Wagon Wheel Game on Tuesday at Dix Stadium

WHATS AHEAD
Rivals, Akron and Kent State, will battle for the Wagon Wheel on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network with John Sadak (PxP) and Ross Tucker (Analyst) calling the action. The Zips enter the rivalry game with an overall record of 2-8 and 1-5 in league play, while the Flashes look for its first win (0-10, 0-6)

Television: CBSSN – John Sadak (PxP) and Ross Tucker (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 (subscription may be required)
Live Stats Link: www.GoZips.com

SERIES HISTORY
Series: Akron leads 36-28-2
Last Meeting: Akron def. Kent, 31-27 (Akron, Ohio – Nov. 1, 2023)
Last Meeting in Kent: Kent State def. Akron, 33-27 (Kent, Ohio – Oct. 22, 2022)
Last Meeting in Akron: Kent State def. Akron, 38-0 (Akron, Ohio - Nov. 20, 2021)

Akron is meeting Kent State for the 67th time in program history with the Zips owning a 36-28-2 series advantage. Akron reclaimed the Wagon Wheel last year (2023) with a 31-27 victory, snapping Kent's four-game winning streak. Prior to last year's meeting, the series was 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 won four-straight from 2019-2022. In 2022, 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 currently sits 0-10 overall and 0-6 in MAC play, TheGolden Flashes average 14.30 points per game on 229.9 total yards of offense per game. The Flashes attack averages 153.4 yards through the air and 76.5 yards on the ground. Defensively, opponents average 44.8 points on 521.9 yards per game, allowing 257.0 yards in the air and 264.9 on the ground.

QB Tommy Ulatowski leads the offense, completing 62 of 143 attempts with seven INT's for 1,022 yards (127.75 avg) and 12 touchdowns. Ky Thomas and Curtis Douglas provide the bulk of the work on the ground, averaging 4.1 and 3.0 yards per carry, respectively. Thomas carried the ball 122 times for 550 yards (49.7 yds/g) with one TD, while Douglas recorded 143 yards (18.57) with 43 attempts. Chrishon McCray leads the receiving corps with 37 catches for 612 yards and eight TDs (61.2 yds/g and 16.54 yards/reception), followed by Trayvon Rudolph (37-547 yds-54.7 yds/g-5 TDs). KSU generated 48.5 tackles for loss of 157 yards with 16 sacks (85 yds). Josh Baka paces the defense with 73 tackles and 2.5 TFL for five yards. Rocco Nicholl follows with 61 tackles, while Tevin Tucker and Mason Woods follow with 50 tackles each. In addition, Kameron Olds leads the sack category with 6.0 with losses of 39 yards.

LAST TIME OUT
Akron fell 29-16 to Northern Illinois on the road at Huskie Stadium on Wednesday night. Akron's special team unit came up big for the Blue and Gold with a blocked punt that resulted in a touchdown. Redshirt junior Noel Roach III came away with the block while sophomore Terence Thomas secured the first blocked punt for a TD since Dec. 12, 2020, against Bowling Green. Redshirt junior Ben Finley led Akron's passing attack with 205 yards and one touchdown. Redshirt junior Jordon Simmons totaled 56 yards to lead the Zips' ground attack, picking up 4.7 yards per carry. Sophomore Adrian Norton reeled in two catches for 57 yards and one score, while sophomore Conner Cravaack hauled in three receptions for 22 yards and redshirt freshman Israel Polk finished with 28 yards. In addition, junior Bobby Golden had 27 yards on four receptions. Junior Bryan McCoy led the Zip's defense with 11 total tackles while recording seven solo tackles. Senior Paul Lewis III tallied eight tackles against the Huskies with six of them solo tackles. Senior CJ Nunnally IV recorded six tackles and a sack while redshirt senior Nathan Kapongo had four tackles and one sack. Defensively, Akron held up fairly well against the Northern Illinois passing attack, holding the Huskies to 144 yards through the air.

AKRON 2024 CAPTAINS
The Zips elected junior LB Bryan McCoy (Chicago, Ill.) as captain for the second consecutive season. McCoy is joined by senior DL Bennett Adler (Lakewood, Ohio), redshirt junior WR Myles Walker (Monaca, Pa.) and redshirt junior QB Ben Finley (Phoenix, Ariz.) as captains for Akron for the 2024 campaign.

UP NEXT
Akron closes out the 2024 campaign at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field against Toledo on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bennett Adler

Conner Cravaack

Ben Finley

Bobby Golden

Nathan Kapongo

Paul Lewis III

Bryan McCoy

Adrian Norton

CJ Nunnally IV

Israel Polk

Noel Roach III

Jordon Simmons

Terence Thomas

Myles Walker

The University of Akron Athletics