True freshman running back Joachim Bangda went down with an undisclosed injury after a six yard carry on the third play from scrimmage.
Enter senior running back Will Matthews.
Matthews came into the game with no carries, spending the first five games recovering from a torn lateral meniscus. He left with a career-high in carries and yards. He finished with 25 carries for 126 yards and a touchdown. It was the first time that a Kent State running back finished with over 100 yards against Akron since Dri Archer in 2012.
“I knew coming into the game that I was going to play a little bit, and unfortunately, Joachim went down so I just had to step up,” Matthews said.