The Kent State football team defeated Akron 42-35 in overtime, capturing the Wagon Wheel in the traditional rivalry game between the Mid-American Conference foes on Nov. 11 at InfoCision Stadium.
The Zips had won the past two meetings and now lead the all-time series against the Golden Flashes 37-29-2.
Kent State not only defeated its top adversary, but KSU also won its first road game since Nov. 26, 2022, when it prevailed at Buffalo 30-27 in OT.
Kickoff between Akron (4-7, 3-4 in the MAC) and Kent State (4-6, 3-3) occurred at 7:33 p.m. Here is how the action unfolded:
Akron does not score on its overtime possession in overtime.
The Zips have a 4th and 4 on the Flashes 19-yard line. Flashes safety Derrick Jackson III had the coverage on a Ben Finley incomplete pass over the middle to tight end Conner Cravaack.
Dru DeShields connects with Ardell Banks on a 25-yard pass play on the opening play of overtime and Will Hryszko kicks the PAT.
Banks was wide open on the right sideline.
The Wagon Wheel game is going into overtime.
Akron rallied in the fourth quarter and ended regulation in a 35-35 tie with Kent State.
With Kent State trying to chew up clock, quarterback Dru DeShields ran the ball on first-and-10 at the Akron 46-yard line. Zips cornerback Malcom DeWalt IV forced DeShields to fumble, and UA defensive tackle Ronald Hull recovered at the Akron 42 with 5:09 remaining in the fourth quarter. The officiating crew initially ruled DeShields was down before he lost the ball, but the call was overturned after a replay review.
Akron then marched Kent State’s 13. On second-and-10, quarterback Ben Finley connected with wide receiver Israel Polk for a 13-yard touchdown with 1:59 left in the fourth quarter. Kent State safety Joel Cordoba hit Polk a split second after he made the catch near the goal line, drawing a penalty for targeting. After a review review, the officials ruled targeting and disqualified Cordoba.
Akron went for two points and converted, tying the score 35-35 with 1:59 left in the fourth quarter. Finley caught the 2-point pass from wide receiver Marcel Williams on a trick play.
The Zips have overcome the 18-point deficit they faced early in the fourth quarter. In 2023, Akron came back from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Kent State. Will UA pull it off again?
Akron wide receiver Marcel Williams recovered a rugby-style onside kick at the Kent State 39-yard line with 10:53 left in the fourth quarter.
The Zips then marched to the 1, but the Golden Flashes recorded a goal-line stand.
Akron settled for Matthew Schramm’s 20-yard field goal and a 35-27 deficit with 7:12 left in the fourth quarter.
Akron trimmed its deficit to 35-24 with quarterback Ben Finley’s 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marcel Williams on third-and-3. Williams made a great catch despite cornerback Terrell Miller applying tight coverage in the end zone. The ensuing extra-point kick was good with 10:53 left in the fourth quarter.
Akron was aided during the 11-play, 75-yard drive by two penalties. Defensive lineman Mattheus Carroll committed a roughing the passer penalty, and cornerback Jaire Rawlison was penalized for defensive pass interference.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Akron punted, and Kent State wide receiver Wayne Harris returned 29 yards. During the return, Akron defensive tackle Ronald Hull drew a face mask penalty on Harris, adding another 15 yards for KSU.
The return and penalty allowed Kent State to start its drive at the Akron 30-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Dru DeShields threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Da’Shawn Martin, who broke wide open on the left side against cornerback Ben Kamara. The ensuing extra-point kick allowed Kent State to put Akron in a 35-17 hole with 14:04 left to in the fourth quarter.
Needing a win to keep their bowl hopes alive, the Flashes will carry a 28-17 lead over the Zips into the fourth quarter.
A CJ Young sack of Zips quarterback Ben Finley on the final play of the third quarter will force an Akron punt.
Uh-oh.
Akron quarterback Ben Finley throws a pass right to Kent State’s Terrell Miller, who returns the interception 37 yards to the Zips 12.
Three plays later, Dru DeShields throws a 7-yard touchdown pass to Terik Mulder to give the Flashes a 28-17 lead.
Kent State’s Cade Wolford has been real efficient when he has touched the football this season. He strikes again on a 43-yard touchdown reception from Dru DeShields. It’s his seventh TD catch of the season.
The Flashes regain the lead at 21-17.
Doink.
Akron’s first drive of the second half ends with Matthew Schramm’s 41-yard field goal attempt hitting the left upright.
Kent State takes over at its own 23, down 17-14.
Akron has 307 yards of offense on 42 plays. The Zips have 15 first downs.
Kent State has 184 yards on 23 plays. The Golden Flashes have five first downs.
QB Ben Finley is 15 of 22 passing for 235 yards and a touchdown. He has been sacked four times. Marcel Williams has a career-high eight catches for a career-high 155 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Gant has 10 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown.
QB Dru DeShields is 9 of 13 passing for 171 yards and a touchdown. He has been sacked once. Da’Realyst Clark has caught one pass for an 89-yard touchdown. Gavin Garcia has four carries for 21 yards and a touchdown.
Akron takes the lead with Ben Finley throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to Marcel Williams and Matthew Schramm kicking the PAT.
Williams jumped in the air and caught the ball near the goal line against Kent State cornerback Terrell Miller.
The 12-play drive covered 75 yards. Jordan Gant had an 18-yard run during the drive and Finley threw a 21-yard pass to Kyan Mason.
Kent State quarterback Dru DeShields connects with wide receiver Da’Realyst Clark on a 89-yard touchdown pass and Will Hryszko kicks the PAT. The 89-yard TD pass is the longest in the MAC this season.
Clark beat Akron cornerback Ben Kamara on a double move and was wide open down the left sideline.
Akron takes the lead with Jordan Gant running 4 yards for a touchdown and Matthew Schramm kicking the PAT.
The eight-play drive covered 90 yards. The biggest play was a 42-yard pass by quarterback Ben Finley to wide reciever Marcel Williams. Finley connected with Williams on three passes during the drive. The first two passes were 11 yards each. Finley also threw an 11-yard pass to Kyan Mason during the drive.
End first quarter: Kent State 7, Akron 3
Akron gained 89 yards with 16 plays in the first quarter. Kent State gained 59 yards with 13 plays.
UA’s special teams gaffe in the opening quarter (see more below) has been the difference thus far.
After Akron misplayed a punt and gave Kent State first-and-goal at the UA 9-yard line, KSU running back Gavin Garcia rushed for 6 yards and then a 3-yard touchdown on second-and-goal.
Will Hryszko’s successful extra-point kick allowed Kent State to go ahead 7-3 with 3:51 left in the opening quarter.
Kent State starting quarterback Dru DeShields took a huge hit from linebacker Melvin Spriggs on a 13-yard pass and remained down on the ground for a few moments. After medical personnel examined DeShields, he walked to the sideline under his own power with 4:36 left in the first quarter.
Kent then faced fourth-and-5 from the Akron 48-yard line and punted. The ball bounced off the chest of Akron cornerback Malcom DeWalt IV, and Kent State long snapper Gus Goodell recovered at the UA 9 with 4:17 left in the first quarter.
DeShields returned to the game with KSU facing first-and-goal at the 9.
After Kent State went three-and-out during the game’s opening possession, Akron produced a nine-play, 63-yard scoring drive.
The Zips stalled in the red zone and summoned Matthew Schramm for a 29-yard field goal on fourth-and-1 from the Kent State 11-yard line. He made the kick to give Akron a 3-0 lead with 8:43 left in the first quarter.
Zips running back Jordan Gant led the drive with three carries for 27 yards. Quarterback Ben Finley went 3-of-3 passing for 28 yards.
Below is some pregame information.
Akron Zips football coach Joe Moorhead and Kent State Golden Flashes football coach Mark Carney have connection
Akron coach Joe Moorhead and Kent State coach Mark Carney are former Fordham University starting quarterbacks who have bonded through the years over the connection.
Kent State quarterback Dru DeShields’ brother TJ is on Akron’s football staff
Kent State starting quarterback Dru DeShields’ older brother works for Akron. TJ DeShields serves as an offensive analyst for quarterbacks with the Zips.
What is the history between Kent State and Akron football?
Akron leads 37-28-2 in the all-time series with Kent State. The teams first played in football in 1923, with the Zips winning 32-0. The Wagon Wheel trophy was introduced in 1946. The teams have played each other every year since 1983 with the exception of one year.
KSU won four in a row in the series from 2019-2022 under former coach Sean Lewis. Akron won four in a row in the series from 2015-2018 during the coach Terry Bowden era.
At the helm of Akron, Moorhead is 2-1 against Kent State. This is Carney’s first Wagon Wheel game as KSU’s head coach.
Kent State 2025 football scores, schedule
- Aug. 30: 21-17 win vs. Merrimack
- Sept. 6: 62-14 loss at Texas Tech
- Sept. 13: 31-28 loss vs. Buffalo (MAC)
- Sept. 20: 66-10 loss at Florida State
- Oct. 4: 44-0 loss at Oklahoma
- Oct. 11: 42-6 win vs. UMass (MAC)
- Oct. 18: 45-10 loss at Toledo (MAC)
- Oct. 25: 24-21 win vs. Bowling Green (MAC)
- Nov. 5: 17-13 loss at Ball State (MAC)
- 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11: at Akron (MAC)
- 7 p.m. Nov. 19: vs. Central Michigan (MAC)
- Noon Nov. 28: at Northern Illinois (MAC)
Akron Zips 2025 football scores, schedule
- Aug. 28: 10-0 loss vs. Wyoming
- Sept. 6: 68-0 loss at Nebraska
- Sept. 13: 31-28 loss at UAB
- Sept. 20: 51-7 win vs. Duquesne
- Sept. 27: 45-3 loss at Toledo (Mid-American Conference)
- Oct. 4: 28-22 win vs. Central Michigan (MAC)
- Noon Oct. 11: 20-7 loss vs. Miami (MAC)
- 3:30 p.m. Oct. 18: 42-28 loss at Ball State (MAC)
- TBD time Oct. 25: 24-16 win at Buffalo (MAC)
- 7 p.m. Nov. 4: 44-10 win vs. UMass (MAC)
- 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11: vs. Kent State (MAC)
- 7 p.m. Nov. 18: at Bowling Green (MAC)
How can I watch or listen to the Akron vs. Kent State football game today?
Akron vs. Kent State will be televised on ESPNU with Chuckie Kemp serving as the play-by-play announcer and Darius Walker as the analyst. It can be heard locally on the radio via WHLO (640-AM) with David Skoczen working as the play-by-play announcer, Joe Dunn as the analyst and Mark LaRose as the sideline reporter or via FOX SPORTS 1350 (1350-AM) with Dane Richardson doing play by play and Rob Polinsky analyzing.
Is Akron football favored against Kent State?
Akron is a 6½-point favorite to defeat Kent State, according to the FanDuel Sportsbook.
