AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron receivers Jeremy LaFrance and Andre Jones, well as defenders Brian Wagner and Miguel Graham, came up big on several occasions Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field to lead the Zips to a 28-20 victory over rival Kent State, keeping the coveted Wagon Wheel for the third consecutive season.

The contest proved to be a career-high day for LaFrance, who posted 126 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns in the victory. Jones caught six passes for 93 yards and had an eight-yard rushing TD. Wagner, a candidate for Freshman of the Year, had a team-high 15 tackles, including two for losses, while Graham had a career-high six pass breakups, entering the game with five on the season. Zips true freshman quarterback Patrick Nicely completed 19 passes on 34 attempts for 261 total yards and two touchdowns.

Kent State took the opening kickoff and, after a 25-yard run by Jacquise Terry on the Flashes' first play from scrimmage, eventually took an early 3-0 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Freddy Cortez.

The Zips answered back, taking advantage of a pooch kickoff and subsequent penalty to start their drive on KSU 45. Akron got a 10-yrad run from Broderick Alexander and a 19-yarder from Dale Martin to get in scoring range. Nicely was forced out of the pocket and gained nine yards to the KSU one. Three plays later, senior Alex Allen punched it into the endzone for a 7-3 UA advantage.

The teams settled down until early in the second quarter when, one play after a KSU punt, Nicely hit LaFrance on a 59-yard touchdown pass. The score was the first of the season for junior college transfer and put UA up 14-3. On the third play of the ensuing possession for the Golden Flashes, senior Wayne Cobham picked of Spencer Keith, but KSU's Danny Sadler got his team the ball right back with an interception of his own to snap a streak of 57 consecutive pass attempts by Nicely without a pick (dating back to his final pass at Buffalo on Oct. 17).

Kent State got back on track midway through the second quarter, ending a streak of four straight drives without a first down. Keith hit Dri Archer on a pair of 15-plus completions to start the drive. The two hooked up again with four and a half minutes left in the period with a 22-yard touchdown, trimming the KSU deficit to three, 14-10.

The Golden Flashes, on their next possession, came within one, 14-13, as time expired as Cortex split the uprights from 19 yards out.

Akron opened the second half with an impressive drive, but a bad snap led to a missed field. However, after the UA defense forced a punt, Akron picked right back up with two long runs by senior Joe Tuzze. Then, facing third and 10, Nicely hit Jones for a 13-yard first down, the Zips' first third-down conversion of the game. After an Akron timeout, Jones lined up at quarterback in the "wildcat" formation and took the direct snap and went up the middle for an eight-yard rushing TD, putting his team up 21-13. With that, Jones has now scored on a fumble return, a free kick return, a pass reception and rush in his career. (Jones started his first two years on defense.)

The Zips pushed their advantage to 28-13 early in the fourth quarter. Nicely started the nine-play drive with a 34-yard completion to Jones then hit LaFrance on a key third down. After getting to the KSU six and failing to gain a yard on two attempts from the "wildcat," Nicely moved back to quarterback and hit LeFrance in the left corner of the endzone for the TD.

Kent State cut its deficit to eight, 28-20, on a nine-yard Keith to Kendrick Pressley with 5:36 left to play. At the 2:29 mark, the Flashes regained the ball and would make a late effort starting at their 1-yard line. At the fourth and 10, Akron's Mike Thomas intercepted the ball at Akron 40-yard line with 33 seconds left to secure the 28-20 victory for the Zips.

For Kent State, Keith completed 30-of-59 passes for 377 yards with two scores and two picks. Tyshon Goode has Keith's top target, hauling in eight passes for 132 yarrds, while Archer had eight catches for 90. The Golden Flashes were held to just 38 yards rushing and, entering as one of the top teams in the nation for sacks with 30 on the season, the UA offensive line did not allow a sack in the contest.

Akron will return to InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field next Friday, Nov. 13, and host MAC East leader Temple. Kickoff is set for 8:30 pm and the game will be telecast on ESPNU.