Mid-American Conference Play Opens on Homecoming Saturday Against Miami
9/29/2015 9:16:00 AM | Football
Golden Flashes Radio Game Notes ESPN3 Live Stats
The start of Mid-American Conference play against a division rival and Kent State's 2015 Homecoming could be the perfect remedy for a Golden Flashes team coming off a heartbreaking double overtime loss to Marshall. A crucial start in the East Division standings will be on the line when Miami comes to Dix Stadium Saturday for a 3:30 kickoff.
The numerous University events include Kent State's Homecoming Parade Saturday at 11 a.m. with Julian Edelman serving as the grand marshal.
Facts In A Flash
• In regulation, Kent State outgained Marshall in total yards 408-237.
• With 12 tackles for loss against Marshall, the Flashes' defense has 37 tackles for loss in its last three games.
• Kent State's defense has allowed only three touchdowns in regulation over its last three games.
• In its last two games, Kent State is plus-5 in turnover margin.
• KSU ranks fourth in the nation in total defense and ninth in both passing and rushing defense. The Flashes are fourth in TFL and ninth in sacks.
• Junior QB Colin Reardon ranks 4th in both career completions (463) and TD passes (31) at Kent State, and sixth in career passing yards (4,937).
• Following his 3.0 sacks against Marshall, junior Terence Waugh ranks third in the nation and leads the MAC with 6.5 sacks. Waugh also made a career-high 11 tackles and 4.0 TFL.
• Sophomore cornerback Demetrius Monday has four interceptions in his last five games.
• Senior Trayion Durham scored his 26th career rushing touchdown against Marshall, tying him for for seventh place among KSU career leaders.
• Freshman Raekwon James led the Flashes with 77 receiving yards on three catches against the Herd.
• Kent State returned six Academic All-MAC selections and five MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes.
• Senior safety Jordan Italiano was tabbed Smartest Player in College Football by NFL.com this summer. The pre-med/biochemistry major carries a 3.979 grade point average.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN3 with Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and former Flashes' quarterback Josh Cribbs (analyst). 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 sixth year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. Matt Miller is the sideline reporter. iHeartRadio can be heard on a computer, smart phone or tablet.
All-Time-Series
Miami leads the all-time series with Kent State 47-15, which started in 1942. The in-state rivals have met every year since 1955. In that span, Kent State's only three-game win streak was 1986-88. Last season, Miami won a 10-3 defensive struggle in Oxford.
The Flashes have won four of the last seven meetings, including a 24-6 victory when the teams last met in Kent. The KSU defense held Miami to just 176 yards of offense. Nate Terhune recorded 2.0 of Kent State's 7.0 tackles for loss. The RedHawks hold a 22-8 series lead in Kent.
The matchup in 1973 remains as the only time two nationally ranked teams have met in Kent and was the largest crowd in Dix Stadium history.
On Homecoming
Since 1947, Kent State is 24-44 in its homecoming games, winning three of its last five. Since 1987, the Flashes are just 7-21 on homecoming. Miami has successfully crashed Kent State's party on all five of its previous attempts, most recently downing the Flashes in 2011 (9-3).
Last season, the Flashes defeated Army 39-17, facing their first non-conference opponent on homecming since 1997. Colin Reardon threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns, while Kris White caught five passes for 64 yards. Nick Cuthbert made 16 tackles in his first career start and was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week.
MAC Openers
Since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1951, the Flashes are 20-41-2 in conference openers, having dropped four of their last five. Last year's MAC opener was also the season opener, spoiled by a last second Ohio field goal, giving the Bobcats a 17-14 victory.
Rare Combination
Saturday marks the first time since 2005 that Kent State's MAC opener was also its homecoming game. That combination also came against Miami.
Improving in the Redzone
On four trips to the redzone against Marshall, Kent State captialized with three touchdowns and one field goal.
Big Numbers at Home
Kent State's 278 rushing yards against Delaware State are the second most in a game by a MAC team this season and its 65 rushing attempts were the most by a MAC squad this year. The Flashes nearly hit that number again against Marshall, totaling 247 rushing yards.
• Six sacks by the Flashes' defense against Delaware State is the most by a MAC team this season. The Flashes neared that number against Marshall with five sacks.
• Kent State's 492 total yards were its most since its 2013 season finale and its 91 plays were the most in the last decade. The Flashes amassed 89 plays against Marshall with 436 total yards.
Monday Milestone
Sophomore cornerback Demetrius Monday was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week and National Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness after forcing three turnovers at Minnesota and returning a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown.
Monday's two first-half interceptions at Minnesota, are the only picks thrown by a Gopher quarterback in four games this season. In addition, he earned Jim Thorpe Player of the Week Honorable Mention.
More Interceptions
The Flashes rank second in the MAC with six interceptions, spread among four different players. Jordan Italiano made his fifth career interception against Marshall, while Marcus Elliott had his first.
First Half Challenge
Due to NCAA rules, Kent State will be without two key members of its secondary during the first half against Miami. Safety Nate Holley and cornerback Najee Murray were both subjects of highly-questioned targeting calls and ejected in the second half against Marshall.
Run Game Breakthrough
Senior Trayion Durham's 114 yards rushing against Marshall was the first time since the 2013 season a Kent State back hit the 100-yard mark, last accomplished by none other than Durham.
New RB Threat
Kent State was without junior running back Nick Holley for the first time this season against Marshall. But the running game didn't miss a beat.
• True freshman Myles Washington had a career-high 56 rushing yards on 12 attempts.
Rushing Battle is Key
Another stat trend was broken when the Flashes' outrushed Marshall 247-126. Since 2012, Kent State is 15-3 when outgaining opponents on the ground. The Flashes are 3-20 when the opposition runs for more yards with two of those wins coming against the run-heavy Army offense in 2012 and 2014.
Critical First Half
Since the beginning of 2012, Kent State is 16-1 when leading at halftime and 1-21 when trailing at the break. Last week against Marshall was the Flashes' only loss in that span when leading at the break.
Magic Number Has Been 27
Since the beginning of the 2013 season, the Flashes are 5-1 when scoring 27 or more points in a game. Kent State is just 2-19 when falling short of 27 during that time.
Colin Reardon
Junior quarterback Colin Reardon has not thrown an interception since the first half of the opening game.
Saturday against Marshall, he moved ahead of Julian Edelman into fourth place in career touchdown passes at Kent State (31). Reardon needs just 61 yards to move past Edelman into fifth place in career passing yards.
Reardon's best two games of 2014 and his best game of 2015 have all come at home. Last year, Reardon had a 360-yard, three-touchdown performance against Army. He did not throw more than one interception in each of his six home games in 2014. This year against Delaware State, he completed 11-of-16 passes for three touchdowns, three minutes into the third quarter.
Solid Second Option at QB
Redshirt freshman quarterback George Bollas scored his first career touchdown against Delaware State on a five-yard run. He also ran for a two-point conversion and threw a two-point conversion to tight end Brice Fackler. In four games, Bollas has completed 11-of-16 passes and has rushed for 36 yards.
Starting Fast
Freshman Antwan Dixon has scored touchdowns the very first time he has touched the ball in each home game. On his very first career offensive series against Delaware State, Dixon caught the first ball thrown to him, weaving through several defenders for a 20-yard touchdown. Dixon ran for a 47-yard touchdown on a reverse the first time he touched the ball against Marshall. He also added a 36-yard catch against the Herd.
Game Experience
Last season, 24 Golden Flashes (12 offense, 12 defense) got their first career start. This year, the Flashes bring much more game experience to both sides of the ball.
NFL Night to Remember
The NFL's 2015 opening game Steelers vs. Patriots featured more players from Kent State (5) than any other school. All five (Julian Edelman, Josh Kline, James Harrison, Dri Archer, Roosevelt Nix) got very little college attention coming out of high school due to their size. Three were undrafted free agents.
Smartest, Toughest, Smallest
Senior defensive lineman Nate Terhune was named Toughest Player in College Football by NFL.com in the summer of 2014. In 2013, Terhune shattered his fibula at LSU and returned exactly four weeks later. He didn't take painkillers during rehab, which allowed him to lift weights. One month after returning, Terhune scored on a 61-yard fake punt, hurdling an Ohio defender.
In addition to Jordan Italiano's smartest player recognition in 2015, NFL.com also recognized junior receiver Ernest Calhoun as No. 12 among the smallest players in the nation, making an impact. At 5-6, 151 pounds, Calhoun made 33 catches for 319 receiving yards last season and led the Flashes with 1,033 all-purpose yards.
Getting Broken In
Nine true freshmmen have seen action for the Flashes this season. Twenty three players made career debuts for the Golden Flashes at Illinois. Freshman lineman Stefano Millin, redshirt freshman Raekwon James and sophomore defensive lineman Anthony Johnson each made their first career start. Antwan Dixon became the 24th player to make his debut against DSU.
The Coaches
• Paul Haynes is in his third year at his alma mater. In 2013, Haynes became the first Flashes' head coach to win his debut since 1988. He was a two-time All-MAC safety at Kent State from 1987-91, despite joining as a walk-on. He returned 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 2012 as defensive coordinator at Arkansas. His current tenure has also brought Kent State's academic achievements to new heights with the highest term and cumulative team grade point averages in program history.
• Chuck Martin (Milliken '90) is in his second season at Miami following four seasons as an assistant at Notre Dame. Martin spent the 2012 season as offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame, helping them to a BCS National Title game appearance. He spent the previous two years as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. From 2004-2009, Martin was the head coach at Grand Valley State, leading the Lakers to back-to-back Division II national championships. Grand Valley went 74-7 during that stretch, including a 40-game winning streak. Martin also spent two seasons as linebackers coach at Eastern Michigan.
WebSite, Twitter & Youtube
For Kent State football stories, statistics, photos, video and more, visit KentStateSports.com. For daily football updates follow @kentstathletics and @kentstfootball on Twitter and Kent State Golden Flashes Football on Facebook. For an extensive video library visit GoldenFlashesTV on YouTube.
