Kent State University
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Western Michigan University
Flashes Face Defending Champions Wednesday Night
11/6/2017 10:58:00 AM | Football
Game Notes Golden Flashes Radio Live Stats
Kent State looks to spoil Western Michigan's final home game of the year Wednesday night at Waldo Stadium on CBS Sports Network. The last time the Golden Flashes visited the state of Michigan, they came away with a 27-24 upset of Central Michigan in 2016.
Facts In A Flash
• Junior linebacker Jim Jones ranks fifth in the MAC in tackles (8.4pg) and sixth in sacks (5.0).
• Senior defensive lineman Jon Cunningham has made 5.0 tackles for loss in his last two games.
• Wednesday marks the second of 4 straight weeknight games for the Flashes to close out the season.
• Junior quarterback George Bollas scored his first rushing TD of the season last week against Bowling Green and had a season-high 84 rushing yards.
• Running back Will Matthews scored his first career touchdown against the Falcons.
• Kent State's touchdown drive in the second quarter matched a season-high of 14 plays. The Flashes had three scoring drives of 12 plays or more.
• Kent State's 10 interceptions (from 7 players) ranks 29th in the nation.
• Senior cornerback Demetrius Monday has 11 career interceptions and ranks 12th in the nation with four picks this season.
• Junior kicker Shane Hynes is in 5th place among Kent State career leaders with 30 field goals made.
• Sophomore Derek Adams ranks 13th in the nation in punting average. One of only seven sophomores on the The Ray Guy Award Watch List, Adams has pinned 17 punts inside the 20.
• Senior Nathan Puthoff was chosen to wear the No. 54 jersey in honor of late teammate Jason Bitsko. Puthoff is also on the Rimington Trophy Watch List, honoring the nation's best center.
• Kent State returned 12 players who have earned Academic All-MAC honors in their career and three MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes.
• In MAC only games, Kent State ranks fifth in the conference in total defense (370.6 ypg).
All-Time Series
Dating back to 1951, Western Michigan leads the all-time series with Kent State 34-20-1 and leads the all-time series in Kalamazoo 17-9-1. Last season, the Broncos came back from a 14-3 deficit to top Kent State 37-21 at Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes won the most recent matchup in Kalamazoo 32-14 in 2013, during the first season for both Paul Haynes and P.J. Fleck.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game game can be seen on CBS Sports Network with Ben Holden (play-by-play) Jay Feely (analyst) and Brock Gutierrez (sideline). The game can be heard live on WHLO 640 and Golden Flashes Radio on iHeartRadio. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined in the booth for the eighth year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. Jacob Pavilack will be on the sideline. iHeartRadio can be heard on a computer, smart phone or tablet.
WMU-KSU Connections
• Three different high schools in Michigan have alumni on both rosters.
• Senior defensive lineman Devante Lee spent his his first two collegiate seasons at Western Michigan.
• WMU Coach Tim Lester served as quarterbacks coach at Purdue last season under former KSU head coach Darrell Hazell. Lester played quarterback at WMU, while Brian Rock served as offensive coordinator. Rock went on to be OC at Kent State from 2011-14.
• Lester and WMU coaches Jake Moreland and Cory Sanders all coached at St. Joseph's, where Nate Warnock attended last season.
• WMU defensive coordinator Tim Daoust served on Cincinatti's staff in 20005 while Don Treadwell was the offensive coordinator.
• Director of operations Dayne Brown and WMU linebackers coach David Duggan were on the Southern Miss staff from 2013-15.
Sack Becomes a Weapon
Through their first five game, the Flashes had only three sacks on the season. However, in its last four games, Kent State has combined for 13 sacks with at least three in each game.
Pass Defense
In conference-only games, Kent State ranks second in the MAC in pass defense, allowing just 148.4 yards per game.The Flashes held both Buffalo and Ohio under 150 yards passing.
On Third Down
Kent State's offense has seen its struggles on third downs, ranking 124th in the nation. However, when the Flashes have had success on third downs, its been reflected in the final score. KSU went 8-for-15 on third downs in their win against Howard. Against Miami, the Flashes went 6-for-9 on third down attempts in the second half.
Third Down Defense
In their five conference games, the Flashes rank second in the MAC in third down defense with opponents converting just 27.9 percent of the time.
Rankin Becomes Go-to-Guy
Sophomore running back Justin Rankin caught nine passes against Bowling Green, the most by a Kent State player in the last 16 games. He also had a season-long 33-yard run. On Kent State's second half touchdown drive, Rankin made three different catches for first downs.
On Kent State's 14-play, 75-yard scoring drive against Miami, Rankin kept the chains moving with a pair of clutch third down catches. Then on 3rd-and-goal, Rankin caught a four-yard TD pass from Bollas to finish the drive.
Looking Sharp in Spurts
The Flashes' defense forced back-to-back drives of negative five yards against Bowling Green, including one that started with a first-and-goal.
In the second and third quarters, the Flashes combined for 132 rushing yards.
Kent State out-gained the Falcons 114-17 in total yards during the second quarter.
Previewing Western Michigan
• The Broncos put together their best season in program history in 2016, carrying a 13-0 record into the Cotton Bowl.
• Western Michigan has won a pair of overtime games this season, including a seven-overtime thriller at Buffalo. Tied 31-31 after regulation, the Broncos pulled out a 71-68 victory.
• The Broncos lead the MAC in rushing offense, averaging 244.4 yards per game. WMU ran for 315 yards last week against Central Michigan.
• Western Michigan's defense ranks fourth in the nation in fumbles recovered with 11 and 21st in turnovers gained.
• The Broncos are 3-2 at home this season, including a 55-3 blowout of Ball State.
Key Players To Watch
• Senior running back Jarvion Franklin has rushed for 870 yards and nine touchdowns this season, giving him 50 career touchdowns. Franklin ran for 228 yards and two TDs against Central Michigan.
• Junior Darius Phillips ranks third in the nation in kick return average (33.1) highlighted by a pair of touchdowns. He was the 2016 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
• Sophomore quarterback Jon Wassink has completed 64.2 percent of his passes along with 14 touchdowns in his first season of action.
• Senior linebacker Asantay Brown has intercepted a pass, forced two fumbles and recovered one. He leads the Broncos with 65 tackles, including 5.5 TFL.
• Sam Beal ranks 14th in the nation in passes defended. Beal has two interceptions, a forced fumble and 3.0 TFL.
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