Kent State University
University of Akron
Flashes Host Zips in Annual Wagon Wheel Rivalry Game
10/21/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
KENT-It is Wagon Wheel Week and the Golden Flashes will host the rival Zips at noon this Saturday for the annual Battle for the Wagon Wheel as part of the year-long Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge.
Saturday will mark the 52nd iteration of the Battle for the Wagon Wheel, the Flashes lead the Wagon Wheel series 26-24-1 and have won the last three meetings.
The Wagon Wheel trophy's origin dates to the spring of 1870 when Akron industrialist John R. Buchtel set out for the town of Kent in search of a site to establish a college. His wagon became bogged down in the area where Kent State University is currently located. When horses pulled the wagon, a wheel came loose and became buried until it was discovered in 1902 during the construction of a pipeline along the Western Reserve Trail. The wheel eventually fell into the possession of Dr. Raymond Manchester, who as the Kent State Dean of Men in 1945, suggested the local historic artifact be offered as the trophy to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Â
The Golden Flashes look to snap a two-game slide on Saturday, having dropped last Saturday's contest at Toledo 52-31 to fall to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the MAC. Marquez Cooper continued his stellar start to league play, topping 160 yards once again. He is now the leading rusher in MAC play, averaging 146 yards per game. The passing attack has Collin Schlee third in the MAC with over 288 yards per game and the receiving tandem of Dante Cephas (1st) and Devontez Walker (3rd) both averaging over 100 yards per game in league play. Defensively, Marvin Pierre is one of six players averaging at least 11 stops per game in conference play.
Pierre and the Kent State defense will be tasked with stopping a Zips' offense that averages over 300 yards per game through the air. DJ Irons has completed over 70 percent of his passes and has chucked it over 40 times per game in three MAC contests. Transfer Shocky Jacques-Louis has been his favorite target. He and Daniel George have combined to average over 150 yards receiving per game. Irons also can do damage with his legs, running for nearly 50 yards per game in three MAC contests. Bubba Arslanian once again anchors the Zips' defense and also averages over 11 stops per game. Zach Morton leads the pass rush with a pair of sacks and Charles Amankwaa headlines the secondary and leads the team in passes defended.
Saturday will be the recognition of the 1972 MAC Championship football team. The team is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the magical season that saw the Flashes make the second bowl game in school history, taking on the University of Tampa in the Tangerine Bowl.
The Wagon Wheel rivalry will air on ESPN + with Doug Sherman and Forest Conoly on the broadcast as well as the Kent State Radio Network with Rob Polinsky and Tom Evans on the call. The Kent State pre-game show will start at 11 a.m. through the GoFlashes app and the Learfield Varsity Network.
This is the last Saturday home game for the Flashes as #MACtion gets started on Tuesday, November 1st. The Flashes will host Ball State at 7 p.m. on ESPN U and the Kent State Radio Network.
