Kent State University
3-0 , 3-0
Akron
0-3 , 0-3
Flashes Whomp TSDTR to Win Wagon Wheel
11/18/2020 12:15:00 AM | Football, The Golden Flashes Club
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State football team (3-0, 3-0 MAC) secured the Wagon Wheel for the second straight season and handed TSDTR (0-3, 0-3 MAC) their 20th consecutive loss in a 69-35 record-breaking thrashing of the Zips. The Golden Flashes are 3-0 for the first time since 1958.
The Flashes tied school records for most points in a single game (69) and most total yards in a single game (750) as well as broke the school record for yards per play (9.62). It is the first time in school history that the Flashes have scored 60+ points in back-to-back games, becoming just the third Mid-American Conference school to do so since 1970.
It was the Dustin Crum show inside Dix Stadium on a chilly November evening. The Grafton, Ohio, native became the first player in Kent State history to throw for three touchdowns and rush for two scores in a game. Crum became only the fifth player in school history to account at least five touchdowns in a game.
The senior team captain finished 22-for-25 for 348 yards through the air and ran the ball 13 times for 104 yards. His 452 total yards are good for third all-time among Golden Flashes. Crum was also the first Kent State player since Julian Edelman in 2008 to have two touchdowns both passing and rushing.
Freshman Marquez Cooper had his second straight multi-score game. He finished with a team-high 107 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He is the first Kent State running back to rush for three scores in a game since Jo-El Shaw did so against Howard in 2018.
Junior Isaiah McKoy caught six passes for 140 yards and a touchdown all in the opening half. He secured a 75-yard touchdown from Crum, his 10th 20+ yard score since the start of the 2019 season. Sophomore Ja'Shaun Poke also grabbed six passes for 82 yards and his third receiving touchdown this year.
Both teams lit up the scoreboard in the first half, scoring the most first-half points in a MAC game since 2012 (63) as the Flashes held a 35-28 lead at the break. The Flashes would outscore TSDTR 34-7 in the second half on their way to the Wagon Wheel victory.
Crum and Cooper led a balanced ground attack that dominated the Zips down the stretch. The Flashes rushed for 390 yards, the most since 2012 against Miami. Redshirt junior Xavier Williams nearly gave Kent State three 100+ yard rushers, finishing with 97 yards on the ground and a score. Williams has scored a touchdown in six of the last seven games.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior Khalib Johns led the team with 10 tackles. The Flashes totaled 5.0 sacks in the contest, led by junior Zayin West.
The Flashes head to the Empire State to take on undefeated Buffalo on Saturday, Nov. 28, before traveling to Oxford to face Miami Dec. 5. Kent State is looking to start 4-0 for the fourth time in school history and the first since 1948.
For more information on the Golden Flashes, follow Kent State Football on Twitter and Instagram and visit kentstatesports.com.
Team Stats
AKRON 0, KENTST 7
KENTST - COOPER, Marquez 3 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 5 plays, 46 yards, TOP 1:18
AKRON 7, KENTST 7
AKRON - GRAY, Xavior 0 yd fumble recovery (SMIGEL, Cory kick)
AKRON 7, KENTST 14
KENTST - CRUM, Dustin 15 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:02
AKRON 14, KENTST 14
AKRON - DOLLARD, Teon 28 yd run (SMIGEL, Cory kick), 8 plays, 86 yards, TOP 3:42
AKRON 14, KENTST 21
KENTST - MCKOY, Isaiah 75 yd pass from CRUM, Dustin (TRICKETT, Matt kick) 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:12
AKRON 21, KENTST 21
AKRON - DOLLARD, Teon 59 yd run (SMIGEL, Cory kick), 1 plays, 59 yards, TOP 0:10
AKRON 21, KENTST 28
KENTST - COOPER, Marquez 19 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 9 plays, 79 yards, TOP 3:52
AKRON 28, KENTST 28
AKRON - DOLLARD, Teon 13 yd run (SMIGEL, Cory kick), 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:44
AKRON 28, KENTST 35
KENTST - POKE, Ja'Shaun 11 yd pass from CRUM, Dustin (TRICKETT, Matt kick) 6 plays, 58 yards, TOP 0:37
AKRON 28, KENTST 42
KENTST - CRUM, Dustin 9 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 7 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:46
AKRON 28, KENTST 49
KENTST - COOPER, Marquez 1 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 5 plays, 36 yards, TOP 1:35
AKRON 28, KENTST 55
KENTST - BRADFORD, Bryan 13 yd pass from CRUM, Dustin (CRUM, Dustin passfailed) 12 plays, 87 yards, TOP 4:54
AKRON 35, KENTST 55
AKRON - DOLLARD, Teon 8 yd run (SMIGEL, Cory kick), 6 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:23
AKRON 35, KENTST 62
KENTST - WILLIAMS, Xav. 49 yd run (TRICKETT, Matt kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:50
AKRON 35, KENTST 69
KENTST - WILLIAMS, Jav. 1 yd pass from SCHLEE, Collin (TRICKETT, Matt kick) 7 plays, 27 yards, TOP 4:43
