Akron stomped Kent
Posted November 24th, 2005 by mrasor
Football
Akron had its most significant achievement since entering the MAC by beating Kent State 35-3 to win the MAC East Championship, propelling the Zips to the MAC Championship Thursday against Northern Illinois in Detroit.
For anyone who wasn't there, it wasn't a pretty game. The field was covered in snow. Players (and fans) dealt with very harsh wind and temperatures. I couldn't feel my feet or toes until a few hours later.
Kent had no chance. Akron opened with a fumble return for a touchdown and never looked back. Kent's passing game is its only redeeming quality, but Mother Nature silenced Michael Machen. Kent's QB passed for seven yards on four completions. Akron's Luke Getsy was a little better. He threw for 47 yards on five completions. He also had two touchdowns. The biggest pass of the day, however, may have been Brett Biggs' 27-yard completion on a halfback pass.
Biggs was, without a doubt, the player of the game. He rushed for 149 yards on 36 carries. Domenik Hixon had a difficult time in the snow, but also had a huge touchdown catch in the second half from Getsy. The ball was thrown into the wind — almost a toss up for whoever wanted it more. Hixon did, and he hauled it in.
Attendance was, as I expected, low. Why Akron played on Thanksgiving morning without a commitment from ESPN or ESPN2 (not ESPNU), is beyond me. Oh well. Long story short, the Zips are bound for Detroit. They will play the NIU Huskies, whom they already beat in overtime this year at the Rubber Bowl. NIU has one of the country's best running backs in Garrett Wolfe. I saw him play Akron last year in DeKalb, Ill. and this season in Akron. He's not big, but he's quite elusive. He will be a challenge to Jay Rohr and the Zips linebackers.
More on the game is coming. I'm just giving you a brief rundown while I recover from gorging myself at the dinner table. If you would like to add comments from the game, please feel free.
November 26th, 2005 at 11:44 am
MY SON & MYSELF WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THS GAME ALL YEAR. I HAD TOLD HIM OF THE CITY SERIES CHAMPINSHIP GAMES ON THANKSGIVING MORNINGS. IN DAYS GONE PAST. HE CAME TO MY HOUSE EARLY THANSGING MORING AND WE HAD BREAFAST & TALKED FOOTBALL. WE THEN DEPARTED FOR THE BOWL. WHAT A SIGHT. THE BOWL, SNOW, COLD GAME FOR MAC EAST CHAMPION.WE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES. TALKED ABOUT THE GAME ALL DAY. WE HOPE AU SCHEDLES ANOTHER ONE FOR NEXT TAHANKSGING!!
November 28th, 2005 at 5:21 pm
I thought the Thanksgiing day game was a good idea. If they weather had not been so bad more people would have showed up. But still 8,000 on last Thurday was a good crowd. Kudos to the people who spelled Go Zips MAC East Champs in the snowy stands!
November 28th, 2005 at 7:00 pm
My wife and I decided to "get crazy" and go to the game Thursday morning. We are both alum and felt this occasion in particular was more than deserving of our support. (Other than almost freezing to the seats) We were not disappointed. In fact, we were so impressed, we're heading up to Detroit this week to put at least two more friendly bodies in the crowd for "the good guys". I hope to see anyone reading this at the game, not only to show the media and bowl alliances that Akron CAN support their teams, but also to show the guys themselves that win or lose, we're PROUD of what they've accomplished this year! GO ZIPS!