8) and receiving yards (154) versus Ball State, including registering 102 yards after the catch. He now has a trio of 100-yard receiving games on the season after hauling in eight catches for 101 yards versus Temple on Sept. 11 and eight catches for 112 yards at Western Michigan on Nov. 9.
• RB Jonzell Norrils has rushed for 301 yards and three touchdowns over the Zips' last three contests versus Western Michigan, Ball State and Buffalo. He garnered 88 yards on a career-high 17 rushes against Ball State on Nov. 2, a week after running for a career-high 155 yards versus Buffalo, including a 74-yard touchdown run on his first hand-off of the game. He added 58 yards and a touchdown at Western Michigan on Nov. 9.
• Akron has posted the edge in time of possession in eight of the Zips' 10 contests this season and held Western Michigan, which ranked third in the NCAA (36:25) in time of possession, to nearly nine minutes (27:40) under their season average.
• ILB Jeslord Boateng leads the team in total tackles (77), solo tackles (37), assists (40) and in tackles for a loss (7.0). He registered a career-best three tackles for a loss against Buffalo on Oct. 23.
• Akron is 24-of-33 in the red zone this season, including 17 touchdowns and seven field goals this season.
• Akron is rated 19th in the NCAA in time of possession (31:52), 22nd in blocked kicks (2), 24th in completion percentage (.661), 38th in team passing efficiency (148.48) and 44th in defensive touchdowns (1).
• WR Konata Mumpfield is ranked 16th in the NCAA in receiving touchdowns (8) and 44th in receptions per game (5.7), while DB Charles Amankwaa is rated 30th in the NCAA in interceptions per game (0.3).
• QB Zach Gibson threw a career-high three touchdowns in Akron's games at Bowling Green and Miami on Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, respectively.
• With his interception versus Bowling Green, DB Charles Amankwaa picked off a pass for Akron in three consecutive games. He leads the Zips with a trio of interceptions on the campaign and recorded a career-high five tackles at Western Michigan on Nov. 9.
• WR Konata Mumpfield has scored a touchdown in six of Akron's 10 games this season, including a stretch of five consecutive games, including a 45-yard scoring strike from QB DJ Irons against Ohio on Oct. 2.

UP NEXT
The University of Akron football team closes out its campaign at Toledo on Nov. 27 at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio.

NO RE-ENTRY POLICY FOR AKRON FOOTBALL
Guests and students that exit InfoCision Stadium -Summa Field will not be permitted to re-enter. Guests and students arriving after halftime will be required to use Gate 1 for entrance. Tickets may be purchased at Gate 1 ticket office through the end of the third quarter.