FOURTH QUARTER
FINAL ... Kent State 27, Akron 24
... AND THE WAGON WHEEL RETURNS TO KENT STATE
0:54 ... A throw from Pohl to D'Orazio tipped and intercepted by Jordan Italiano. Two knees, and the sprint for the Wagon Wheel for the Flashes.
1:00 ... Kent State 27, Akron 24
Chris Humphrey with a brilliant catch in the left corner of the end zone has put Kent State back into the lead. The 5-yard score, if it proves to be the game winner, would be one to remember for Humphrey in his final game at Dix Stadium.
It capped a 10-play, 77-yard march that would be one to build upon for the Flashes heading into the offseason if the defense can keep the Zips from scoring
4:30 ... Akron 24, Kent State 20
A good march for Kent State's offense leads to a fourth-and-one attempt from the Akron 19 ... and ultimately to disaster for the Flashes.
Akron's Pittman and Boxen combine to drop Holley for a 1-yard loss on the run...
... and on the next play, Akron's Chisholm breaks free for an 80-yard touchdown to put the Zips ahead.
A good move at the line to get into the secondary and then Chisholm was off to the races. The Zips running back now has a career high 184 yards on 19 carries along with the three touchdowns.
8:53 ... The punt by Melchiori proves big as the Flashes force Akron to punt after Jon Cunningham sacks Pohl for a loss of 9 on 3rd-and-11.
The punt Paul – short, but a great bounce adds about 20 yards. Downed at the Kent State 13.
11:01 ... The Flashes get a booming punt from Anthony Melchiori when they absolutely had to have it. His 56-yarder, all in the air, is downed at the Akron 24.
... AND THE WAGON WHEEL RETURNS TO KENT STATE
0:54 ... A throw from Pohl to D'Orazio tipped and intercepted by Jordan Italiano. Two knees, and the sprint for the Wagon Wheel for the Flashes.
1:00 ... Kent State 27, Akron 24
Chris Humphrey with a brilliant catch in the left corner of the end zone has put Kent State back into the lead. The 5-yard score, if it proves to be the game winner, would be one to remember for Humphrey in his final game at Dix Stadium.
It capped a 10-play, 77-yard march that would be one to build upon for the Flashes heading into the offseason if the defense can keep the Zips from scoring
4:30 ... Akron 24, Kent State 20
A good march for Kent State's offense leads to a fourth-and-one attempt from the Akron 19 ... and ultimately to disaster for the Flashes.
Akron's Pittman and Boxen combine to drop Holley for a 1-yard loss on the run...
... and on the next play, Akron's Chisholm breaks free for an 80-yard touchdown to put the Zips ahead.
A good move at the line to get into the secondary and then Chisholm was off to the races. The Zips running back now has a career high 184 yards on 19 carries along with the three touchdowns.
8:53 ... The punt by Melchiori proves big as the Flashes force Akron to punt after Jon Cunningham sacks Pohl for a loss of 9 on 3rd-and-11.
The punt Paul – short, but a great bounce adds about 20 yards. Downed at the Kent State 13.
11:01 ... The Flashes get a booming punt from Anthony Melchiori when they absolutely had to have it. His 56-yarder, all in the air, is downed at the Akron 24.
With momentum shifting in Akron's favor, the Flashes needed this chance to flip the field.
Some numbers: Pohl is 16-for-37 for Akron for 175 yards and an interception. Reardon is 16-for-30 for 193 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Flashes.
Chisholm has been the difference today with 106 yards on 18 carries and the two touchdowns.
THIRD QUARTER
0:00 ... Akron won the third quarter, controlling the football with 27 plays to Kent State's 10. The Zips are also now ahead in total yardage, 291-281.
2:52 ... Kent State 20, Akron 17
Akron pulls closer thanks to a 41-yard Chisholm touchdown run through the middle of the Kent State defense.
Stats starting to even out a bit. Both teams have 102 yards, Akron on 23 carries, Kent State on just 15.
Total yards also now just about even with Kent State holding a slight advantage at 283-277.
Akron's defense is also starting to play better. Reardon was just dropped for a sack to set up a 3rd-and-12 with 2:11 to play in the third quarter.
7:04 ... Kent State catches a break as a long drive by Akron ends with a missed 25-yard field goal by Stein. The kick was sailing left as soon as it left his foot.
The Flashes defense gave up some big plays, but settled in again when the Zips reached the red zone.
13:00 ... Kent State 20, Akron 10
Colin Reardon to Casey Pierce for a 19-yard touchdown – a perfect throw by Reardon dropping it in over the defender at the goal line.
The touchdown was set up by a 39-yard run by Holley, who broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and exploded into the secondary.
Reardon also hit Pierce for 19 yards on the drive. The short pass broke into the open courtesy of a great block by wide receiver Ernest Calhoun.
Good answer to the Akron field goal, making this one a two possession game and atoning for some of the missed opportunities of the previous half.
12:50 ... Kent State 13, Akron 10
2:52 ... Kent State 20, Akron 17
Akron pulls closer thanks to a 41-yard Chisholm touchdown run through the middle of the Kent State defense.
Stats starting to even out a bit. Both teams have 102 yards, Akron on 23 carries, Kent State on just 15.
Total yards also now just about even with Kent State holding a slight advantage at 283-277.
Akron's defense is also starting to play better. Reardon was just dropped for a sack to set up a 3rd-and-12 with 2:11 to play in the third quarter.
7:04 ... Kent State catches a break as a long drive by Akron ends with a missed 25-yard field goal by Stein. The kick was sailing left as soon as it left his foot.
The Flashes defense gave up some big plays, but settled in again when the Zips reached the red zone.
13:00 ... Kent State 20, Akron 10
Colin Reardon to Casey Pierce for a 19-yard touchdown – a perfect throw by Reardon dropping it in over the defender at the goal line.
Reardon also hit Pierce for 19 yards on the drive. The short pass broke into the open courtesy of a great block by wide receiver Ernest Calhoun.
Good answer to the Akron field goal, making this one a two possession game and atoning for some of the missed opportunities of the previous half.
12:50 ... Kent State 13, Akron 10
A 41-yard Robert Stein field goal to open the second half has cut into the Kent State lead.
Akron took advantage of blown coverage on a 38-yard throw from Pohl to Andrew Pratt. But when Pohl misfired on second and third down (and the second throw should have been a pick), the Zips were forced to settle for the long field goal.
SECOND QUARTER
HALFTIME ... Kent State 13, Akron 7
Demetrius Monday ended the Zips drive, reading Pohl and baiting him into a pick at the Kent State 5. His interception return of 50 yards gave the Flashes a chance at the end of the second quarter, but a tipped ball interception at the Akron 10 ended that threat as well.
Some halftime numbers:
The Golden Flashes are out gaining Akron 203-to-98 despite only 33 offensive plays compared to 35 for the Zips.Holley has 8 carries for 45 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Pohl has struggled for Akron, going 8-of-19 for 61 yards with the pick late in the first half. Reardon also has his late pick on an 11-for-21, 142-yard first half.
0:40 ... A second pass interference call against Refuge on 3rd-and-10 gave the Zips a first down at the Kent State 13.
Akron now faces a 3rd-and-8 at the 11 after a time out.
1:28 ... Final Akron drive of the half has received a second life after a questionable interference call on a 4th-down throw from Pohl to Imani Davis. Penalty was against Elcee Refuge.
9:56 ... Another chance gone by as the Flashes march inside the Akron 30. Reardon missed Holley on a 3rd-and-4 screen pass that would have gone for big yardage. Nobody was within 15 yards of Reardon, who had the right sideline in front of him, but the lob was just over his reach.
Melchiori came on to try a 46-yard field goal that came up about 5 yards short.
Plays in opposing territory so far: Kent State 21, Akron 1.
11:26 ... The Flashes have missed an opportunity to add to their lead as Anthony Melchiori missed a 31-yard field goal attempt wide left. Wind was blowing in and slightly in that direction.
The Flashes had a first down at the Akron 14 after a nice 22-yard pick up on a wheel route from Reardon to Pierce.
The drive stalled from there, however, after Anthony Melchiori was dropped for a 5-yard loss on first down Reardon followed with two straight incomplete throws.
Akron offense has stalled again, however, thanks in large part to a sack by Marques Moore on first down. Flashes will get good field position again after a fair catch by Calhoun at the Akron 46.
FIRST QUARTER
0:51 ... The Flashes have a short field on drive No. 4 after the defense forces a quick three-and-out.
The 30-yard punt was downed by the Zips at their own 48.
3:00 ... Kent State 13, Akron 7
Another pretty easy drive for the Golden Flashes ends with a 24-yard touchdown run by Holley that saw him weave right through the middle of the Akron defense.
A 17-yard connection between Reardon and tight end Casey Pierce set up the score on the next play.
Unfortunately, the Flashes tried for a two-point conversion and failed. At least it appeared that they tried for two. Either that or the timing was off on the kick, leading to a run by holder Chris Humphrey that came up just shy of the goal line.
Reardon is 5-of-9 for 80 yards. Holley already has two touchdowns and 42 yards on his seven carries.
6:47 ... Akron 7, Kent State 7
Akron has tied the game thanks to a blocked punt by Akron's Dylan Evans. The block set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Jawon Chisholm.
You could almost see the blocked punt coming. Kent State realized it didn't have enough muscle to protect the edge and moved gunners in to help with the protection. The issue on that side of the line along with appeared to be slow mechanics opened the door for Evans. Melchiori then attempted to kick the ball a second time at the 4. That penalty moved the ball to the 2-yard line. Chisholm scored on the very next play.
10:50 ... Kent State 7, Akron 0
The 30-yard punt was downed by the Zips at their own 48.
3:00 ... Kent State 13, Akron 7
Another pretty easy drive for the Golden Flashes ends with a 24-yard touchdown run by Holley that saw him weave right through the middle of the Akron defense.
A 17-yard connection between Reardon and tight end Casey Pierce set up the score on the next play.Unfortunately, the Flashes tried for a two-point conversion and failed. At least it appeared that they tried for two. Either that or the timing was off on the kick, leading to a run by holder Chris Humphrey that came up just shy of the goal line.
Reardon is 5-of-9 for 80 yards. Holley already has two touchdowns and 42 yards on his seven carries.
6:47 ... Akron 7, Kent State 7
Akron has tied the game thanks to a blocked punt by Akron's Dylan Evans. The block set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Jawon Chisholm.
You could almost see the blocked punt coming. Kent State realized it didn't have enough muscle to protect the edge and moved gunners in to help with the protection. The issue on that side of the line along with appeared to be slow mechanics opened the door for Evans. Melchiori then attempted to kick the ball a second time at the 4. That penalty moved the ball to the 2-yard line. Chisholm scored on the very next play.
10:50 ... Kent State 7, Akron 0
A Nick Holley 1-yard touchdown run has put Kent State up early.
The Flashes with a quick march of eight plays and 73 yards that included a bit 3rd-and-5 pickup of 38 yards when Colin Reardon found senior Chris Humphrey in front of the Akron sideline.
Reardon with a nice 4-for-5, 63-yard drive to start. He also hit Kris White for 14 yards and a first down at the Akron 7.
The Flashes defense is about to step on the field and Nate Vance is prepared to start, fighting back from a string of injuries to play in his final college game.
Fifth-year starter Marcus Wright also gets the start defensively for the Flashes on senior day.
Elcee Refuge will be wearing No. 8 instead of his usual No. 7, possibly because he will play some special teams along with Casey Pierce, who wears 7 on offense.
Fifth-year starter Marcus Wright also gets the start defensively for the Flashes on senior day.
Elcee Refuge will be wearing No. 8 instead of his usual No. 7, possibly because he will play some special teams along with Casey Pierce, who wears 7 on offense.
PREGAME
The teams are on the field with Akron here on Senior Day. The Zips are dressed in all white. The Flashes are wearing their white pants with the blue tops ... which is the same look they wore two years ago here against Akron.
It's senior day and the last chance to cheer for players like tight end Casey Pierce and wide receiver Chris Humphrey for the Flashes.
The best part of the day is that so many of the seniors who have been out with injury are trying to give it a go today in their farewell to Dix Stadium. Most impressive of the list is Nate Vance, who is trying to play despite four injuries. Terrell Johnson will start at left tackle after a scary injury a few weeks ago that we all assumed would end his season. Richard Gray is back at defensive end.
Some of the young guys are also coming back today, including freshman Nathan Puthoff, who is listed as the starter at right guard.
Basically, it is all hands on deck as the Flashes will try to win back the Wagon Wheel and deal a blow to the Zips hopes of returning to a bowl game.
Saturday Morning ... The Live Blog will begin about an hour before today's 1 p.m. kickoff.
You can listen to the game live on WHLO 640 AM and on iHeartRadio's Golden Flashes Channel.
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