Replay: Kent State retains Wagon Wheel by earning fourth straight victory over rival Akron
A quick look at the numbers
Kent State freshman quarterback Devin Kargman, making his first collegiate start, completed 14-of-25 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The Flashes did not commit a turnover. Junior running back Marquez Cooper rushed for 137 yards on 28 carries, while sophomore wide receiver Devontez Walker finished with 5 catches for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns receiving. He also rushed for a 14-yard score. Grad student linebacker Marvin Pierre finished with 14 tackles.
The Flashes (3-5) snapped a two-game losing streak and evened their MAC record at 2-2.
Quarterback DJ Irons led Akron (1-7, 0-4) with 420 total yards. He completed 32-of-43 passes for 383 yards and a touchdown, but threw two interceptions. Irons added 37 yards rushing and a pair of scores. Alex Adams finished with 9 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown.
Kent State defeats Akron 33-27, retains Wagon Wheel
Final score from Dix Stadium: Kent State 33, Akron 27. Flashes retain Wagon Wheel after earning their fourth straight win over the Zips, run their school-record home winning streak to 12 games.
Akron scores, but Kent State defense accomplishes its mission
Long, time-consuming Akron drive produces a field goal that makes it a one-score game again, but Kent State's defense accomplished its mission. Flashes lead Zips 33-27 with 39 seconds remaining, Akron has no timeouts left and must recover an onside kick to keep its hopes alive.
Keenan Orr recovers the onside kick for Kent State. Ballgame.
Akron drive ends on fourth-down stop by Nico Bolden
Kent State's defense produces a huge stop on fourth-and-1 from its 17. Grad student safety Nico Bolden comes off the edge and wraps up Akron's Clyde Price after he's stacked up at the line of scrimmage. Flashes ball leading 33-24 with 6:51 remaining.
Andrew Glass field goal increases Kent State lead to 33-24
Kent State takes advantage of great field position following a pair of sacks by grad student end Zayin West, pushes the lead over Akron to nine on a 42-yard field goal by Andrew Glass. Flashes lead 33-24, still 11:49 to go at Dix Stadium. Star wide receiver Dante Cephas was not on the field during that drive, injured in the third quarter.
After three quarters Kent State leads Akron 30-24
Three quarters are in the books and this one's still up for grabs, Kent State leads Akron 30-24. Zips ball at their own 20-yard line to start the final quarter at Dix Stadium. Total yards: Flashes 439-412. Kent State has forced the only two turnovers of the contest, both interceptions. Will decision to go for 2 in the third quarter come back to bite the Flashes?
Touchdown run by DJ Irons brings Akron within a score
It's a one-score game again after a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback DJ Irons. Akron now trails Kent State 30-24 with 2:41 left in the third quarter. Irons has accounted for 348 total yards, three touchdowns.
Andrew Glass field goal pushes Kent State lead to 30-17
Kent State tacks on a 27-yard field goal by Andrew Glass, who missed a short one earlier, and now leads Akron 30-17 with 6:33 left in the third quarter. Flashes star wide receiver Dante Cephas had to be helped into the medical tent during the drive with an apparent leg injury.
Devontez Walker's third touchdown puts Kent State up by 10
Devontez Walker's huge day continues. Kent State's sophomore wide receiver drew a pass interference in the end zone, then scored his third touchdown - this one a 14-yard run on a reverse. The drive was set up by Montre Miller's interception deep in KSU territory. Golden Flashes lead Zips 27-17 with 11:18 to go at Dix Stadium.
First half numbers: Huge half for Akron's DJ Irons, Kent State QB Devin Kargman finishes strong
Akron finished with a 321-282 advantage in total yards over Kent State in the first half thanks to a huge effort by quarterback DJ Irons, who completed 11-of-13 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 61 yards on 12 carries with another score.
Kent State quarterback Devin Kargman, subbing for injured starter Collin Schlee, got off to a rough start (1-of-5) but finished strong and wound up 8-of-13 for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half. Marquez Cooper rushed for 97 yards on 18 carries. Flashes outrushed the Zips 164-116.
Devontez Walker's second TD catch of the first half gives Kent State the lead
Kent State sophomore wide receiver Devontez Walker completes a stellar first half by catching his second touchdown pass of the first half from freshman quarterback Devin Kargman, this one a well-contested grab over the middle for a 10-yard score. Flashes lead Zips 21-17 with 27 seconds left in the first half. Walker has 4 catches for 63 yards and 2 touchdowns, and also had a key downfield block on Bryan Bradford's 58-yard TD run. It's now halftime at Dix Stadium.
Akron goes back in front on DJ Irons touchdown run
Akron goes back in front on a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback DJ Irons, who was stacked up around the 3 but was pushed into the end zone. Zips lead 17-14 with 1:48 to go in the second quarter. Big drive coming up for Kent State, since Akron will get the ball to start the second half.
Devin Kargman TD pass to Devontez Walker puts Kent State ahead
Kent State freshman quarterback Devin Kargman is settling in, and has his team in front. Kargman just found a wide open Devontez Walker down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown that gave the Golden Flashes their first lead of the day over Akron, 14-10 with 4:56 left in the first half. Kargman was 3-for-3 for 53 yards on the drive, which covered 76 yards in eight plays.
Bryan Bradford busts loose, Kent State cuts Akron lead to 10-7
Kent State's offense finally comes to life. Junior running back Bryan Bradford busts loose for a 58-yard touchdown run, with help from a key downfield block by sophomore wide receiver Devontez Walker. Flashes cut Akron's lead to 10-7, 9:47 left in the first half.
Short field goal pushes Akron lead to 10-0
Akron tacks on a 22-yard field goal by Cory Smigel, leads Kent State 10-0 with 10:52 left in the first half at Dix Stadium. Zips have outgained the Golden Flashes 227-87. Akron 3-for-5 on third down, 1-for-1 on fourth down. Kent State 1-for-4 on third down.
Interception by Kent State safety JoJo Evans keeps Akron from scoring again
Kent State sophomore safety JoJo Evans kept Akron from adding to its lead with an interception in the end zone. But the Flashes have already been forced to punt. Freshman quarterback Devin Kargman is 1-of-5 for 13 yards.
Ugly start for Kent State
Promising first drive ends up producing zero points for Kent State. Running back Marquez Cooper busted off a 50-yard run to get the Flashes inside the Akron 20-yard line, but the drive stalled and struggling kicker Andrew Glass missed a 37-yard field goal wide left.
On the next play, DJ Irons found Alex Adams wide open in the middle of the field for an 80-yard touchdown pass. Zips lead Kent State 7-0 with 11:12 left in the first quarter.
Kent State quarterback Collin Schlee not in pads for today's game
Kent State junior quarterback Collin Schlee will not play today's game against Akron at Dix Stadium due to injuries. Schlee went through pregame warm-ups and seemed to be moving around fine, but he is not in pads for the game.
Two defensive starters who were injured in last week's loss at Toledo will not play against the Zips - sophomore tackle CJ West and grad student safety Antwaine Richardson.
Status of Kent State QB Collin Schlee for today's game uncertain
Kent State junior quarterback Collin Schlee's status is up in the air as we approach one hour before kickoff. Schlee has been noticeably hobbling during several games earlier this season, and is questionable due to those cumulative injuries.
I'm looking down on the field, watching @KentStFootball QB Collin Schlee warm up, and can confirm that all of his limbs are attached. Therefore, I fully expect him to start today's game against Akron. Kickoff from Dix Stadium in just over 30 minutes.
— Allen Moff (@AllenMoff_RC) October 22, 2022
Golden Flashes officials say Schlee's availability for today's noon game against Akron at Dix Stadium will be determined just before kickoff. He is currently on the field going through stretches along with his teammates.
Schlee, a first-year starter, has completed 107-of-179 passes for 1,548 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions in 2022. He also ranks second on the team in rushing with 339 yards on 115 carries, and has scored three times on the ground.
Kent State's backup quarterback is true freshman Devin Kargman, who has completed 3-of-8 passes for 19 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in three games this seaon.
Today's matchup
Kent State (2-5, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) will look to maintain possession of the Wagon Wheel today, when bitter backyard rival Akron (1-6, 0-3) invades Dix Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.
The Golden Flashes have earned three consecutive lopsided victories over the Zips, by a combined count of 133-38. Last year Kent State blanked Akron for the first time since 1949 (38-0).
Both teams have struggled thus far in Mid-American Conference play. The Flashes fell to Miami and Toledo on the road after opening the conference season with a 31-24 overtime victory over Ohio at Dix Stadium. The Zips are 0-3 in the MAC, but had chances to win games against both Bowling Green and Central Michigan.
Here's what you need to know ahead of today's game. Return here once it kicks off for live updates.
When is the Kent State football game on Saturday?
The Golden Flashes and Zips kick off at noon today at Dix Stadium in Kent.
How to watch, livestream Kent State-Akron football game
Kent State's game against Akron will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Kent State football's scores in 2022
L, 45-20 at Washington, Sept. 3
L, 33-3 at Oklahoma, Sept. 10
W, 63-10 vs. Long Island, Sept. 17
L, 39-22 at No. 1 Georgia, Sept. 24
W, 31-24 OT vs. Ohio University, Oct. 1
L, 27-24 at Miami of Ohio, Oct. 8
L, 52-31 at Toledo, Oct. 15
Kent State football schedule: what's left for the Golden Flashes
Here's a look at the rest of the schedule for the Golden Flashes:
vs. Akron, today, Noon
vs. Ball State, Nov. 1, 7
at Bowling Green, Nov. 9, 7
vs. Eastern Michigan, Nov. 16, TBA
at Buffalo, Nov. 26, TBA
Today's betting line
Kent State is a 16-point favorite according to oddsmakers.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kent State vs. Akron football replay
