It doesn't happen often, but a team can win a game when it doesn't play to the best of its ability, as long as it keeps believing in itself.

The University of Akron proved that Saturday afternoon with its 27-20 Mid-American Conference East Division win over rival Kent State in the battle for the Wagon Wheel at the Rubber Bowl.

UA (2-2, 1-0) started the game with senior center and captain Mike Schepp rallying his fellow linemen on the sidelines in shorts and a T-shirt. He injured his knee in practice Thursday and did not play.

Late in the second quarter, senior rover back John Mackey, the team's leading tackler, injured his right knee and was carried off the field. He returned in the second half but was in shorts, a T-shirt and a baseball cap on backward, using crutches to get around on the sideline.

He could be seen waving the crutches while hopping on one leg as he showed his support for the defensive unit in the second half.

Senior defensive back Davanzo Tate sealed the win on the last play of the game with an interception in the end zone.

''We knew it was going to be the last play of the game,'' Tate said. ''I was (playing) man up; everyone was man up. The ball looked a little shorter. I jumped, held onto it with my hands, and I came down with it.''

As Davanzo's teammates rushed the field, he realized the importance of the win, given the circumstances.

''Mackey is the heart of the team,'' Tate said. ''Losing him was something big we had to overcome, and we did.''

UA coach J.D. Brookhart said losing key players yet coming away with such a big win said a lot about the makeup of his team.

''That was a rivalry football game,'' Brookhart said. ''That is what it is supposed to be all about. You had two teams that played extremely hard, and I was very proud of our team. Immediately, our offense was down because we did not have Mike Schepp. We lost our defensive captain, John Mackey, early in the game. One of our most talented defensive players, (lineman) Nate Robinson, was out of the game and did not play, and (linebacker) Kevin Grant was limping because of an ankle injury.''

Brookhart was impressed by his Zips' fortitude.

''We started a center (Elliott Bates) that had never played a snap of football at the college level,'' he said. ''All of this did not matter. These kids did it with heart. They went through the highs and the lows and continued to play. I could not be more happy for them, especially the seniors. They really wanted to get that Wagon Wheel back, and they did.''

The first half was tough to watch.

Kent State (2-2, 0-1) fumbled the ball three times, losing one, but it still outgained the Zips (186-91) and dominated play. Yet the score was tied 7-7 at halftime.

Kent State scored in the first quarter on a 5-yard run by Eugene Jarvis, who rushed for a game-high 159 yards and two touchdowns. UA's score was a 2-yard run by quarterback Carlton Jackson in the second quarter.

Kent State went ahead 14-7 with 13:02 left in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Davis, then took a 17-7 lead on a 22-yard field goal by Nate Reed with 9:21 left in the quarter.

''We were just playing our game and were ahead, and if we don't beat ourselves, then we win today,'' Kent State coach Doug Martin said. ''When you beat yourself, that's hard to handle. Like I've told our guys all along, what matters now is the character, how you're going to respond.''

The Zips rallied and outscored Kent State 20-3 the rest of the way.

UA's defense tightened.

The running game that seemed nonexistent in the first three games came to life.

Bryan Williams (Buchtel) was UA's leading rusher with 50 yards, Alex Allen rushed for 45 and Dennis Kennedy added 28, but the trio picked up big first downs in the second half and played a big role in the win.