Football Hosts Marshall on Homecoming
10/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2004
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST
Stadium: Dix Stadium (29,287 capacity; 1969/artificial turf)
Site: Kent, Ohio
Kent State Radio:The Kent State Sports Network features Bill Needle (play-by-play), Tom Linder (color analyst), and Mike Drake (sideline reporter) and consists of stations WHLO 640 AM, WHK 1420 AM, and WHKN 1440 AM in Northeast Ohio.
Local TV:None
Websites: Kent State (www.oldfiles), Marshall (www.herdzone.com)
The Kent State University football team will look to snap a three-game losing streak and pick up its first Mid-American Conference win on Saturday, October 9, 2004 when the Golden Flashes travel to Oxford, Ohio to face defending MAC Champion Miami University. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (1-4, 0-2 MAC) lost a close game for the third consecutive week, falling at Central Michigan University, 24-21, on Saturday Oct. 2. Each of the last three defeats have been decided by eight points or less.
KSUs only win of the season was a 38-10 victory over Liberty University of Sept. 11.
The RedHawks (2-3, 1-1 MAC) have lost three of their last four games, including a 33-25 defeat at Marshall University on Wednesday night, September 29. That loss snapped a nine-game conference winning streak for Miami.
SERIES HISTORY
This weeks meeting is the 35th all-time between Kent State and Marshall, with the Golden Flashes holding a slight 18-16 lead in the series. Marshall has dominated the series of late, winning the last nine meetings, including a 49-33 win last year in Huntington.
COACHES
Doug Martin (Kentucky 85) is in his first season as the head coach at Kent State. He was the teams offensive coordinator in 2003 and was previously an assistant coach at East Carolina, East Tennessee State, and Kentucky. Bob Pruett (Marshall 65) is in his eighth season at his alma mater, posting a 90-20 overall record. He entered the season as the winningest active coach (by percentage) in Division I-A football..
KSU REVIEW: A LOOK BACK AT THE MIAMI GAME
After trailing by six late in the first half, Miami scored 33 unanswered points en route to a 47-27 vicotry over Kent State on saturday, Oct. 9, at Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio.
The Golden Flashes led 20-14 with a minute to go before intermission on the strength of three first-half touchdown passes by senior quarterback Joshua Cribbs (Washington, D.C./Dunbar). Cribbs would go on to complete 23-of-34 tosses for 295 yards with one interception in the game.
The first of three Jared Parseghian field goals, a 30-yarder as time expired in the second period, gave the RedHawks the momentum they needed. Michael Larkin caught two of his three touchdown passes after halftime and joined Ryne Robinson, who threw one of the scoring passes, with a 100-yard receiving day. Quarterback Josh Betts was 18-of-28 for 277 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Junior Derrick Bush (Colquitt, Ga./Hargrave Academy [Va.]) caught six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown for Kent State. Antwan Smith (Laurel, Md./Meade) caught a 25-yard touchdown and also threw a 41-yard scoring pass to freshman Joey Barcus (Decatur, Ga./Chamblee).
Junior outside linebacker Justin Parrish (Landover Hills, Md./Fairmont Heights) made five solo tackles, including three for losses, and had two sacks to lead the KSU defense. Fifth-year senior safety Abram Elam (Riviera Beach, Fla./Palm Beach) made nine total stops, eight solo.
Marcus Johnson had three of Miamis five sacks while John Busing recorded an interception, quarterback sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
SCOUTING MARSHALL
After being shutout of the MAC Championship game for the first time in seven years, Marshall has taken the early lead in the MAC East Division. The Thundering Herd, which lost its first three games to Troy University, and nationally-ranked Ohio State University and Georgia University, has won its first two MAC contests, including a 16-13 victory in the annual Battle for the Bell against Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 9.
In the win over Ohio, Ian OConnor booted three field goals and the Thundering Herd defense picked up eight sacks, and scored the teams only touchdown.
Defensive end Jonathan Goodard, who leads the MAC with eight sacks, including six in the last two games, had two against Ohio and returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown.
Stan Hill completed 20-of-35 passes for 170 yards with an interception against the Bobcats. On the season, he is completing 57.3% (90-of-157) of his passes for 769 yards, five TDs and three interceptions.
Hills favorite target has been Josh Davis with 27 catches for 256 yards and two scores. Brad Bates has 14 receptions for 166 yards and has the other three TD grabs. The running game has been paced by Earl Charles who has rushed for 307 yards on 78 attemtps (3.9 avg.) and one touchdown.
OConnor is 9-of-11 on field goal attemtps this season, including a career-long 52-yard boot against Ohio.
Led by Goodard, Marshalls defense is first in rushing defense and second in the MAC in points allowed and total defense. Linebacker Kevin Atkins, with 48 tackles (23 solo), and defensive back Curtis Keyes, with 47 stops (30 solo), are the top two tacklers. Defensive back Chris Royal ranks among the national leaders with four interceptions.
THE LAST MEETING: MARSHALL 49 , KENT STATE 33 (OCTOBER 11, 2003)
Despite a rare feat by Kent States Joshua Cribbs (Washington, D.C./Dunbar), Stan Hill was the games biggest star as he threw for nearly 400 yards and five touchdowns as the Thundering Herd jumped out to a 28-7 lead en route to a 49-33 victory over the Golden Flashes in front of a record crowd of 33,537 Huntington. Hill completed 27-of-32 passes for 392 yards, with two interceptions. Cribbs meanwhile, completed 15-of-31 tosses for 311 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and became the first player in three years to throw, run, and catch a touchdown all in the same game. Earl Charles rushed for a career-high 173 yards and two TDs as part of Marshalls 604-yard total offensive effort. Defensively, Willie Smith returned an intercepted two-point conversion attempt 90 yards for a score. Najah Pruden (Burlington, N.J./Burlington) caught two passes for 111 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown pass while Darrell Dowery Jr. (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) caught three passes for 80 yards. Josh Davis (144 yards, 3 TDs) and Darius Watts (123, TD) each caught eight passes for Marshall.
UP NEXT
Kent State is idle next weekend. The Golden Flashes return to action on Saturday, Oct. 30, hosting Ohio University. Kickoff for that game is set for 4:00 p.m. in Dix Stadium. After two straight on the road, Marshall returns home next Saturday, Oct. 23, to host the University of Buffalo.
TALES FROM THE TRAINING ROOM
Freshman LB Luke Busson (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) suffered a severe concussion against Central Michigan and will not play against Marshall. Senior WR Darrell Dowery Jr. (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) is doubtful with a separated shoulder suffered at Miami. Senior RB Lucas Bowen (Rockford, Ohio/Parkway) hyperextended his elbow against the Chippewas, he did not play at Miami and is questionable for this weeks game. Sophomore DB Usama Young (Largo, Md./Largo), who missed the Central Michigan game with a hip flexor, returned to the lineup at Miami.
CATCHING CAREER HIGHS
Four different receivers set personal highs in receiving at Miami Oct. 9. Junior Derrick Bush (Colquitt, Ga./Hargrave Academy [Va.]) caught six passes for a personal best 82 yards, while junior Tyrell McElroy (Massillon, Ohio/ Washington), sophomore Marcus Hill (Washington, D.C./Hargrave Academy [Va.]), and freshman Joey Barcus (Decatur, Ga./Chamblee) each set career highs in receptions and yards. In addition, Hill and Barcus notched the first touchdown receptions of their careers.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
The Golden Flashes displayed a balanced passing attack at Miami, as 10 different players combined to total 28 receptions and 361 yards. The four touchdown passes were also each caught by different players. On the season, the eight touchdown passes have been caught by seven different players: Joey Barcus (Decatur, Ga./CVhamblee), Brian Bell (Kettering, Md./Dematha Catholic), Derrick Bush (Colquitt, Ga./Hargrave Academy[Va.]), Darrell Dowery Jr. (Washington, D.C./Dunbar), Marcus Hill (Washington, D.C./Hargrave Academy [Va.]), Najah Pruden (Burlington, N.J./Burlington City) and Antwan Smith (Laurel, Md./Meade). Bush leads the team with two TD grabs.
GOLDEN FLASHES GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK
Through five games, the Kent State defense has recorded 12 quarterback sacks after totalling 14 all of last year. The Golden Flashes picked up four sacks in the season-opener at Iowa and then added three more against Liberty and Miami. Junior OLB Justin Parrish (Landover Hills, Md./Fairmont Heights) leads the team with 6.5 sacks.
TEAM INTERCEPTION STREAK COMES TO AN END
When the Golden Flashes failed to record an interception at Miami Oct. 11, it marked the first time this season that the Kent State defense did not pick off a pass.
SIX PACK OF PICKS
When senior DB Vashawn Patrick (Aliquippa, Pa./Fork Union Military Academy [Va.]) picked off a pass at Central Michigan on Oct. 2, he became the sixth different Kent State player to record an interception this season, joining classmates Shannon Davis (Sumter, S.C./Hargrave Academy [Va.]), Abram Elam (Riviera Beach, Fla./Palm Beach C.C.), and Eric Mahl (Monroeville, Ohio/Monroeville), sophomore Usama Young (Largo, Md./Largo), and redshirt freshman Jack Williams (Norfolk, Va./Booker T. Washington).
ANOTHER DOUBLE FOR CRIBBSSenior quarterback Joshua Cribbs (Washington, D.C./Dunbar), had his ninth career double-100 game, in which he passed for 100 yards and rushed for 100 yards in the same contest, against Akron on September 23. In that game, Cribbs threw for 179 yards while rushing for a game-high 101 yards. He also accounted for two touchdowns (one rush, one pass) and caught a 13-yard pass. It was also his second double-100 game this season, having accomplished the feat in the home opener against Liberty (144 passing, 105 rushing).
MILESTONE MARKERS
Senior quarterback Joshua Cribbs (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) seemingly sets a career milestone each game. Against Miami Oct. 11, Cribbs surpassed the 500-completion and 6,000-yard passing marks, becoming just the second KSU player to reach those plateaus. His 512 completions and 6,035 yards are second only to leader Jose Davis (1997-99). Cribbs also went over the 9,000-yard mark for total offense, becoming the first player in school history- and just the seventh in MAC history- to accomplish that feat..
MAKING A RUN- AND A PASS- AT NCAA HISTORY
Senior Joshua Cribbs (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) is one of only two players in I-A history with two double-1,000 seasons, passing and rushing for over 1,000 yards in both 2001 and 2002. Former Air Force Academy quarterback Dee Dowis is the only other player to accomplish the feat. Cribbs, who became the first freshman to accomplish the feat in a single season when he did it in 01, can become the only player with three double-1,000 seasons if he reaches those totals this fall.
CRIBBS AMONG NCAA ACTIVE LEADERS
Not only is he one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the Mid-Amercan Conference, senior Joshua Cribbs (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) also is one of the top dual passing-rushing threats in the country. Statistically, he is among the active career leaders in NCAA Division 1-A in: yards per carry (5.6, 1st), total offense-plays (1,521, 4th), total offense- yards (9,154, 5th), rushing touchdowns (33, 5th), touchdowns responsible for (70, 6th), rushing yards (3,199, 6th), total yards per game (240.9, 6th), carries (554, 10th), passing attempts (967, 12th), completions (512, 12th), total yards per play (6.02, 14th) and passing yards (6,035, 15th).
LONG TIME COMINGWhen Darrell Dowery Jr. (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) returned an Akron punt 66 yards for a touchdown on September 23, it marked the first time in 15 years that a Kent State player returned a punt for a score. The last time it happend was October 28, 1989 when both Andrea Palmer (1986-89) and Shawn Barnes (1989-91) returned punts 62 yards for TDs in a 47-42 loss to the University of Toledo.
DOWERY MOVING UP CAREER CHARTS
With three more catches at Miami last week, senior wide receiver Darrell Dowery Jr. (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) now has 126 catches for 1,581 yards in his career. He needs just 17 catches to tie Juron Kelly (1998-01) for second place and 81 yards to catch Kim Feasant (1974-77) for fourth place on the KSU career receiving yards list.
MAHL AMONG TACKLE LEADERS
After picking up seven stops at Miami Oct. 11, senior All-MAC linebacker Eric Mahl (Monroeville, Ohio/Monroeville) leads the team with 57 tackles (27 solo) and his 9.5 tackles per game rank sixth in the MAC. He has record 10 or more tackles in a game three times in six games this season. Mahl led KSU with 126 tackles a year ago when he earned All-MAC honorable mention.
DOWERY NEAR TOP OF MAC AND NCAA LISTS
Senior receiver Darrell Dowery Jr. (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) ranks second in the MAC in receptions per game with 7.0 receptions. He has a team-leading 42 receptions for 362 yards on the season. In addition, Dowerys 15.4 yard per punt return average third seventh in the MAC. Nationally, Dowery ranks 14th in receptions and 13th in punt returns.
MORE MAC LEADERSSeveral other Kent State individuals rank among the top performers in the Mid-American Conference. Senior outside linebacker Justin Parrish (Landover Hills, Md./Fairmont Heights) is tied for second with 4.5 sacks, fifth-year senior safety Abram Elam (Riviera Beach, Fla./Cardinal Newman-Palm Beach C.C.) is tied for second with two interceptions, junior punter Josh Brazen (Ada, Ohio/Ada) is sixth with a 41.8 average, and fifth-year senior running back David Alston (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) is third in kickoff returns with a 23.4 yard average, and linebackers Eric Mahl (Monroeville, Ohio/Monroeville) is fourth in total tackles.
DEFENSIVE DUO PASS TACKLE TOTAL MILESTONES
Senior safety Shannon Daivs (Sumter, S.C./Hargrave Academy [Va.]) and junior linebacker Jon Sessler (Castalia, Ohio/Margaretta) recently passed significant individual career tackle totals. Davis made five tackles (three solo) at Central Michigan on Oct. 2, passing the 300-mark for his career. With 27 tackles so far this season, Davis now has 307 stops as a Golden Flash. Meanwhile Sessler, who is second on the team with 45 tackles, recorded the 100th stop of his career against Akron on Sept. 23.
MAYLE JOINS THIRTY-SOMETHING CROWDJunior placekicker Travis Mayle (Ravenna, Ohio/Crestwood) connected on a pair of field goals at Central Michigan on Oct. 2, giving him 31 for his career. Only Dave Pavich (1998-01) and Paul Marchese (1975-77) have made as many. For his career, Mayle is 31-of-48 (64.6 %) on field-goal attempts.
MORE MAYLEWith three made extra points at Miami Oct 11, Travis Mayle (Ravenna, Ohio/Crestwood) tied Larry Steinberg (1986-89) for second place on the Kent State career extra point list with 69. He is 14-of-16 on PATs this season and 69-for- 75 (92%) for his career. Mayle is within striking distance of Dave Pavichs career record of 83 (1998-01).
DAVIS HAS SIGHTS ON RUNBACK RECORD
Against Liberty on September 11, senior DB Shannon Davis (Sumter, S.C./Hargrave Academy [Va.]) intercepted the sixth pass of his career, returning the pick 45 yards. The return moved him from 11th place all the way up to sixth place with 137 career interception return yards. Cedric Brown (1972-75), who intercepted 16 passes in his career, holds the school record with 236 return yards.
KICKOFF KING
Senior WR/KR Antonio King (Burlington, N.C./Hargrave Academy [Va.]) currently ranks fourth in KSU history with 71 career kick off returns. His total of 1,440 return yards ranks fifth all time. The versatile King has also played tailback and linebacker in his career at Kent State.
2004 MARKS CHILLY ANNIVERSARY
The 2004 season marks the 50th anniversary of Kent States first bowl game appearance. Following an 8-1 regular season and second-place MAC finish (4-1), the Golden Flashes were invited to participate in the then seven-year old Refrigerator Bowl in Evansville, Indiana. The Golden Flashes lost the game, 19-7, to the University of Delaware. Kent States only other bowl appearance was the 1972 Tangerine Bowl, which it lost to the University of Tampa, 21-18. The Refrigerator Bowl lasted two more seasons.
FLASHES PICKED FIFTH IN MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Kent State football team was picked to finish fifth in the MAC East Division according to the MAC News Media Association preseason poll released at the 2004 MAC Football Media Day. The University of Toledo (West Division) and Marshall University (East Division) are the favorites according to the poll to meet Dec. 2 in the leagues championship game. Toledo was selected to capture the MAC Championship for 2004.
The Golden Flashes received 119 votes in the poll and one first-place vote to rank behind Marshall, Miami University, the University of Akron and UCF in the East Division. Ohio University and the University at Buffalo rounded out the MAC East voting. Miami is the defending MAC Champion.
THE SPORTING NEWS PREDICTS BIG THINGS FOR FLASHES IN 2004
The Kent State football team was recognized in the Dec. 15 edition of The Sporting News as the MAC team most likely to break out in 2004. According to the magazine: The MAC has enjoyed a breakout season, with several programs reaching a new level. The next to join the fun should be Kent State.
LISTEN TO GOLDEN FLASHES FOOTBALL LIVE ON THE KENT STATE SPORTS NETWORK
This fall, the Kent State Sports Network is expanding to blanket Northeast Ohio with Golden Flashes Football. Gameday broadcasts will be heard on WHLO 640-AM, WHK 1420-AM and WHKW 1440-AM and will feature a 60-minute football pregame show and 30-minute postgame coverage. The voice of Golden Flashes football and mens basketball Bill Needle returns to the microphone, as does color analyst Tom Linder. Joining the football broadcast team in 2004 is former assistant coach Mike Drake, who will report from the Kent State sideline.
EXPANDED KSU SPORTS NETWORK TO INCLUDE INSIDE KENT STATE SPORTS
In addition to the extended pre- and post-game show, the Kent State Sports Network will also feature live weekly Inside Kent State Sports radio show that will air on WHLO 640-AM, beginning Thursday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. The show will be broadcast from Damons Restaurant in Kent, and will feature interviews with Kent State coaches, including football coach Doug Martin and basketball coaches Jim Christian and Bob Lindsay, as well news, notes and the latest in Kent State Athletics. The radio show will be hosted by the voice of Kent State football, Bill Needle, and air each Thursday at 6 p.m.
