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 over the University of Akron Zips at Dix Stadium.
Quarterback Devin Kargman made his first collegiate start on Saturday, throwing for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns, both to Devontez Walker as the true freshman helped erase an early 10-0 deficit. 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 Marquez Cooper with 137 yards.
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 first half, sending Kent State into the locker room with a 21-17 lead.
The Flashes scored the first points of the second half on Walker's 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 claim the wheel for the fourth straight season.
The fourth straight win is the longest streak in the rivalry for the Flashes since winning 10 straight between 1942 and 1954. Kent State will look to carry the momentum into the 10-day #MACtion break. The Flashes are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 1, as they host Ball State. Kickoff from Dix Stadium is set for 7 p.m. The game will air on ESPNU.