Kent State University
3-5 , 2-2
University of Akron
1-7 , 0-4
Flashes Defend Wagon Wheel for Fourth Straight Season
10/22/2022 5:19:00 PM | Football
KENT, OHIO-The Golden Flashes successfully defended the Wagon Wheel on Saturday afternoon, capturing the coveted trophy for the fourth-consecutive year in a 33-27 victory at Dix Stadium.
Devin Kargman made his first collegiate start on Saturday, throwing for 213 yards and a pair of scores, both to Devontez Walker as the true freshman helped erase an early 10-0 deficit on Saturday. Walker finished the day with eight catches for 72 yards and three scores, adding a third on a second half rushing touchdown.
Walker also threw a key downfield block on Bryan Bradford's second quarter 58-yard touchdown run that opened the Kent State scoring. The Flashes as a team ran for 242 yards on Saturday, led by 137 from Marquez Cooper.
The Kent State defense forced a trio of red-zone turnovers, two on interceptions by Jojo Evans and Montre Miller and a third on a critical fourth down stop late in the game. The defense's adjustments after the Zips' early success allowed Kargman to settle in and get to work. Kargman found Walker on consecutive drives to close the half, sending Kent State into the locker room with a 21-17 lead at the half.
The Flashes scored the first nine points of the second half on Walkers' rush and the first of two Andrew Glass field goals to open up the largest lead of the game at 30-17. Kent State then ground the game out from that point. The offense added a 42-yard field goal by Glass to go up nine at the start of the fourth quarter and the defense got two late sacks from Zayin West and the aforementioned fourth-down stop to clinch the wheel for the fourth-straight season.
The fourth-straight win is the longest in the rivalry for the Flashes since winning 10-straight from 1942-54. Kent State will look to carry the momentum into the 10-day #MACtion break. The Flashes are back in action on Tuesday, November 1st as they host Ball State. Kick-off from Dix Stadium is set for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN U.
Team Stats
AKR 7, KSU 0
AKR - Adams,Alex 80 yd pass from Irons,DJ (Smigel,Cory kick) 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:12
AKR 10, KSU 0
AKR - Smigel,Cory 22 yd field goal 15 plays, 86 yards, TOP 07:11
AKR 10, KSU 7
KSU - Bradford,Bryan 58 yd run (Glass,Andrew kick), 4 plays, 71 yards, TOP 01:00
AKR 10, KSU 14
KSU - Walker,Devontez 35 yd pass from Kargman,Devin (Glass,Andrew kick) 8 plays, 76 yards, TOP 02:40
AKR 17, KSU 14
AKR - Irons,DJ 5 yd run (Smigel,Cory kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:08
AKR 17, KSU 21
KSU - Walker,Devontez 10 yd pass from Kargman,Devin (Glass,Andrew kick) 7 plays, 48 yards, TOP 01:15
AKR 17, KSU 27
KSU - Walker,Devontez 14 yd run (), 7 plays, 87 yards, TOP 02:05
AKR 17, KSU 30
KSU - Glass,Andrew 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 55 yards, TOP 03:34
AKR 24, KSU 30
AKR - Irons,DJ 5 yd run (Smigel,Cory kick), 10 plays, 71 yards, TOP 03:49
AKR 24, KSU 33
KSU - Glass,Andrew 42 yd field goal 4 plays, 2 yards, TOP 01:28
AKR 27, KSU 33
AKR - Smigel,Cory 42 yd field goal 14 plays, 45 yards, TOP 04:14
