FOURTH QUARTER
14:03 ... Akron extends its lead to 13-7 with another long drive ... 13 plays, 73 yards and taking up 5:31.
The Golden Flashes defense finally took a stand after Akron picked up a first down at the KSU 12-yard line. On 3rd-and-8 from the 10, freshman safety Nate Holley made a nice recovery to bat down a lob to Zach D'Orazio in the end zone. The receiver was open, but Pohl's throw stayed in the air long enough for Holley to get to the corner and make a play on the football.
The Stein field goal was a 27-yarder
Even with as little that has gone right for the Flashes today, they are still down only six points with lots of time to play.
Akron 13, Kent State 7
The Flashes haven't been able to get the ball into the hands of Dri Archer today. Just six touches.
And with that in mind, Archer lined up at tailback to start the current drive with 13:58 to play and the football at the KSU 35.
9:51 ... The best drive by Kent State's offense today ends with an interception on a 4th-and-9 throw from the Akron 34.
Key play was a drop by Dri Archer on a second-down crossing pattern two plays earlier. Reardon threw a Nolan-Ryan fastball, but the ball still needed to be caught. A catch in stride might have ended in the end zone.
6:10 ... Key play of the game coming. Akron facing 3rd-and-11 at the KSU 26 ... The Zips call timeout.
After the timeout, the Zips lineup and apparently don't like the formation ... then call another timeout ... their last.
After 2 timeouts ... Akron gets the first down on 3rd-and-11 with an 11-yard run by Chisholm.
A crushing play. The Flashes' defense needs to find a way to recover.
4:26 ... Robert Stein 29-yard field goal has given Akron a two-possession lead.
Akron 16, Kent State 7
3:46 ... It looks like the Wagon Wheel will change hands. Reardon intercepted by Akron's Freeman near midfield.
1:12 ... The third interception of the fourth quarter by Akron's defense will secure the Wagon Wheel.
The wheel changes hands.
Congratulations to Akron.
Wagon Wheel was placed under the north goalpost to avoid the rush to the sideline. A good idea to continue in the rivalry.
THIRD QUARTER
6:10 ... First big gamble for Kent State after an uneventful start to the second half.
The Flashes call timeout on 4th and 2 after sending the punt team onto the field, then decide to go for it ... and pick up the first down with a 5-yard run by Trayion Durham.
Unfortunately for the Flashes, the drive stalled from there.
Akron will have the ball at its own 17 to start its drive after another Kent State punt.
0:00 ... A very frustrating day. The quarter ends with Akron knocking on the door again after another long drive, from the Zips' 17all the way to the KSU 12. It'll be 1st-and-10 from the 12 when the 4th quarter starts.
The Flashes call timeout on 4th and 2 after sending the punt team onto the field, then decide to go for it ... and pick up the first down with a 5-yard run by Trayion Durham.
Unfortunately for the Flashes, the drive stalled from there.
Akron will have the ball at its own 17 to start its drive after another Kent State punt.
0:00 ... A very frustrating day. The quarter ends with Akron knocking on the door again after another long drive, from the Zips' 17all the way to the KSU 12. It'll be 1st-and-10 from the 12 when the 4th quarter starts.
HALFTIME
SECOND QUARTER
13:34 ... The sloppy play continues.
The good news is Kent State got the best of two quick fumbles.
First Trayion Durham lost the ball at the end of a run for about 7 yards.
Two plays after Akron took over at the KSU 46, Roosevelt Nix hit Pohl for his second sack of the game, forcing a fumble that Fackler recovered at the Akron 42. So, about a 12-yard pickup on the ugliness ... Take it anyway you can, right?
8:34 ... The Flashes get into it with a touchdown drive to open the second quarter.
Some good work on third down, including two passes from Reardon to Tyshon Goode to move the chains.
A 3-yard touchdown run by Trayion Durham capped it. The big back has six touchdowns in his three games against the Zips.
Akron will take a 10-7 lead into the half after a 28-yard field goal by Robert Stein with 33 seconds to play before halftime.
The Flashes defense gave up some chunks on the ground during Akron's 15-play, 57-yard drive that ate up 7:59 of the second-quarter clock.
Some halftime stats:
Akron has out-gained Kent State by a slim 184-174 margin.
The Flashes have been run-first on offense, gaining 129 yards on 20 first-half carries and averaging 6.4 yards per attempt.
Akron has also been mostly run, thanks to that long second-quarter drive, gaining 84 yards on 24 attempts with a 3.5 per-carry average.
Akron has attempted 13 passes, completing five for 100 yards. Reardon is 4-for-9 for 45 yards, with Tyshon Goode the primary target. Goode has 38 yards on three catches.
No touches for Dri Archer in the second quarter ... In fact, no touches for Dri since his first-quarter fumble. It's been mostly Trayion Durham, who has 12 attempts for 69 yards.
Prior to the fumble, Dri had 39 yards on three rushes. He has not yet caught a pass.
8:34 ... The Flashes get into it with a touchdown drive to open the second quarter.
Some good work on third down, including two passes from Reardon to Tyshon Goode to move the chains.
A 3-yard touchdown run by Trayion Durham capped it. The big back has six touchdowns in his three games against the Zips.
Kent State 7, Akron 7
Akron will take a 10-7 lead into the half after a 28-yard field goal by Robert Stein with 33 seconds to play before halftime.
The Flashes defense gave up some chunks on the ground during Akron's 15-play, 57-yard drive that ate up 7:59 of the second-quarter clock.
Some halftime stats:
Akron has out-gained Kent State by a slim 184-174 margin.
The Flashes have been run-first on offense, gaining 129 yards on 20 first-half carries and averaging 6.4 yards per attempt.
Akron has also been mostly run, thanks to that long second-quarter drive, gaining 84 yards on 24 attempts with a 3.5 per-carry average.
Akron has attempted 13 passes, completing five for 100 yards. Reardon is 4-for-9 for 45 yards, with Tyshon Goode the primary target. Goode has 38 yards on three catches.
No touches for Dri Archer in the second quarter ... In fact, no touches for Dri since his first-quarter fumble. It's been mostly Trayion Durham, who has 12 attempts for 69 yards.
Prior to the fumble, Dri had 39 yards on three rushes. He has not yet caught a pass.
Akron 10, Kent State 7
FIRST QUARTER
13:44 ... It's another uncomfortable start for Kent State in the Wagon Wheel game. Like last year's game at Dix Stadium, the Zips have jumped on top early.
Two big plays put Akron on top ... the first a 45-yard (we think ... live stats are not working) pass from Kyle Pohl to Fransohn Bickley on 3rd-and-10 ... then a pitch-pass with wide receiver Zach D'Orazio throwing to a wide open LT Smith for a 33-yard touchdown. Both plays down the Kent State sideline.
Defense has to be better.
The offense, meanwhile, picked up a first down and had a shot for a big play on third-and-long after moving into Akron territory. Colin Reardon had Casey Pierce running open on a seam route, but he under throw the big tight end.
Kent State defensive coordinator Brian George said this week that several younger players are coming on and will start to see more playing time. Two of the players he mentioned were safety Nate Holley and linebacker Darius Redmond.
Both freshmen were in today's starting lineup.
9:01 ... Penalties are hurting Kent State again. A pass interference on the sideline on third down extended the Zips' second drive.
Then jumping offsides turned a 3rd-and-11 into a more manageable 3rd-and-6 for the Zips. Fortunately for KSU, a breakup on near interception by Farrington forced Akron to punt.
6:56 ... More bad fortune for Kent State.
Dri Archer with a 17-yard run ... gets hit by a teammate (looked like tight end Mike Levandowski) and fumbles... Recovered by Akron at the Zips 37.
The Flashes had something going, too. The Archer run was the second big gain in a row on the ground. Tryaion Durham ran through a big hole in the middle of the line for 17 one play earlier.
2:52 ... A very sloppy first quarter ... especially for Kent State.
The gem is only 12 minutes old, and already Kent State has four penalties for 40 yards.
0:00 ... If there is any good news after one quarter, it's that Kent State is finding some room to run the football ... 83 yards on 10 carries. Another fumble, though.
Akron 7, Kent State 0
Kent State defensive coordinator Brian George said this week that several younger players are coming on and will start to see more playing time. Two of the players he mentioned were safety Nate Holley and linebacker Darius Redmond.
Both freshmen were in today's starting lineup.
9:01 ... Penalties are hurting Kent State again. A pass interference on the sideline on third down extended the Zips' second drive.
Then jumping offsides turned a 3rd-and-11 into a more manageable 3rd-and-6 for the Zips. Fortunately for KSU, a breakup on near interception by Farrington forced Akron to punt.
6:56 ... More bad fortune for Kent State.
Dri Archer with a 17-yard run ... gets hit by a teammate (looked like tight end Mike Levandowski) and fumbles... Recovered by Akron at the Zips 37.
The Flashes had something going, too. The Archer run was the second big gain in a row on the ground. Tryaion Durham ran through a big hole in the middle of the line for 17 one play earlier.
2:52 ... A very sloppy first quarter ... especially for Kent State.
The gem is only 12 minutes old, and already Kent State has four penalties for 40 yards.
0:00 ... If there is any good news after one quarter, it's that Kent State is finding some room to run the football ... 83 yards on 10 carries. Another fumble, though.
PREGAME
2:51 p.m. ... Another throwback helmet for the Golden Flashes today.
Earlier this year, the Flashes wore their old San Diego Chargers-style helmet with a dark lightning bolt featuring gold trim. It was sharp.
This one is even more like the San Diego Chargers - late Dan Fouts era ... white lightning bolt. Gold trim.
Here's a look.
Earlier this year, the Flashes wore their old San Diego Chargers-style helmet with a dark lightning bolt featuring gold trim. It was sharp.
This one is even more like the San Diego Chargers - late Dan Fouts era ... white lightning bolt. Gold trim.
Here's a look.
I love the helmet ... even if it is (or was) a ripoff of an NFL look.
I wish more teams would go into the past with their uniforms. As a guy who grew up spending every summer and holiday in Boston with his grandparents, I love the old Patriots helmets with Pat snapping the football between his legs. The current helmet looks like it belonged in the USFL ... or like it was inspired by HBO's First and Ten (which I think used USFL highlights).
Give me the Errol Flynn pirate and the festival colors of the old Tampa Bay Bucs over the current skull and bones.
I love that the Browns basically never change ... except for one year in the Paul McDonald days.
Give me more throwbacks! I 'd like to see Akron wear throwback helmets. These were both sharp:
So what's the next throwback helmet for Kent State?
I'd love to see one of these:
2 p.m. ... The tailgaters are out in the lots next to InfoCision Stadium. Hopefully we'll get a good better crowd than most fans seem to be expecting for this one on what is a bit of a dreary afternoon.
Paul Haynes talked earlier this week about "getting back to basics" this week. We'll find out in a bit if that also means a very basic grind-it-out offense or if they have a few tricks up their sleeves for the Zips.
I talked to a few fans today who hope it actually means reestablishing the run with Trayion Durham and Dri Archer behind what Kent State's coaches believe is an improving offensive line. But Akron is one of the better run defenses in the MAC ... 4th overall at 156.1 yards allowed per game and one of just four teams allowing less than 4.0 yards per carry.
The Zips struggle a bit more against the pass, where they allow 260.9 yards per game (11th in the MAC). Kent State, of course, averages just 192 yards through the air (10th in the MAC). With Colin Reardon healthy and coming off of a career-high 260 yards against Buffalo, you may see the Flashes try to test the Zips secondary more than some expect in a get-back-to-basics, block-and-tackle week.
Defensively, the focus seems to be on limiting Akron running back Jawon Chisholm, who is one of those talented players some MAC fans haven't discovered yet. I talked to defensive coordinator Brian George earlier this week and he was very impressed with Chisholm, both as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield.
Injury wise: Roosevelt Nix is running around and looks spry ... And of a very interesting note, Anthony Melchiori is on the field, in uniform and practicing his kicking. I don't think we'll see him today, but is his season really over due to injury? Stay tuned.
Here's a look at what the local media has to say about today's game:
- Here is a link to Elton Alexander's preview in the Plain Dealer, "Wagon Wheel showdown for Kent State and Akron"
- Eariler this week, Elton had this story on the "relief" the Wagon Wheel game provides in the schedule for both teams
- Stephanie Storm of the Beacon Journal writes that Colin Reardon "faces big test from strong Akron defensive front."
- And earlier this week, Stephanie wrote about KSU head coach Paul Haynes and his understanding of the rivalry with Akron as a former Flashes football player.
- Allen Moff's Kent State preview of the Kent State-Akron game in the Record-Courier.
- Moff also had a very good feature earlier this week on Kent State senior safety Luke Wollet.
- George Thomas writes about how "Kent State, Akron on similar struggling paths" in today's Beacon Journal
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