With 25 seconds left in the first half, Akron was clinging both to a 10-7 lead over rival Kent State and its hopes to represent the MAC East in next week’s championship game. Both offenses were stymied.
A pass interference call in the end zone goes against Kent State. Fifth year head coach, Paul Haynes, goes wild, and is assessed a penalty to move Akron even closer to the end zone. The Zips score a TD. The Golden Flashes get the ball with 17 seconds remaining on their side of the field. Instead of taking a knee, they run a play into the line. Given that Kent is making no attempt to score, they surely should have let the clock expire. Inexplicably, they did not. Kent runs yet another play into the line. The ball is stripped. Akron recovers and ecstatically runs the ball into an end zone. 24-7…Haynes’ coaching plays a pivotal part in both Akron touchdowns.
Kent’s defense plays a heroic 2nd half, shutting out the Zips, doubly impressive given what a downer the last 25 seconds of the first half were. Akron wins 24-14.
The only common element that Haynes has with Nick Saban is that both played defensive back with the Golden Flashes. Arguably the best Kent State head coach of all time, Don James, would have just shook his head.
With the loss, Haynes’ record at Kent sank to 14-45. But far worse than his record is the fact that he spoiled a truly gutty effort by his defense that could have resulted in a season-saving upset over their archrival.