South Alabama Opens Its Season at Kent State Saturday
9/3/2014 10:03:00 AM | Football
Game Notes    ESPN3    Tickets   Golden Flashes Radio
After a last second field goal spoiled Kent State's 2014 opener, the Golden Flashes look to bounce back Saturday against South Alabama. The Jaguars come to Dix Stadium for their 2014 season opener, while a number of young Flashes come into week two with their feet wet. After a 6-6 showing in 2013, South Alabama was picked to finish third of 11 teams in the Sun Belt Conference this season.
Facts In A Flash
• The Kent State defense forced and recovered fumbles on four consecutive possessions against Ohio in the second half.
• Sophomore QB Colin Reardon completed 73 percent (30-for-41) of his passes against Ohio. He has 2,221 passing yards in 12 career games.
• The Flashes will be playing in their first non-conference game since visiting South Alabama last October.
• In Kent State's last four games, opponents are averaging just 13.0 points per contest.
• Sophomore safety Nate Holley had a hand in three turnovers (2 FF, 1 FR) and made a game-high 18 tackles against the Bobcats.
• Sophomore slot receiver Ernest Calhoun had 11 catches against Ohio, the most by a Kent State receiver since 2010.
• Senior receiver Chris Humphrey has made a catch in 21 straight games, including four touchdowns in that span.
• Junior punter Anthony Melchiori showed why he was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List with a 71-yard punt to start his season.
• Senior tight end Casey Pierce was named to the John Mackey Award Watch List.
• The Golden Flashes are wearing number 54 on one side of their helmets throughout the year, paying tribute to Jason Bitsko.
• Junior defensive lineman Nate Terhune was tabbed "Toughest Player in College Football" in an offseason article on NFL.com.
The All-Time Series
Kent State and South Alabama will be playing for just the third time on Saturday. The series is tied 1-1, with each team winning at home. Last season in Mobile, the Jaguars jumped out to a 10-0 lead and went on to top the Flashes 38-21. It was Kent State's only game of the season without quarterback Colin Reardon. Most of Kent State's offensive production did not come until the second half. The Flashes won the first series meeting in 2011, 33-25 in Kent. As a freshman, Anthony Meray ran for 64 yards and two touchdowns.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN3 with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Jerod Cherry (color analyst). Â
All Kent State games can be heard live on 640 WHLO and Golden Flashes Radio on iHeartRadio. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined in the booth for the fifth year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. Matt Miller is the sideline reporter. The iHeartRadio channel works on a PC, smart phone or tablet.
WebSite, Twitter & Youtube
For Kent State football stories, statistics, photos, video and more, visit KentStateSports.com. For daily football updates follow @ksuathletics on Twitter. For an extensive video library visit the GoldenFlashesTV channel on YouTube.
The Coaches
• Last year, Paul Haynes became the first Kent State head coach to win his debut since 1988, the first to win his MAC road opener since 1986 and is one of only two KSU coaches (Glen Mason) to defeat both Miami and Ohio in his first year. He was a two-time all-conference defensive back at Kent State from 1987-91, despite joining as a walk-on. He returned to his alma mater as an assistant in 1999 and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2000. After seven seasons on an Ohio State staff that won six Big Ten titles (2005-11), Haynes spent the 2012 season as defensive coordinator at Arkansas.
• Joey Jones (Alabama '89) is in his sixth season at South Alabama and seventh season as a college head coach. Jones oversaw the program's inception in 2009 and its transition to becoming an FBS program and member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Jaguars have gone 31-21 since 2009. Last season, the Jags finished tied for third place (4-3) in the Sun Belt. Prior to USA, Jones helped restart Birmingham-Southern's program in 2007. He was also a high school head coach for 13 seasons. As a player, he was an All-SEC wide receiver at Alabama.
Previewing South Alabama
• The Jaguars enter their season on a three-game winning streak. South Alabama won each of their final three games by 20 or more points.
• USA went 2-4 on the road last season and 2-3 in non-conference games. Saturday is the Jaguars's first opener away from home.
• The Jaguars ranked third in the nation in sacks per game (3.17) last season.
• Head Coach Joey Jones was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year last season.
• South Alabama ranked 31st in the nation in turnover margin last season.
Key Players To Watch
• Senior tight end Wes Saxton earned All-Sun Belt First Team honors last season after making 50 catches for 635 yards.
• Junior right tackle Chris May was also an all-conference first team selection last season.
• Senior receiver Shavarez Smith made 50 catches for 940 yards and six touchdowns last season.
• Senior running back Jay Jones led the Jaguars with 737 rushing yards last season. He ran for five touchdowns and caught 18 passes.
• Senior cornerback Qudarius Ford is the top returning tackler with 76 stops last season.
• Senior safety Terrell Brigham leads the Jaguars with 143 career tackles..
• Sophomore kicker Aleem Sunanon made 18-of-23 field goal attempts last season.
Defense Giving the Offense Opportunities
On 11 Ohio possessions, the Kent State defense forced four turnovers, three 3-and-outs and a 4-and-out.
• The Flashes' defense have allowed only four touchdowns over their last four games.
Playing Like a Veteran
Sophomore Nate Holley was named MAC East Defensive player of the Week Monday. Holley had a hand in three defensive turnovers on three consecutive Ohio possessions. He also piled up 18 tackles, which ties him for the nation's FBS lead. It was the most tackles in a game by a Kent State player since 2009 (Cobrani Mixon). Twelve of Holley's tackles were solo stops. He was credited with one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles, but also helped force a fumble that was credited to Jon Cunningham. He also broke up a pass.
• Holley made 12 tackles in the 2013 season finale, giving him 30 tackles in his last two games. He was used on special teams in the first nine games of 2013, before moving into a starting safety role.
