Goode and Keith Light Up Bronco Defense in 26-14 Victory
10/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
KENT, Ohio - Kent State heads into November controlling its own destiny in its quest for the Mid-American Conference East Division title. Behind 373 passing yards from freshman quarterback Spencer Keith and 198 receiving yards from freshman receiver Tyshon Goode, the Golden Flashes (5-4, 4-1 MAC) topped Western Michigan 26-14 on a windy Saturday afternoon (Oct. 31) at Dix Stadium. Sophomore running back Jacquise Terry added 90 yards rushing on 23 carries, helping KSU convert 10-of-14 third down attempts.
After holding Ohio to minus-9 yards rushing last week, the Golden Flashes' defense continued to dominate in the trenches. The Broncos (4-5, 3-3 MAC) were held to only 38 yards on the ground on 22 attempts. Senior defensive end Monte Simmons led KSU's pass defense with three sacks.
On the game's opening drive, the Flashes used 13 plays over six minutes with a steady mix of passing and running that led to a 24-yard field goal by Freddy Cortez. Goode made three catches on the drive as a sign of things to come.
The Flashes also took the ball into Bronco territory on their second drive. On a third-and-long, Keith heaved a deep pass down the left sideline. Senior Jameson Konz turned inside, then outside, watched the defender in front of him tip the ball, before making a spectacular 44-yard catch while falling to the turf. The drive came to a halt however, when a Keith pass bounced off the chest of Kendrick Pressley and into the hands of a defender.
The Broncos capitalized on the interception with an 11-play, 69-yard drive capped off by a Tim Hiller two-yard touchdown pass. The All-MAC quarterback finished with 31 completions for 255 yards.
A 40-yard one-handed reception by Goode helped set up a Cortez field goal from 39 yards out to make it a 7-6 game. On KSU's next drive, Goode made three more grabs, including a 34-yard score to give the Flashes the lead back (13-7).
In a two-minute drill at the end of the half, Hiller marched the Broncos down to the KSU 23 before a pass went incomplete on fourth down.
On KSU's first drive of the second half, Goode snagged a jump ball in the corner of the end zone for his second TD of the game as the Flashes took a 20-7 lead three minutes into the half. The Broncos attempted to respond with an 11-play drive, but a John Potter 32-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
A fourth quarter Keith interception in KSU territory gave the Broncos life with 10 minutes to play. A 21-yard pass by Hiller then set up a nine-yard TD toss to Robert Arnheim.
With just under seven minutes to play, the Flashes faced a third-and-15. Keith tossed over the middle as Phil Garner made a clutch leaping grab to keep the drive alive. Terry then delivered the would-be knockout blow with a 15-yard touchdown scamper. It was Terry's second straight 15-yard carry to close out the seven-play drive.
The Broncos quickly moved down the field to the KSU 33 with five minutes to play. A Hiller pass went off the hands of a receiver and was picked off by freshman linebacker Luke Batton. The Flashes then marched 53 yards over nine plays to run out the final 4:26 on the clock.
Junior middle linebacker Cobrani Mixon led both sides with 10 tackles, while Dorian Wood added nine.
Kent State will take its three-game winning streak to InfoCision Stadium for the first time next Saturday when the Golden Flashes take on Akron for the Wagon Wheel.
| Postgame Notes (PDF Format) | |
| Kent State Postgame Quotes (PDF Format) | |
| Western Michigan Postgame Quotes (PDF Format) |
