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By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 07:04 p.m. EST, Nov 09, 2009
Football coaches often use the term ''a complete game'' in describing a victory fueled by productivity and efficiency on offense, defense and special teams.
J.D. Brookhart of the University of Akron was more creative in explaining how his team finally assembled 60 minutes of consistency in beating Kent State 28-20 Saturday to end a six-game losing streak.
''It was a complementary game that we had been looking to play,'' Brookhart said Monday in his weekly news conference. ''The offense held the ball in the second half and didn't put the defense on the field a lot. We had an advantage field position-wise from the special teams. They all fit together fairly well.''
During the throes of that six-game skid, the Zips were usually in contention in the second half, only to lose via breakdowns on all or some of the three facets of football.
Against the Golden Flashes, the UA offense had 25 first downs and 429 total yards (the most since the 436 against Morgan State on Sept. 19), the defense allowed only 38 yards rushing and the special teams permitted limited yards on returns and downed two punts inside the 10.
''We finally put some things together,'' said Brookhart, whose team plays Temple at home at 8:30 p.m. Friday. ''We played complementary football, which we have been trying to do.''
In a season of turmoil and frustration, UA (2-7, 1-4) was able to retain the Wagon Wheel trophy and deal a blow to the chances of its neighborhood rival to win the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.
''That was a satisfying win. . .as happy for a group of guys as I have ever been,'' Brookhart said. ''They have persevered. They have been resilient and have very good chemistry.
''Emotion was a big difference in the game. You saw it fairly consistently.''
Kent State coach Doug Martin, whose team is now third in the MAC East, said the play of the Zips' offensive and defensive lines was the difference.
The Flashes came into the game with 30 quarterback sacks, which was first in the MAC and sixth in the nation.
But the Zips' starting offensive line of Jake Anderson, Zack Anderson, Elliott Bates, Mike Ward and Corey Woods, and reserves Adam Bice and Mitch Straight, did not allow any sacks and opened huge holes in the second half for the running game.
''The offensive line did a great job,'' UA freshman quarterback Patrick Nicely said in the postgame news conference. ''Elliott Bates really was a leader on the sideline, telling everyone what to do. Zack Anderson, I have never seen him that emotional over anything.
''We were all fired up and it showed on the field.''
Nicely, who was making just his fourth college start, benefited from the protection by completing 19-of-34 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns.
Spencer Keith, his freshman counterpart at quarterback for KSU, had a productive performance himself, competing 30-of-59 passes for 377 yards and two touchdowns.
But Keith was hounded by the UA front and the Flashes could convert only 6-of-21 third- or fourth-down chances and averaged only 1.8 yards per rush.
''It all started up front. The defensive line played a great game,'' said UA cornerback Miguel Graham, who was named MAC East defensive player of the week Monday after having six pass breakups (a school record) and six tackles against KSU.
''They put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, so he had to make some quick decisions. We knew he had to get the ball off quick. We showed him different looks and came up with some plays.''
One of the most crucial periods in the game came at the end of the first half. The Zips led 14-3 early in the second quarter. But KSU moved it to 14-10 with 4:11 left and then drove deep into UA territory as halftime neared.
The Flashes had five chances to score inside the UA 6 — helped by a pass interference penalty against the Zips — but had to settle for a 19-yard field goal by Freddy Cortez as time expired to get to 14-13.
''That was a tremendous effort by our defense. It showed the heart they have played with all year,'' Brookhart said. ''To hold them to a field goal there and hold onto the lead was a big deal.
''It was only a point, but it was the lead. It was a momentum-builder for us.''
The Zips now will prepare for Temple (7-2, 5-0), which has won seven games in a row for the first time since 1973.
The Owls, who beat host Navy 27-24 two weeks ago, rely heavily on a defense that is ranked second in the MAC (329.7 yards per game) and a run-oriented offense led by freshman Bernard Pierce (first in the MAC in rushing at 134.6 yards per game).
The Zips have two more Friday games after that, Nov. 20 at Bowling Green and Nov. 27 at home against Eastern Michigan.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Football coaches often use the term ''a complete game'' in describing a victory fueled by productivity and efficiency on offense, defense and special teams.
J.D. Brookhart of the University of Akron was more creative in explaining how his team finally assembled 60 minutes of consistency in beating Kent State 28-20 Saturday to end a six-game losing streak.
''It was a complementary game that we had been looking to play,'' Brookhart said Monday in his weekly news conference. ''The offense held the ball in the second half and didn't put the defense on the field a lot. We had an advantage field position-wise from the special teams. They all fit together fairly well.''
During the throes of that six-game skid, the Zips were usually in contention in the second half, only to lose via breakdowns on all or some of the three facets of football.
Against the Golden Flashes, the UA offense had 25 first downs and 429 total yards (the most since the 436 against Morgan State on Sept. 19), the defense allowed only 38 yards rushing and the special teams permitted limited yards on returns and downed two punts inside the 10.
''We finally put some things together,'' said Brookhart, whose team plays Temple at home at 8:30 p.m. Friday. ''We played complementary football, which we have been trying to do.''
In a season of turmoil and frustration, UA (2-7, 1-4) was able to retain the Wagon Wheel trophy and deal a blow to the chances of its neighborhood rival to win the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.
''That was a satisfying win. . .as happy for a group of guys as I have ever been,'' Brookhart said. ''They have persevered. They have been resilient and have very good chemistry.
''Emotion was a big difference in the game. You saw it fairly consistently.''
Kent State coach Doug Martin, whose team is now third in the MAC East, said the play of the Zips' offensive and defensive lines was the difference.
The Flashes came into the game with 30 quarterback sacks, which was first in the MAC and sixth in the nation.
But the Zips' starting offensive line of Jake Anderson, Zack Anderson, Elliott Bates, Mike Ward and Corey Woods, and reserves Adam Bice and Mitch Straight, did not allow any sacks and opened huge holes in the second half for the running game.
''The offensive line did a great job,'' UA freshman quarterback Patrick Nicely said in the postgame news conference. ''Elliott Bates really was a leader on the sideline, telling everyone what to do. Zack Anderson, I have never seen him that emotional over anything.
''We were all fired up and it showed on the field.''
Nicely, who was making just his fourth college start, benefited from the protection by completing 19-of-34 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns.
Spencer Keith, his freshman counterpart at quarterback for KSU, had a productive performance himself, competing 30-of-59 passes for 377 yards and two touchdowns.
But Keith was hounded by the UA front and the Flashes could convert only 6-of-21 third- or fourth-down chances and averaged only 1.8 yards per rush.
''It all started up front. The defensive line played a great game,'' said UA cornerback Miguel Graham, who was named MAC East defensive player of the week Monday after having six pass breakups (a school record) and six tackles against KSU.
''They put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, so he had to make some quick decisions. We knew he had to get the ball off quick. We showed him different looks and came up with some plays.''
One of the most crucial periods in the game came at the end of the first half. The Zips led 14-3 early in the second quarter. But KSU moved it to 14-10 with 4:11 left and then drove deep into UA territory as halftime neared.
The Flashes had five chances to score inside the UA 6 — helped by a pass interference penalty against the Zips — but had to settle for a 19-yard field goal by Freddy Cortez as time expired to get to 14-13.
''That was a tremendous effort by our defense. It showed the heart they have played with all year,'' Brookhart said. ''To hold them to a field goal there and hold onto the lead was a big deal.
''It was only a point, but it was the lead. It was a momentum-builder for us.''
The Zips now will prepare for Temple (7-2, 5-0), which has won seven games in a row for the first time since 1973.
The Owls, who beat host Navy 27-24 two weeks ago, rely heavily on a defense that is ranked second in the MAC (329.7 yards per game) and a run-oriented offense led by freshman Bernard Pierce (first in the MAC in rushing at 134.6 yards per game).
The Zips have two more Friday games after that, Nov. 20 at Bowling Green and Nov. 27 at home against Eastern Michigan.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 07:18 PM, 11/09/2009
WOW. . Wasn't that a Nicely, err, nice win. . .I'm still baskin' in the afterglow of it. . .YES !!!
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:42 AM, 11/10/2009
KSUCKS!
Kent, OH
Posted 09:33 AM, 11/10/2009
"KSUCKS!"
Says the fan of a team with 2 wins this year.
Stay classy Zips, stay classy!
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:52 AM, 11/10/2009
Someone needs to lighten up and get off the high horse!
North Hill, OH
Posted 12:13 PM, 11/10/2009
2 wins...yep. And half of 'em are over KSUcks. It's a shame that a Beacon photographer couldn't stay for the full late afternoon game to get some pics of the Zips celebrating the Wagon Wheel. Again.
