The Zips snap their 14-game road losing streak by cruising past their hated rival.
Akron entered at 2-8. Kent State entered at 0-10.
But when the Wagon Wheel is on the line, none of that matters. Running concurrent to the College Football Playoff rankings show, Akron vs. Kent State served as the perfect foil for what makes the heart of college football truly beat. The sheer hatred two schools show one another in a rivalry trophy game is one of the things that makes this sport incredible, and that was on full display Tuesday night, regardless of the teams’ records.
And when the final seconds ticked off the clock, the entire Akron roster raced toward the south end zone at Dix Stadium to claim the coveted prize of the Wagon Wheel. The Zips hoisted the wheel for the second-straight year, commemorating a definitive 38-17 road victory over Kent State. Not only did Akron claim a rivalry game so important that there’s an entire session of practice named after the Wagon Wheel, but Joe Moorhead and the Zips also snapped their 14-game road losing streak which was second-longest in the FBS.
Kent State never led for a single second in its first eight games all season, but the Golden Flashes ended that streak of futility last Wednesday, jumping out to a 7-0 lead over Miami (OH). Kent State’s fortune in the opening 90 seconds continued as it opened up a 7-0 advantage for the second-straight week. On the third snap of the game, Tommy Ulatowski heaved a deep ball to a wide open Luke Floriea, who scored an 80-yard touchdown for Kent State’s longest play of 2024.
Just like last week, Kent State’s lead was over in a flash. Akron scored on each of its next four possessions, notching two touchdowns and two field goals to open up a 20-10 advantage. The prevalence of the Ben Finley to Adrian Norton connection proved vital in moving the Zips down the field against the nation’s last ranked total defense. Norton registered 107 yards on five receptions (with 95 yards in the first half alone), setting up scoring plays such as Tahj Bullock’s 3-yard QB draw and Charles Kellom’s 12-yard touchdown scamper through a sea of Golden Flashes.
Meanwhile, Kent State’s offense was countering with three-and-outs. The Golden Flashes totaled three three-and-outs in each half as Akron’s defense controlled the line of scrimmage from kickoff to final whistle. The Zips produced three sacks and effectively shut down Kent State’s run game, limiting their rival to 1.9 yards per carry on 28 attempts.
Akron opened the lead as large as 38-10, notching its final two touchdowns on its first two series of the third quarter. After a buzzer-beating Garrison Smith field goal to conclude the first half, the Zips received the second half kickoff and glided down the field in nine plays. Bullock was once again inserted at quarterback near the goal line, and he produced his second rushing touchdown of the night to increase the lead to 30-10. The run game proved very effective for the Zips all night as Akron rattled off 277 rushing yards and three touchdowns, led by Jordon Simmons’ 113 and Kellom’s 104.
Akron’s final touchdown of the night was a 36-yard dime from Finley to Jarvis Rush in the end zone with 4:17 remaining in the third quarter. Ahead by 26 points (and possibly fueled by the rivalry), the Zips opted to go for two and succeeded as Bullock sent a screen to Kellom for a walk-in score.
The final touchdown of the night went to the Golden Flashes on another Ulatowski bomb. On this fourth quarter play, Ulatowski targeted his reigning First Team All-MAC receiver Chrishon McCray. In a cluster of three Zips, McCray hauled in the pigskin for a spectacular 37-yard touchdown reception. Despite the end result, it was Kent State’s most prolific passing attack since Oct. 12 as Ulatowski fired for 229 yards — snapping the team’s four-game streak of throwing for under 120. McCray and Floriea were the benefactors, tallying 103 and 93 yards, respectively, as effective deep threats.
However, Kent State committed its first and only turnover of the night targeting downfield in the waning minutes. Akron cornerback Elijah Reed secured the Zips’ third interception of the season of the season with around two minutes left, ensuing the Wagon Wheel celebration on the visiting sideline.
Kent State (0-11, 0-7 MAC) is the only winless FBS team and rides the nation’s longest losing streak of 20 consecutive games. The Golden Flashes are two defeats away from tying their program record of 21-straight losses (1981-83). After dropping its 15th-straight conference game, Kent State will conclude its season with a road trip at Buffalo on Nov. 26. Coincidentally, the Golden Flashes’ last FBS and conference victory was a win at Buffalo on Nov. 26, 2022.
Akron (3-8, 2-5 MAC) achieved three overall wins and multiple conference wins in a season for the first time since 2018. The Zips won’t head to a bowl, but progress was witnessed down the stretch of this season as they upset Eastern Michigan and thoroughly defeated their most hated rival for a coveted rivalry trophy. Holding the Wagon Wheel for the second year in a row, Akron finishes its 2024 season at home, hoping to upset Toledo.