Zips Look to Bring Wagon Wheel Back to Akron

WHAT'S AHEAD
It's rivalry week and the Zips are looking to bring the Wagon Wheel back to Akron for the first time since 2018 as Akron hosts rival Kent State on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at InfoCision Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game is slated to be broadcasted on ESPNU with Drew Carter (PxP) and Dustin Fox (Analyst) calling the action with a link on GoZips.com.

Television: ESPNU - Drew Carter (PxP), Dustin Fox (Analyst)
Radio: Akron Sports Network - David Skoczen (pxp), Joe Dunn (analyst)
WHLO 640 AM (flagship), WHK 1420 AM/102.5 FM
iHeart Radio, TheVarsityNetwork.com
Video Link: www.GoZips.com - https://es.pn/40hIzP7
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com - https://bit.ly/485p7sw

HEAD COACHES
KENT STATE
Kenni Burns (Indiana, 2006)
Overall Record: 1-7 (1st Season)
Record at KSU: 1-7 (1st Season)

AKRON
Joe Moorhead (Fordham, 1996)
Overall Record: 55-42 (8th Season)
Record at Akron: 3-17 (2nd Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Series: Akron leads 35-28-2
Last Meeting: Kent State def. Akron, 33-27 (Kent, Ohio – Oct. 22, 2022)
Last Meeting at InfoCision Stadium: Kent State def. Akron, 38-0 (Akron, Ohio - Nov. 20, 2021)

Akron is meeting Kent State for the 66th time in program history with the Zips owning a 35-28-2 series advantage. The series is deadlocked 5-5 in the last 10 meetings with both teams winning four straight games. The Zips won four straight games from 2015-2018 and Kent State has won last four meetings. In the last meeting between the two schools, the Golden Flashes posted a 33-27 win at Dix Stadium (10/22/22). Akron posted wins in 2013 (16-7), 2015 (20-0), 2016 (31-27), 2017 (24-14) and 2018 (24-23 OT). KSU posted wins 2014 (27-24), 2019 (26-3), 2020 (69-35), 2021 (38-0) and 2022 (33-27).

The series between the two schools dates back to the 1923 campaign when Akron earned a 32-0 home victory over Kent State. The Zips and Golden Flashes have met every season since 1992.

SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State enters the Wagon Wheel game at 1-7 overall, including 0-4 mark in the MAC, following a 24-6 setback versus Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 21. Kent State QB Michael Alaimo directs the passing game with 932 yards and two touchdowns, while QB Tommy Ulatowski follows with 208 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Five Golden Flashes receivers have recorded 13 or more receptions led by Chrishon McCray with 35 cathes for 449 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Trell Harris and Jameel Gardner follow with 15 catches each as Harris logged 257 yards receiving and Gardner posted 145 yards. Rounding out the receiving corps are Luke Flories (14-152) and Justin Holmes (13-108). Flories has two touchdowns. KSU RB Gavin Garcia has rushed for 397 yards and 3.9 yards per carry on 96 attempts, while running for two touchdowns. Jaylen Thomas has carried the ball 80 times for 330 yards and 3.8 per carry with one touchdown.

Defensively, LB Devin Nicholson leads the squad with 53 tackles and a team-best 4.5 TFL, CJ Harris also owns 4.5 TFL. Bryce Sheppert follows in takedowns with 47, while DJ miller and Nick Giacolone registered 32 and 30 total tackles, respectively.

As a team, the Flashes average 12.5 points per game, while their opponents net 33.0 points per outing. Kent State has thrown for 142.5 yards and rushed for 117.3 yards per tilt.

MAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
(Sept. 25) - QB DJ Irons was named Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced. Irons generated 335 of 474 yards of total offense for the Zips in a four-overtime setback to Indiana on Saturday night, 29-27. Irons paced the Zips rushing attack by accumulating 141 yards with two touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry and a 34-yard long rushing attempt. He also threw for 194 yards, completing 22-of-35 passes and a 28-yard long toss to sophomore WR Jasaiah Gathings. Irons gave Akron a 10-7 advantage on a 14-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter after returning to the game. He found paydirt in the first overtime period with a 10-yard TD rush.

(Sept. 11) - CJ Nunnally was named Mid-American Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday. Nunnally provided a spark for Akron, helping them to a 24-21 win over Morgan State in their home opener at InfoCision Stadium on Saturday. With less than a minute to play, Nunnally forced a fumble to setup the game-winning touchdown. He forced the fumble at the Morgan State 13-yardline, stripping the Bears QB J.J. Davis of the ball, allowing teammate LB Bryan McCoy to recover the loose ball and score the game-winning touchdown.In addition, Nunnally opened the game with back-to-back sacks, recording two of the Zips four sacks on the game. His sacks totaled 10-yards of loss and posted a third tackle for an eight-yard loss. In all, Nunnally registered four tackles, three solo and one assisted, with three tackles for losses.

AKRON NAMES CAPTAINS FOR THE 2023 CAMPAIGN
The Zips elected QB DJ Irons, WR Daniel George, DB KJ Martin and LB Bryan McCoy as captains for Akron for the 2023 campaign.

UP NEXT
The Zips will be on the road the next two weeks before wrapping up regular season play at InfoCision Stadium. Akron is scheduled to. Visit Miami on Wednesday, Nov. 8 with a kickoff time of either 7 or 7:30 p.m.The following week Akron travels to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 14 for a 7 p.m. kick, and returns to InfoCision Stadium for Senior Day and the final regular season contest against the Ohio Bobcats on Friday, Nov. 24 at Noon.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jasaiah Gathings

Daniel George

DJ Irons

KJ Martin

Bryan McCoy

The University of Akron Athletics