Kent State Hosts Akron at 2 p.m. Saturday in 49th Battle for the Wagon Wheel
9/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
KENT, Ohio
Kent State looks to retain its grip on the top spot in the Mid-American Conference when it hosts crosstown rival Akron, Saturday, Sept. 30, at Dix Stadium, in the 49th annual Battle for the Wagon Wheel. Kickoff is 2 p.m. for the MAC TV Game of the Week.
The Golden Flashes have won two consecutive conference road games to vault to the top of the MAC standings, including snapping an 18-game losing streak at Bowling Green last week.
FLASH FACTS
• Kent State aims to improve to 3-0 to start MAC play for just the fourth time and first since 1986.
• The Golden Flashes handed Bowling Green its worst loss in the 40-year history Perry Stadium last week, snapping an 18-game losing streak there.
• Senior wideout Najah Pruden is 10th in the nation in receiving yards per game, averaging 96.5 yards per contest.
• KSU's pass defense is 12th in the nation.
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• Kent State shoots for three in a row when it plays its first home game since the season-opener, hosting rival Akron, Saturday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. The Golden Flashes look for their first win over Akron at Dix Stadium since 1996.
TELEVISION
• The game is the MAC TV Game of the Week, and will be carried live on FSN Ohio, Comcast Local, Comcast Chicago and Time Warner 13... Calling the action are Michael Reghi (play-by-play), Bob Chmiel (analyst) and Jeff Phelps (sidelines).
RADIO
• Together for the fifth straight year, Bill Needle (play-by-play), Tom Linder (color analyst) and Ty Linder (sidelines) call the excitement of Golden Flashes football on the Kent State Sports Network. KSU football may be heard on flagship station WHLO-AM 640 in Akron, WHK-AM 1420 in Cleveland and WHKZ-AM 1440 in Youngstown.
WEBSITE
• Live audio all Kent State football game broadcasts, live video of select games and live stats are available via the Golden Flashes' official athletic department website (www.kentstatesports.com).
THE SERIES
• Akron leads the all-time series with Kent State 27-19-2 and has won two straight.
THE COACHES
• Doug Martin (Kentucky '85) enters his third season as a head coach, owning an 8-18 record leading the Golden Flashes. He was promoted to head coach March 1, 2004, after serving as the team's offensive coordinator in 2003.
• J.D. Brookhart (Colorado State '88) is in his third season at Akron, owning a 15-12 record with the Zips.
UP NEXT
• Kent State travels to Philadelphia to meet Temple, Saturday, Oct. 7, at 1 p.m... Akron is at Cincinnati next week.
| Complete Game Notes in PDF format |
