Flashes Open Home Slate Saturday Against Howard
9/5/2017 1:03:00 PM | Football
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Dix Stadium begins its 49th season as the home of Kent State football Saturday when the Golden Flashes host Howard at 3:30 p.m. on Parents and Families Day. The Flashes are in their 95th season of football, which started this past Saturday at defending national champion Clemson.
Howard is coming off the biggest point spread upset victory in college football history with a 43-40 road win at UNLV, the program's first over an FBS opponent.
Along with the Marching Golden Flashes, this Saturday's halftime will also feature Howard's "Showtime" Marching Band.
Facts In A Flash
• Senior Nick Holley has rushed for over 50 yards in 7-of-8 career starts at QB. In his first six games at QB in 2016, he rushed for nine touchdowns.
• Senior center Nathan Puthoff was chosen to wear the No. 54 jersey in honor of late teammate Jason Bitsko.
• Puthoff is on the preseason Rimington Trophy Watch List, honoring the nation's best center, while Derek Adams is one of only seven sophomore punters on the Ray Guy Watch List.
• Adams was named MAC East Special Team Player of the Week Monday, following four punts of 50 yards or more at Clemson.
• With Paul Haynes recently announcing a medical leave of absence, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell has taken over as interim head coach.
• Kent State returned 53 letterwinners, including three All-MAC selections on defense. The Flashes returned nine players on offense and seven on defense with at least six career starts.
• The Flashes finished eighth in the nation in turnover margin last season and did not commit a turnover at Clemson.
• Junior Shane Hynes made his 23rd career field at Clemson, which ranks sixth among Kent State's all-time leaders.
• Junior Quan Robinson made his first career interception at Clemson.
• Last season, Kent State ranked 20th in pass efficiency defense and 22nd in passing yards allowed.
• Kent State returns 12 players who have earned Academic All-MAC honors in their career and three MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes.
Against FCS
Since 2001, Kent State is 15-1 against FCS/Division I-AA opponents with its only loss during that stretch coming last season against NC A&T State. In their most recent game against an FCS opponent, the Flashes took down Monmouth 27-7. Other FCS wins in that stretch include: Youngstown State, Delaware State, Coastal Carolina, Liberty, Towson, Bucknell, New Hampshire, Caly Poly, Murray State and Southeast Missouri State.
Raising the Bahr
Junior Matt Bahr made what seems to be a seamless transition from safety to linebacker in the spring with some extra time in the weight room and at the kitchen table. Saturday at Clemson, Bahr made nine tackles in the first half, including six solo stops and 1.0 tackle for loss.
More on Bahr and LBs
Bahr is a two-time MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete, that graduated in three years. He serves as president of Kent State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The former walk-on also serves on the MAC's Student-Athlete Executive Committee and is on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. Fellow linebackers James Alexander and Danny Johnson joined Bahr and other Kent State athletes on a summer trip to Belize, working with "Courts For Kids."
Treadwell Taking Reins
Don Treadwell is no stranger to serving as an interim head coach following an abrupt change or serving as a head coach in the MAC. Treadwell took over as interim head coach at Michigan State in 2010, while Mark Dantonio was out with illness. The Spartans' success that season made Treadwell a candidate for the Broyles Award, honoring the nation's top assistant coach. He also served as head coach at Miami from 2011-2013.
Home Openers
Since 1946, Kent State is 41-29-1 in home openers. The Flashes have won 12 of their last 16 home openers, most recently a 45-13 win over Delaware State in 2015. Last season, Kent State dropped a quadruple overtime heartbreaker to North Carolina A&T State 39-36. Justin Rankin and Johnny Woods each scored touchdowns in overtime, but the Aggies found the endzone a third time in OT.
Versatile Freshman
True freshman Kesean Gamble saw action at both linebacker and running back at Clemson. He finished with 21 yards rushing and two tackles. Gamble was also a two-way star in high school.
Earning Degrees
Kent State ranks tied for ninth among FBS schools and second in the MAC for college degrees earned. Headlined by linebacker Matt Bahr, who graduated in three years, there are 11 players on the KSU roster who have bachelor's degrees: James Alexander, Dan Hillenbrand, Nick Holley, Melran Leach, Devante Lee, Ryan Malone, Jake McVay, Nathan Puthoff, Erik Simpson, Kris White.
Honoring Tyler Heintz
The initials T.H. will be on the back of Golden Flashes' helmets throughout the season, honoring Tyler Heintz, who passed away in June, following the second morning of summer workouts. The incoming freshman had just graduated from Kenton High School, where several other Flashes had attended before him. The helmet decal will be in blue and red, representing the colors of both Kenton and Kent State. Tyler's family will be present at Saturday's game.
Close Calls
In three of its losses (NC A&T, Akron, Miami) last season, Kent State held leads in the latter half of the fourth quarter. The Flashes were also four yards away from taking a late fourth quarter lead against Ohio. In two other tight contests, Kent State was tied with No. 14 Western Michigan early in the fourth quarter and trailed Northern Illinois by just three to start the fourth.
Rankin's Rookie Year
According to Pro Football Focus, running back Justin Rankin was fourth among true freshmen last season for highest elusive rating. Rankin totaled 846 yards of offense (rushing/receiving) and scored four touchdowns.
He had six offensive plays on the year of 30 yards or more. In last year's opener at Penn State, Rankin rushed for 82 yards on 13 carries. His 181 yards receiving against Akron were the most by a Kent State player since 2009.
