A very popular 1960s hit by The Monkees was entitled “I’m A Believer.”
In 2010, if you are a fan of either the Akron Zips or the Kent State Golden Flashes, remaining “a believer” has been getting more difficult. The two schools have a combined record of 1-9, with the lone win belonging to Kent State.
One of those teams, however, can add another win Saturday at Dix Stadium, and, as usual, it will be a sweet win. The two schools, separated by a mere 12 miles, will battle for the 53rd time for possession of the Wagon Wheel – a symbol of bragging rights of Northeast Ohio College Football.
After coming into this season with high hopes of being competitive in the MAC East, Kent State is 1-3, (0-1 MAC) for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in the seven seasons since Doug Martin has been head coach.
The Flashes opened 2010 with an emphatic home victory over FCS member Murray State, followed by three straight road losses to Boston College, Penn State, and last Saturday at Miami.
Saturday’s loss in Oxford is still a hard one to swallow. As they held a 14-10 lead going into the fourth quarter, only to see the Redhawks score 17 points in the final 15 minutes. KSU had a chance to tie or win the game with a late drive to the Miami seven- yard line. However, quarterback Spencer Keith was intercepted by safety Anthony Kowal in the back of the end zone with 56 seconds remaining.
“All I can do is move on and learn from the things I haven’t done well in the last four games” Keith said. “I have definitely learned from them, I know what mistakes I have made and how to fix them.”
When asked about the sophomore quarterback from Little Rock, Arkansas UA head coach Rob Ianello said “I can believe so strongly in him. He is their go-to guy on offense. He is their leader.”
“This is a big game for us this week.” KSU head coach Doug Martin said in his weekly press conference. “It’s a rivalry game. All these games have been very close, coming down to the wire, and we have been on the short end of it the last couple of years.”
Akron has won three straight and five of the last six in the series. The last time the two schools met in Kent back in 2008, Akron had a 24-21 lead in the final moments of regulation, only to see KSU tie the game with a field goal that was partially blocked. The game went into double overtime, when KSU missed a 38-yard field goal giving the Zips the victory.
Last year at InfoCision Stadium, Kent State was riding a three game winning streak only to see the Zips play arguably their best game of the season in picking up a 28-20 victory. “That was the toughest loss I ever had playing for Kent State,” senior safety Brian Lainhart said.
Martin sees this year’s matchup as a double prize.
“Its great motivation for us, not only to get the Wagon Wheel back, but also to get back into the conference race,” Martin said. KSU is in the midst of playing five of six away from home. It still has road tilts at Toledo and Bowling Green before playing four of the last five at Dix Stadium.
Meanwhile, Akron is 0-5 (0-1 MAC) under first year head coach Ianello. The Zips are winless after five games for the first time since 2002, coming off an absolute drubbing at home to Northern Illinois 50-14. UA is just one of five teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision still looking for a victory (Eastern Michigan, New Mexico, New Mexico State, and Western Kentucky are the others).
The Zips opened the season with two straight home games. The first was a 29-3 loss to Syracuse. In their second outing – against FCS opponent Gardner-Webb – the Zips squandered a 31-17 lead. The downward spiral included a costly fourth quarter fumble deep in GWU territory, a missed 34-yard field goal at the end of regulation, and an extra point blocked in overtime allowing GWU to win the game with a touchdown and an extra point.
Next came losses at Kentucky, Indiana, and at home to NIU. The cumulative damage was 132 points and 1,492 yards. In losing to the Huskies, it was a lost MAC opener for the third consecutive season.
“It’s an important game for our University, important game for the Akron community, and comes at the right time in our schedule” Ianello said in his weekly press briefing. “When you have a natural rival that is close to you, that’s what makes it more exciting.”
“This season is not over at 0-5” senior running back Alex Allen said. “It’s a long season. We have seven games left, and we are trying to win them all. That is what we are shooting for.”
Allen, a senior from Youngstown, Ohio, leads UA in rushing with 337 yards including 99 yards last Saturday night against the Huskies. The effort included a career best 74-yard run.
“We have faced a lot of adversity this season.” Senior linebacker Mike Thomas said. “The thing we have to do is stick together and think positive.”
Both teams have been offensively challenged through the first part of their schedule but one key to the matchup is Akron’s running game, which has been the main cog of it’s offense so far in 2010, facing a Kent State defense that has held the opposition to 59 yards rushing per game. That figure leads the MAC and is one of the best in the FBS. Just one running back has eclipsed 100 yards against the Flashes this season.
Another factor is Kent State’s offense against UA’s sophomore linebacker Bryan Wagner. The native of Springfield, Ohio is tied for the team lead in tackles (48), with fellow linebacker Thomas coming off a 13-tackle performance last Saturday against NIU. “He’s as good as anyone in this conference this year and last. “ Martin said.
Another twist in this rivalry comes from the sidelines as Jim Fleming, who is in his first season as KSU’s linebackers coach, was on J.D. Brookhart’s staff at UA for six seasons (defensive coordinator and safeties coach).
“The team that will win this game is the team that is emotionally ready to play and mentally ready to play.” Martin said. The game will be televised on Sportstime Ohio as Northeast Ohio’s only two FBS schools go to battle Saturday at 3:30EDT.
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