Flashes Capture Wagon Wheel, First Place in MAC

Saturday, October 12

Akron, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Kent State University

3-3 , 2-0

Akron

0-6 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

KENTST

AKRON

Flashes Capture Wagon Wheel, First Place in MAC

10/12/2019 7:52:00 PM | Football

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio – Kent State (3-3, 2-0 MAC) shreds the school down the road (0-6, 0-2 MAC), bringing the Wagon Wheel back home and jumping to the top of the Mid-American Conference with a 26-3 victory inside InfoCision Stadium in the 49^th installment of the rivalry.

The Golden Flashes evened up the all-time Wagon Wheel series, 24-24-1, with the victory. It is their first time hoisting the trophy since 2014.

"Great family win today!" said Head Coach Sean Lewis. "I cannot wait to take the wheel home and paint it our colors. It was a great effort in all three phases that made a day like this possible."

The Golden Flashes came out slinging, as Dustin Crum hit Isaiah McKoy on a 49-yard touchdown strike. Crum finished the game 16-of-21 for 149 yards and a touchdown, and he extended his interceptionless streak to 153 passing attempts. McKoy racked up his fourth game of the season with 50 or more receiving yards.

After the two teams traded field goals, Kent State posted an 11-play, 83-yard drive that resulted in a five-yard Will Matthews touchdown run. Matthews dominated on his way to a career-high 126 yards on 25 carries. He became the first Golden Flashes' running back since Dri Archer in 2012 to rush for over 100 yards against the Zips.

A scoreless second half for both teams ended when Matthew Trickett nailed a 43-yard field goal, his second of the day. Jabbar Price recovered a Kato Nelson fumble on the next play from scrimmage to give the Flashes the ball in Zips' territory. Trickett drilled a 45-yard field goal to extend the Kent State lead, 23-3. Trickett tied his career-high with four field goals as he hit a 43-yarder with two minutes to go.

The Flashes' 23-point win is the biggest win over Akron since a 35-3 victory in 2011, and the three points allowed were the fewest by Kent State in the rivalry since that same game.

Elvis Hines was a force for the Kent State defense, totaling 11 tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss. Qwuantrezz Knight – the Flashes' leading tackler on the season – posted nine tackles and a career-high two tackles for loss. Kesean Gamble recorded five tackles, including a career-high two sacks.

The Flashes will travel to Athens, Ohio next Saturday, Sept. 19, to take on the Ohio Bobcats at noon. Kent State's next home game will be Saturday, Sept. 26, against Miami on Hall of Fame Day.