Flashes Host Eastern Michigan in Pivotal Home Finale
11/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Riding a three-game wining streak, Kent State looks to remain in contention for a Mid-American Conference East Division title Saturday in its home finale against Eastern Michigan. The Golden Flashes (4-6, 3-3 MAC) are coming off a dominant performance over archrival Akron 35-3, with 265 yards rushing, their most since 2008. Kent State looks to go 3-0 in the month of November for only the second time since 1976. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan is just one game out of first place in the MAC West standings.
Facts In A Flash
• Junior quarterback Spencer Keith is coming off his three best games of the season, completing 44-of-70 passes for 575 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. At Akron, Keith moved into third place among Kent State's career passing leaders with over 5,600 yards. He also added a 59-yard run against the Zips.
• The 1-2 punch of true freshman Trayion Durham and senior Jacquise Terry have combined for 410 yards rushing in the last three games on 83 carries. Durham for ran for a career-high 107 yards against Akron, one week after going for 90 yards against Central Michigan. Durham has run for over 60 yards five times in his last eight games.
• MAC Defensive Player of the Year Roosevelt Nix matched a career-high six tackles against Akron and upped his career tackles for loss to 33.0. Nix has 13.5 career sacks, which ranks ninth among Kent State's all-time leaders. Nix has also forced seven fumbles in his young career.
• Sophomore safety Luke Wollet is tied for the MAC lead in interceptions with four. Wollet also has two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
• Junior middle linebacker Luke Batton leads the team with 85 tackles, which ranks eighth in the MAC. Batton has blocked a field goal, recovered a fumble and made 6.0 TFL.
• Senior punter Matt Rinehart is a two-time first team All-MAC pick and. This season, he has had 12 boots of 50 or more yards.
• Senior receiver Chris Gilbert has caught touchdowns in each of his last two games. He has made receptions of 25 yards or more in four consecutive games.
A Glance At The Series
Saturday's game will mark the 29th all-time meeting with the Eagles in a series that dates back to 1973. Kent State holds a 15-13 advantage and has claimed the past two meetings and the last two in Kent. The teams last met two years ago in Ypsilanti and have not met in Dix Stadium since 2006.
Radio
For the fifth straight year, the excitement of Golden Flashes football can be found on flagship station WNIR 100.1 FM in Northeast Ohio as part of the Kent State Sports Network from IMG College. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined in the booth for the second year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. Kent State senior Dan Scotchmer joins the team this year as the sideline reporter.
Web Site
Live audio for all Kent State football game broadcasts, live video of select games and live stats are available via the K-Zone on the official athletic department web site (www.kentstatesports.com).
The Coaches
• Darrell Hazell (Muskingum '86) is 4-6 in his first season as a head coach, assuming the reins at Kent State on Dec. 20, 2010. Hazell spent the previous seven seasons at Ohio State and is in the midst of his 26th season on the collegiate sidelines. (For a complete Hazell bio see page 11.)
• Ron English (Cal-Berkley '90) is in his third season at Eastern Michigan, where he is 8-26 with six conference victories. Prior to EMU, English served as the defensive coordinator at both Louisville and Michigan. He has also at Arizona State and San Diego State.
As Keith Goes...So Goes The Team
For the fourth time this season and third consecutive game, junior quarterback Spencer Keith (Little Rock, Ark.) did not throw an interception Saturday against Akron. Kent State is 4-0 this season and 8-1 since 2010, when a Keith pass is not picked off. Conversely, the Flashes have dropped 12 straight when Keith throws an interception.
Up Next
Kent State will close out its regular season on Friday, Nov. 25 at Temple. The game could have MAC East title and bowl implications for both teams. Eastern Michigan will visit Northern Illinois.
