By EVAN MEYER
As the 2017 regular season comes to a close for the Akron Zips and the Kent State Golden Flashes, Tuesday’s matchup at UA’s InfoCision Stadium brings together two teams at nearly opposite ends of the MAC football landscape.
Akron is tied with Ohio for first place in the East Division. Holding a head-to-head tiebreaker win over the Bobcats, UA only needs to beat arch-rival Kent State to win their first division title since 2005, as well as a trip to Detroit and the 2017 Marathon MAC Championship Game.
The Flashes on the other hand . . .
As the 2017 regular season comes to a close for the Akron Zips and the Kent State Golden Flashes, Tuesday’s matchup at UA’s InfoCision Stadium brings together two teams at nearly opposite ends of the MAC football landscape.
Akron is tied with Ohio for first place in the East Division. Holding a head-to-head tiebreaker win over the Bobcats, UA only needs to beat arch-rival Kent State to win their first division title since 2005, as well as a trip to Detroit and the 2017 Marathon MAC Championship Game.
The Flashes on the other hand . . .
. . . are not only playing for pride, but have an opportunity to play big time spoiler of their rival’s title dreams.
Of course, for both, there is also possession of the Wagon Wheel trophy, which goes to the annual winner.
Of course, for both, there is also possession of the Wagon Wheel trophy, which goes to the annual winner.
THE WAGON WHEEL TROPHY
The trophy has been awarded to the winner since 1946..The wheel itself dates back to the middle 19th century…Legendary stories abound to the roots of the Wagon Wheel. The favored version was that John Buchtel, founder of Buchtel College (which later became the University of Akron) was looking for a site for his school in the spring of 1870.
His wagon became stuck in the mud somewhere on the present site of Kent State. It remained embedded in the ground until it was found in 1902. The wheel eventually was in the possession of Raymond Manchester the Dean of Men at KSU. In the 1940’s, he suggested the wheel become a prize for winning the football game between UA-KSU. To that end, he had the wheel painted Blue and Gold.
The competition continues to this day, bringing together Mid-American Conference schools separated by 11.6 miles along Ohio Route 59. That is the second shortest distance in the Football Bowl Subdivision (Rice and Houston is closest at 6.1 miles)
THE SERIES
Tuesday evening’s battle is the 60th lifetime meeting between the two schools with the Zips holding a 33-24-2 record. They have won the last three games in the series.
It is the 36th game played in Akron and the fifth at InfoCision Stadium, with UA holding leads of 24-9-2 and 3-1 respectively
Here’s more on the two teams:
AKRON ZIPS (6-5, 5-2 MAC)
► Last Tuesday night, the Zips picked up their biggest win of the season as they defeated the Ohio Bobcats 37-34 at InfoCision Stadium to draw even with the ‘Cats atop the Eastern Division.
► A victory over their arch rival would give the Zips the East title for the first time since 2005. It would be just their second trip to the Marathon MAC Championship Game in Detroit
► The win ended a nine-game losing streak to the men from Athens and also made UA bowl eligible for the second time in the last three seasons.
► In just his second collegiate start, Redshirt freshman QB Cato Nelson had a career day as he passed for 322 yards and four touchdowns as the offense compiled 443 yards of total offense.
► In just his second collegiate start, sophomore RB Manny Morgan rushed for 55 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown that proved to be the margin of victory.
► The receivers were led by Tra’Von Chapman, who had eight catches for 65 yards. Seven difference players caught at least one pass in the contest. Junior wide out Kwadarius Smith caught just two passes. However, they were good for 125 yards and two scores. Nelson also threw touchdown passes to senior WR Austin Wolf and A.J. Coney.
► The defense was led by junior LB Ulysses Gilbert. The 2016 MAC Defensive Player of the Year had 11 total tackles (three solo). Other big contributors included junior rover back Shawn Featherstone, who had an interception as well as a fumble recovery on a kickoff that set up a touchdown. Junior CB Jordan George’s fourth quarter interception led to Morgan’s game winning score.
► The game will be the final home tilt for 24 seniors the second graduating class under head coach Terry Bowden. The group has a 24-24 record, which includes a victory over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It was UA’s first ever bowl win in the FBS era.
► Bowden is 3-2 lifetime against KSU and against current head coach Paul Haynes
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (2-9, 1-6 MAC)
► Last week, the Flashes dropped their sixth consecutive game falling to Central Michigan in the home finale at Dix Stadium 42-23
► In the loss, KSU had its best offensive production of the season, registering 25 first downs and 494 yards of total offense
► Junior QB George Bollas completed 15-of-28 passes for a season high 310 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore RB Justin Rankin had a season high 67 yards on 21 carries. He and sophomore WR Mike Carrigan owned four catches each for 83 and 64 yards respectively
► The defense was led by senior CB Jerrell Foster, who had six solo tackles. Safety Mandela Lawrence-Burke had a fumble recovery and Miles Daniel intercepted a pass. junior LB Jim Jones, Leading tackler on the season, had a sack.
► Tuesday night’s battle with the Zips will be the final collegiate game for 15 members of the KSU squad.
The trophy has been awarded to the winner since 1946..The wheel itself dates back to the middle 19th century…Legendary stories abound to the roots of the Wagon Wheel. The favored version was that John Buchtel, founder of Buchtel College (which later became the University of Akron) was looking for a site for his school in the spring of 1870.
His wagon became stuck in the mud somewhere on the present site of Kent State. It remained embedded in the ground until it was found in 1902. The wheel eventually was in the possession of Raymond Manchester the Dean of Men at KSU. In the 1940’s, he suggested the wheel become a prize for winning the football game between UA-KSU. To that end, he had the wheel painted Blue and Gold.
The competition continues to this day, bringing together Mid-American Conference schools separated by 11.6 miles along Ohio Route 59. That is the second shortest distance in the Football Bowl Subdivision (Rice and Houston is closest at 6.1 miles)
THE SERIES
Tuesday evening’s battle is the 60th lifetime meeting between the two schools with the Zips holding a 33-24-2 record. They have won the last three games in the series.
It is the 36th game played in Akron and the fifth at InfoCision Stadium, with UA holding leads of 24-9-2 and 3-1 respectively
Here’s more on the two teams:
AKRON ZIPS (6-5, 5-2 MAC)
► Last Tuesday night, the Zips picked up their biggest win of the season as they defeated the Ohio Bobcats 37-34 at InfoCision Stadium to draw even with the ‘Cats atop the Eastern Division.
► A victory over their arch rival would give the Zips the East title for the first time since 2005. It would be just their second trip to the Marathon MAC Championship Game in Detroit
► The win ended a nine-game losing streak to the men from Athens and also made UA bowl eligible for the second time in the last three seasons.
► In just his second collegiate start, Redshirt freshman QB Cato Nelson had a career day as he passed for 322 yards and four touchdowns as the offense compiled 443 yards of total offense.
► In just his second collegiate start, sophomore RB Manny Morgan rushed for 55 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown that proved to be the margin of victory.
► The receivers were led by Tra’Von Chapman, who had eight catches for 65 yards. Seven difference players caught at least one pass in the contest. Junior wide out Kwadarius Smith caught just two passes. However, they were good for 125 yards and two scores. Nelson also threw touchdown passes to senior WR Austin Wolf and A.J. Coney.
► The defense was led by junior LB Ulysses Gilbert. The 2016 MAC Defensive Player of the Year had 11 total tackles (three solo). Other big contributors included junior rover back Shawn Featherstone, who had an interception as well as a fumble recovery on a kickoff that set up a touchdown. Junior CB Jordan George’s fourth quarter interception led to Morgan’s game winning score.
► The game will be the final home tilt for 24 seniors the second graduating class under head coach Terry Bowden. The group has a 24-24 record, which includes a victory over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It was UA’s first ever bowl win in the FBS era.
► Bowden is 3-2 lifetime against KSU and against current head coach Paul Haynes
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (2-9, 1-6 MAC)
► Last week, the Flashes dropped their sixth consecutive game falling to Central Michigan in the home finale at Dix Stadium 42-23
► In the loss, KSU had its best offensive production of the season, registering 25 first downs and 494 yards of total offense
► Junior QB George Bollas completed 15-of-28 passes for a season high 310 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore RB Justin Rankin had a season high 67 yards on 21 carries. He and sophomore WR Mike Carrigan owned four catches each for 83 and 64 yards respectively
► The defense was led by senior CB Jerrell Foster, who had six solo tackles. Safety Mandela Lawrence-Burke had a fumble recovery and Miles Daniel intercepted a pass. junior LB Jim Jones, Leading tackler on the season, had a sack.
► Tuesday night’s battle with the Zips will be the final collegiate game for 15 members of the KSU squad.
RSS Feed