The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Zips Battle to 31-27 Win at Kent State in Wagon Wheel Challenge Game
October 01 | Football
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KENT, Ohio – In a wild finish at Dix Stadium on Saturday, the Akron Zips traveled 57 yards with 1:02 left on the clock as TE Mykel Traylor-Bennett ran three yards into the endzone to secure a 31-27 victory over cross-town rival Kent State to keep control of the Wagon Wheel.
The thrilling victory marked the first time since 2004 that Akron won a Mid-American Conference opener on the road (at Kent State, 24-19) and the first win at Dix Stadium since the 30-27 double overtime win in 2008.
With the win, Akron moved to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the MAC, while the Golden Flashes fell to 1-4 on the season and 0-1 in league play. The Zips claimed one point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge.
After Kent State scored a touchdown to take a 27-24 lead with 1:02 left on the clock, the Zips didn't let the lack of time on the clock phase them, as Akron used four plays to travel 57 yards for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown.
The drive started when senior WR Tyrell Goodman (Yonkers, N.Y.) returned a short kickoff 16 yards to give the Zips favorable field position at the Akron 43-yard line. Next, junior QB Tra'Von Chapman (Ciincinnati, Ohio) found junior WR Austin Wolf (Lebanon, Ohio) for an 11-yard gain to take the ball to the Kent State 46-yard line. After an incomplete pass attempt, senior WR JoJo Natson, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) flew past the KSU defender, beating him off the line of scrimmage and receiving a pass from Chapman for a 43-yard pickup to the Kent State three-yard line with 25 seconds left in the game. Traylor-Bennett completed the drive with his second direct-snap touchdown run of the game.
Kent State outgained the Zips in total offensive yardage, 423-378, and controlled time of possession, 37:49 to 22:11. Akron held a slight 141-138 advantage on the ground, while Kent State controlled the air attack yardage, 285-237.
For the Zips, Chapman set career-highs in every passing category. He lined-up behind center for injured junior QB Thomas Woodson (Monroeville, Pa.) and led game-winning drive en route to 237 yards passing on 11-of-28 attempts with two touchdowns. He connected with Wolf on three occasions for 50 yards and a touchdown. In addition, Chapman carried the ball nine times for 39 yards.
Sophomore WR Kwadarrius Smith (Orlando, Fla.) led the Zips' receivers in yardage, gaining 75 yards on two targets, while Natson and junior WR A.J. Coney (Orlando, Fla.) also caught two passes for 48 and 22 yards, respectively.
On the ground, sophomore RB Van Edwards, Jr. (Cape Coral, Fla.) did most of the work, gaining 44 yards on eight carries and a 27-yard receiving touchdown. He also posted a team-high 156 yards as a kick returner. Junior RB Manny Morgan (Naples, Fla.) added 11 carries and 38 yards to the mix, while Traylor-Bennett collected a pair of rushing touchdowns with three attempts for 17 yards.
Leading the Akron defense that recorded nine tackles for loss and three sacks was sophomore LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.). Gilbert registered a career-best 16 tackles, including three for 14-yards of loss and a nine-yard sack. Junior S Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.) and junior DL Darius Copeland (Ft. Myers, Fla.) followed with a sack apiece. Guiser recorded an 11-yard sack as on of his six takedowns, and Copeland had five tackles with a 5-yard sack.
In the first half, Akron started the scoring but the defense came up big by only allowing seven points on three costly turnovers by the Zips. After Edwards took the opening kickoff 28 yards to the Akron 36-yard line. Chapman opened the game with a 35-yard strike to Smith, ending at the Kent 29-yard line. Akron was unable to advance the ball any further and relied on the foot of sophomore PK Tom O'Leary (Tucker, Ga.). At the 13:40 mark, O'Leary nailed a 46-yard field goal attempt to give the Zips an early 3-0 advantage.
The game remained 3-0 in Akron's favor until the Golden Flashes QB Nick Holley broke loose with 13-yard run into the endzone, capping a 6-play, 47-yard drive that eventually led to a 7-3 Kent State advantage with 2:51 left in the first quarter.
Akron regained the lead in the second quarter as Chapman fired the ball 40-yards down the field to Smith on the near sideline to the Kent State 22-yard line. Akron gained nine yards in three plays and elected to go for a fourth-and-one from the Kent 13-yardline. UA's Traylor-Bennett crossed the goal line on his initial direct-snap rushing touchdown.
Kent State responded with a 54-yard passing play to the Akron 14-yard line as Justin Rankin slipped by seven tackles. The Akron defense pushed the Golden Flashes back three yards, but Kent State was able to tie the game with a 30-yard field goal by Shane Hynes, 10-10.
After a second interception by Kent State's Jerrell Foster, the Golden Flashes grabbed a 17-10 advantage on an 18-yard pass play from Holley to Ernest Calhoun with 5:19 remaining in the half.
On the ensuing possession, the Zips fumbled and the Golden Flashes took advantage of another Akron mishap. KSU used a 47-yard pass play from Holley to Raekwon James taken to the Akron seven-yard line. Once again, the Akron defense held their ground, pushing the Kent State back 11-yards on a sack by Copeland, forcing the Golden Flashes to go for three points. Kent State missed the opportunity take a 10-point advantage into halftime. At the break, Kent State led 17-10.
The second half started as a back-and-forth battle with neither team moving the chains into threatening territory. With 5:05 remaining in the third quarter, the Akron defense made a game-changing stop when Kent State was faced with a fourth-and-two and elected to go for it at the Akron 31-yard line. The Zips stuffed the Golden Flashes for a one-yard loss, and Akron took possession on its own 32-yard line.
Akron marched down the field as Chapman led a seven-play, 68-yard drive into the endzone to tie the game at 17 points apiece. After moving the chains on three out of four plays, Chapman found Edwards coming out of the backfield and wide open in the middle of the field. Edwards completed the reception and scampered 20 yards to finish with six points.
With 1:47 remaining in the third quarter, the Zips defense didn't allow the Golden Flashes to pickup a first down, and Akron regained possession with 32-seconds left. The quarter ended with Natson drawing a pass interference flag followed by a three-yard run by Morgan.
Chapman opened the fourth quarter with two rushes, picking up two first downs on a 19-yard run and 13-yard gain. Next, Chapman targeted Wolf streaking down the sideline toward the endzone and let the pass fly. Wolf went up for the ball and grabbed out of the air with one hand while keeping his feet in the endzone for six points and a 24-17 Akron lead.
Kent State responded with three points, cutting the Akron lead to 24-20 on a drive that lasted 2:58 with five plays for 31 yards. The Golden flashes opened the drive with a 37-yard pass play, but the Zips stingy defense stopped a run for no gain and recorded a sack for an 11-yard loss by Guiser. KSU put the points on the board with a 41-yard field goal with 10:19 left to play.
The game went back-and-forth over the next five minutes as both team failed to consistently move the chains.
Kent State's final attempt to secure the Wagon Wheel started at the 5:47 mark on its own three-yard line. The Golden Flashes began to chip-a-way at the field position and eat time off the clock. After 15 plays and 88 yards, Kent was staring at a fourth-and-two from the Akron nine-yard line. On the ensuing play, Holley tucked the ball and began to scramble to the near sideline the flipped the ball over the outstretched arm of an Akron defender and landed in Rankin's hands at the goal line. The Golden Flashes converted the PAT for a 27-24 advantage with 1:02 left in the game.
The Zips will be back in action on Homecoming weekend against Maimi on Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium. ESPN3 will televise the game online. In addition to the Homecoming festivities, the 2016 Hall of Fame Inductees will be introduced at halftime.
