Dix Stadium – Kent, Ohio
Bragging rights in Northeast Ohio, along with possession of the Wagon Wheel trophy, will be on the line Saturday as the Kent State Golden Flashes go into battle against Akron at Dix Stadium.
Both teams are looking for their first MAC win of the season. After falling at Miami last week, KSU looks to end a five-game losing streak overall and seven game slide in conference play dating back to last season.
UA started the campaign at 2-0 with victories over Morgan State and Northwestern. Since then, the Blue and Gold have lost their last three encounters, including last Saturday at East Division leading Buffalo.
Saturday’s game is the 71st lifetime meeting between the two schools with the Zips holding a 34-24-2 edge. Akron has won the last three, including last season’s 24-14 victory at InfoCision Stadium. That clinched the Eastern Division title for UA. It is the 25th lifetime meeting in Kent with the Flashes holding a 15-9 edge.In the 24 previous meetings at KSU, the Flashes hold a 15-9 edge.
The game is also the 48th game for the battle of the Wagon Wheel Trophy, which began in 1946. The series is deadlocked at 23-23-1 coming into Saturday’s battle
Here is a look at these two long-time rivals so far in 2018
AKRON ZIPS (2-3, 0-2 MAC)
>>>> The Zips dropped their third consecutive game and second in MAC play last Saturday at Buffalo, falling to the Eastern Division-leading Bulls 24-6.
>>>> Head Coach Terry Bowden is midway through his seventh season at UA and 25th overall as a head coach. Bowden has a record of 32-47 with the Zips and 173-109-2 overall. He is 21-19 in MAC games and 4-2 lifetime against Kent State
>>>> So far in their five games in 2018, UA offensively is averaging 23.2 points and 308.4 yards. However the offense has failed to gain at last 300 in the last three games.
>>>> Sophomore QB Cato Nelson is completing 52.1 percent of his passes (76-of-146) for 980 yards with seven touchdowns and six intereptions.
>>>> Senior RB Van Edwards leads the ground attack with 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
>>>> Sophomore WR Andre Williams leads the receivers with 19 receptions for 289 yards and three scores.
>>>> The offensive line has allowed 11 sacks in these five games.
>>>> The Zips defensively are allowing 26.4 points and 373.4 yards. They have surrendered 400 or more yards in the past two games (against Miami and Buffalo)
>>>> UA’s defense has just five sacks, but six interceptions, 20 pass breakups, six forced fumbles, five recoveries, and four defensive touchdons (two each by junior FS Alvin Davis and senior LB Ulysses Gilbert).
>>>> Junior LB John Lako leads with 42 total tackles (27 solo)
>>>> Junior DE Josh Ward has two sacks for 13 yards and 4.5 TFL for an addition al 16 yards
>>>> Alvin Davis leads the MAC with four interceptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns (both coming in the win at Northwestern)
>>>> Gilbert has two fumble recoveries both for scores (in the end zone against NU and a 46-yard return against Miami)
>>>> Senior Nick Gasser doubles as the Zips punter and place kicker. He accouted for all of UA’s points last Saturday with a pair of field goals from 48 (second longest of his career) and 44 yards (just before halftime).
>>>> Gasser is 9-for-11 on field goals and is a perfect 10-of-10 on PAT. His 27 punts have averaged 38.5 yards with six being downed inside the 20-yard line.
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (1-6, 0-3 MAC)
>>>> The Golden Flashes dropped to 0-3 in MAC play after losing at Miami 31-6. It was their fifth consecutive loss overall and seventh in MAC play, dating back to last season.
>>>> The KSU offense has averaged 23 points and 397.4 yards through the first seven games. Against Miami, their six points were the lowest total of 2018, and their 274 total yards was second.
>>>> Sophomore QB Woody Barrett is completing 61 percent of his passes (157-of-256) for 1650 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions.
>>>> Barrett’s touchdown run late in the fourth quarter avoided the shutout at MU
>>>> Junior RB Justin Rankin leads the ground game with 511 yards and a touchdown. He has a pair 100-yard rushing games this season, both at home (against Howard and Ohio)
>>>> Freshman Isiah McKoy leads UA receivers with 32 catches for 342 yards and a pair of scores. He has two 100-yard receiving games, including a career best 118 yards against Ohio
>>>> The offensive line has allowed 29 sacks (the most in the MAC).
>>>> The Flashes defense has allowed 36.6 points and 508.1 yards over seven outings.
>>>> KSU has 15 sacks, six interceptions, 20 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
>>>> Fifth year senior LB Matt Bahr leads the tacklers with 65 total stops along with 4.5 tackles for loss.
>>>> Three players (sophomore CB Keith Sherald, junior NT Theo Majette, and senior DE Theo Eboigbe) each have two sacks.
>>>> Sherald leads with five pass breakupsm while junior CB Jamal Parker leads with two interceptions.