Flashes Looking for First MAC Win at Buffalo
10/5/2016 10:01:00 AM | Football
Game Notes 640 WHLO on iHeart ESPN3
Despite a heartbreaking loss to archrival Akron, Kent State discovered an effective offensive identity to go with its solid and experienced defense. That identity will be tested against Buffalo Saturday at UB Stadium as the Golden Flashes play their second of eight straight Mid-American Conference games. For the first time since his senior year of high school in 2012, Nick Holley played quarterback and exceeded all expectations aginst Akron. Meanwhile freshman running back Justin Rankin took his pass catching ability to a whole new level.
Facts In A Flash
• Holley threw for 285 yards and two TDs. He also rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.
• Senior safety and twin brother Nate Holley leads the nation in solo tackles per game (9.4) and ranks second in total tackles (14.6).
• Senior defensive end Terence Waugh ranks seventh in the nation in sacks (6.0) and eighth in tackles for loss (9.0).
• Rankin's 181 yards receiving were the most by a Kent State player since 2009.
• Kent State's 20 first downs were the most in its last 15 games.
• The Flashes played turnover for the first time this season against Akron.
• Academic All-American, and senior linebacker Nick Cuthbert has made 15 tackles in his last two games and recovered a fumble against Akron. He was recently named a Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
• Five of Kent State's offensive linemen have made a combined 113 career starts.
• Sophomore center Stefano Millin was chosen to wear the No. 54 jersey. (see page 6)
• Kent State returned 10 Academic All-MAC selections and three MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes.
• Picked to finish last in the MAC East in both the media and coaches polls, the Flashes will play a familiar role of underdog throughout the year.
All-Time Series
Buffalo leads the all-time series with Kent State 11-10 as the road team has won each of the last six meetings. Saturday will be just the second meeting in Buffalo since 2008. Last season at Dix Stadium, the Bulls overcame a 17-6 deficit after three quarters and took the lead with 58 seconds remaining on the way to an 18-17 win. Ernest Calhoun caught a 31-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. The Flashes last win in the series came in 2012.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN3 with Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst). Saturday's game can be heard live on 640 WHLO and on WHLO's iHeartRadio station. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined in the booth for the seventh year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. Jacob Pavilack will be the sideline reporter. iHeartRadio can be heard on a computer, smart phone or table.
Previewing Buffalo
• The Bulls rank seventh in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 147.0 yards per game through the air.
• Buffalo is averaging 142.5 rushing yards per game and its offense has scored on all but one of their trips to the redzone this season.
• The Bulls handed Army its first loss of the season by overcoming a 14-point fourth quarter deficit on Sept. 24 and kicking a game-winning field goal in overtime.
• Four Buffalo players made 10 or more tackles against Army as the defense was not scored upon in the fourth quarter or overtime.
• In the win, the Bulls' offense was a solid 7-of-15 on third down and 2-for-3 on fourth down.
Key Players To Watch
• Redshirt freshman dual threat quarterback Tyree Jackson ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw for a TD against Army.
• Senior tight end Mason Shreck is averaging 13.3 yards per catch with 13 grabs and a touchdown on the year.
• Sophomore linebacker Khalil Hodge made 10 tackles with eight solo stops and a tackle for loss at Boston College. He leads the Bulls with 49 tackles.
• Junior linebacker Ishmael Hargrove ranks 23rd in the nation and third in the MAC in solo tackles (5.8). Hargrove has forced and recovered pair of fumbles. He also has two sacks.
• Junior linebacker Jarrett Franklin made 17 tackles against Army and has 34 tackles in four games.
• Junior punter Kyle Deween is averaging 42.6 yards per punt including nine balls inside the 20.
A Drive to Remember
Kent State's 97-yard touchdown drive in the closing minutes against Akron was the program's longest in over a decade. The 16 plays on the drive were the most since Sept. 17, 2011 at Kansas State. The final play on fourth-and-two included incredible instincts by Nick Holley on his pass and stellar concentration by Justin Rankin to catch the ball after falling on his back.
Foster Breaks Through
After missing the entire 2015 season, junior cornerback Jerrell Foster returned to the fold in 2016 and got his first start of the year in game 3 against Monmouth. Foster had played in 10 games in 2014, but made his first career interception against Akron in the first quarter. Later in the first half he made his second interception.
Rankin's Immediate Impact
Running back Justin Rankin entered the Akron game ranked seventh in the FBS among freshmen in rushing yards. His 115.6 all-purpose yards per game currently leads all FBS freshmen.
In his career debut at Penn State, Rankin rushed for 82 yards on only 13 carries (6.1/carry). It was the most rushing yards by a Kent State back in the team's previous six games. Rankin scored his first career touchdown in overtime against NC A&T.
Facing one of the nation's best run defenses at Alabama, Rankin raced 47 yards on the Flashes' first play from scrimmage, Kent State's longest carry of the season. Rankin's 54-yard catch against Akron was the Flashes' longest offensive play of the season.
