Flashes Host Western Michigan Saturday on Homecoming Weekend
10/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Complete Notes in PDF Live Video
For the first time in program history, Kent State brings a 5-1 record into its homecoming game, when the Golden Flashes host Western Michigan Saturday at Dix Stadium.
Facts In A Flash
• The Golden Flashes have won seven straight games against teams currently in the MAC.
• Since Oct. 29, 2011, Kent State has won nine of its last 11 games overall.
• Over their last two games, the Flashes have totaled 604 rushing yards.
• Kent State did not turn the ball over at Army and raised its season turnover margin to plus-10.
• The Flashes look to win five straight games for only the second time since 1976.
• The Flashes have surpassed 400 yards of total offense four times, a feat only reached once last year.
• Junior Dri Archer leads the nation in kick return average and all-purpose yards per game, while ranking fifth in the nation in scoring.
• Archer ran for 222 yards at Army, the most in a game by a KSU player since 2007.
• Sophomore tailback Trayion Durham ran for his fifth touchdown in three games at Army. Over his last four games, he is averaging 96.0 rushing yards.
• Senior quarterback Spencer Keith threw his 38th career TD pass and caught a TD pass from Archer.
• Junior Roosevelt Nix added to his career totals in sacks (18.0) and tackles for loss (46.5), which both rank fourth in Kent State's record book.
• Kent State's offense has gone 4-for-4 on fourth down attempts in its last two games, while the offensive line has allowed only one sack.
• The Flashes are out-scoring opponents 27-0 in the opening quarter.
• Senior linebacker Luke Batton made a career-high 16 tackles, including 13 solo stops. They were the most tackles in a game by a KSU player since 2009.
• Kent State's career leader in field goals, senior Freddy Cortez has made his last six FG attempts.
The All-Time Series
Western Michigan leads the all-time series with Kent State 33-18-1. The Broncos also lead the all-time series in Kent 16-10, but the Flashes won the last Dix Stadium meeting 26-14 in 2009. Spencer Keith threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The most recent meeting was in 2010, when when Western Michigan ended the Flashes' bowl hopes with a 38-3 victory in Kalamazoo.Despite the lopsided score, Kent State outgained the Broncos in total yards 431-426.
Video
Saturday's game can be seen live and free on www.mac-sports.com.
Previewing WMU
• The Broncos are coming off a tough overtime loss at Ball State after blowing out UMass 52-14.
• Western Michigan leads the MAC in both sacks and tackles for loss.
• The Bronco passing offense ranks 39th in the nation, averaging 263.7 yards per game.
• WMU ranks second in the MAC in total defense, allowing 369 yards per game.
• The Bronos are 0-3 on the road this season, but 1-0 against MAC East opponents. Western Michigan has won its last seven games against the East Division.
Big Plays Becoming Common
Over its last four games, Kent State has put together 26 offensive plays of 20 yards or more. Six games into the 2011 season, the Flashes had just three plays of 20 or more yards. KSU continuously brought the crowd to its feet against Ball State, with 10 offensive plays of 20 yards or more. Dri Archer's 87-yard run at Eastern Michigan is the Flashes' longest play from scrimmage this season.Big plays have been a trend for the Flashes since the second half of the 2011 season, when they produced 16 of their 17 longest plays of the year. Spencer Keith's 85-yard touchdown pass to Matt Hurdle against Central Michigan was Kent State's longest pass since 2003 and was the second longest pass play in the MAC last year.
Defending Dix Stadium
For decades, Dix Stadium was not considered a place opponents feared, but that mentality has started to change in recent years. Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Kent State has gone 10-4 at home, marking the first time since 1987-88 the Flashes have had winning records at home in back-to-back seasons.
