KENT: The calendar normally reads late November when rivals Kent State and the University of Akron face off in the chill, but an early October day provided cloudy skies and temperatures in the 70s — perfect football weather for most on Saturday at Dix Stadium.
It’s also unusual when both teams use backup quarterbacks. Zips starter Thomas Woodson was replaced by Tra’Von Chapman and the Golden Flashes used running back Nick Holley as their signal caller.
Despite the unusual circumstances, the game played out as it usually does, with big plays on both sides and a close score.
In the end, the Zips won 31-27 in the game’s final moments after the Flashes (1-4, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) appeared poised to pull the upset.
The miracle moment for Kent State came on fourth-and-2 when Holley found wide receiver Justin Rankin falling backward in the end zone with 1:02 left in the game to give the Golden Flashes a 27-24 lead.
The euphoria from Kent State Nation lasted about a minute.
Chapman, who struggled early, ultimately delivered the victory when he connected with senior wide receiver JoJo Natson for a 43-yard pass to the KSU 3-yard line with 25 seconds left in the game. One play later, wide receiver Mykel Traylor-Bennett barreled his way into the end zone with 20 seconds left to give the Zips (3-2, 1-0) the four-point lead after the extra point and the win.
“As I’ve done this many years, I’m thinking of that terrible press conference and what I’m going to say,” UA coach Terry Bowden said of the situation before the game-winning drive. “Unfortunately that’s what you do. On the inside, you ‘ve got Plan B working too. How do you say the right things? The main thing you say is ‘kids, let’s take it down the field and win.’”
The Zips took Bowden at face value.
They started at their own 43 after a short kickoff with 56 seconds left in the game. Two plays later, Chapman found Natson on a post pattern.
“We had our chances, but at the end the kid made a great play,” KSU coach Paul Haynes said.
Chapman said UA offensive coordinator A.J. Milwee had a feeling the play would be there.
“JoJo gave a move and no one in the nation can guard him,” Chapman said. “I just tried to give him a good enough ball and he got separation and that was it.”
Natson, who had one catch prior to his big moment, said he just listened to the coaching staff.
“Coach said we needed a play and we were down with a minute left,” he said. “It started with Tra. He gave me a great pass … Tra did a good job of putting the ball out where I needed and I made a play for my team.”
Chapman, who played at Kent Roosevelt High School and was one of the town’s most recruited players by the time he graduated, confessed to being nervous. It showed in his early struggles as he tossed two interceptions.
He completed 11-of-28 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns and those two interceptions, eventually calming down.
Holley, a former high school quarterback, proved to be the wild card. Bowden commended Haynes’ move.
“He said ‘We’re going to run that ball. We’ve got one of our best players touching it every time,’” Bowden said. “They had a great strategy.”
Holley nearly carried the Flashes to the upset. He passed for 285 yards, completing 19-of-35 with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He rushed for 117 yards on 34 carries and ran for a touchdown.
The statistics are impressive, but a win is better and the Zips keep the Wagon Wheel, the symbol of the rivalry which stands at 33-24-2 in favor of UA, for another season.
Quick hit
Woodson suffered a shoulder injury against Appalachian State last week, Bowden said. There was no structural damage, but it affected his ability to throw the ball. He tested it before the game and decided it was best to sit out rather than possibly hurt the team.
George M. Thomas can be reached at gmthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Zips blog at www.ohio.com/zips. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeorgeThomasABJ.