Kent State University
Miami University
Flashes Looking for Second Straight Road Win at Miami
10/12/2016 9:39:00 AM | Football
Game Notes ESPN3 Golden Flashes Radio
Kent State looks to win back-to-back road games for the first time since 2012 Saturday when the Golden Flashes take on MAC East Division rival Miami at Yager Stadium. The Flashes' offense, defense and special teams all came up with big plays at key times in a 44-20 win at Buffalo. Junior quarterback Nick Holley led the way with 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Facts In A Flash
• Academic All-American, and senior linebacker Nick Cuthbert has made 25 tackles in his last three games with a recovered fumble. He was recently named a Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
• Senior safety Nate Holley leads the nation in solo tackles per game (9.5) and ranks second in total tackles (14.3).
• Senior apache Najee Murray leads the nation in pass breakups after notching five at Buffalo.
• Freshman Justin Rankin has 436 all-purpose yards in his last two games.
• The Flashes have not committed a turnover in their last two games.
• The Flashes' 44 points at Buffalo were their most against an FBS opponent since 2013.
• Five of Kent State's offensive linemen have made a combined 117 career starts.
• Sophomore center Stefano Millin was chosen to wear the No. 54 jersey. (see page 6)
• Kent State's 7.6 yards per rush at Buffalo is the second best single-game performance by a MAC team this season.
• The Flashes held the Bulls to 116 yards rushing and 58 yards rushing in the first three quarters.
• Senior defensive end Terence Waugh ranks 14th in the nation in sacks (6.0) and 17th in tackles for loss (9.0).
• Kent State returned 10 Academic All-MAC selections and three MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes.
All-Time Series
Miami leads the all-time series with Kent State 47-16, 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, the Flashes topped Miami 20-14 at Dix Stadium. Ernest Calhoun caught a 44-yard touchdown pass to give the Flashes a 20-0 lead. The RedHawks scored a pair of fourth quarter TDs and took their final drive to the KSU 36 yard line, before an interception by Juantez McRae ended the comeback bid. The last time the teams met at Yager Stadium, Miami won a 10-3 defensive struggle. The RedHawks hold a 24-7 series lead in Oxford.
The Flashes have won five of the last eight meetings. The matchup in 1973 remains the only time two nationally ranked teams have met in Kent and was the largest crowd in Dix Stadium history.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN3 with Jim Barbar (play-by-play) and John Gregory (analyst). Saturday's game 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 seventh year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. Jacob Pavilack will be the sideline reporter. iHeartRadio can be heard on a computer, smart phone or tablet.
The Coaches
• Paul Haynes is in his fourth 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 third 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.
Previewing Miami
• The RedHawk offense has been able to stretch the field, ranking 12th in the nation in passing yards per completion. Miami is averaging 53.5 mor passing yards per game than its opponents.
• Miami's redzone defense ranks 30th in the FBS. Eighteen RedHawks have a tackle for loss.
• Miami ranks 29th in the nation in total defense, allowing 346.8 yards per game.
• This past Saturday, the RedHawks held Akron to 299 yards of total offense.
• The RedHawks have been strong coming out of the locker room, outscoring opponents 52-31 in the third quarter.
• Miami held fourth quarter leads against Cincinnati and Eastern Illinois.
Key Players To Watch
• Sophomore wideout James Gardner ranks 22nd in the nation with five receiving touchdowns and is 48th in yards per reception at 17.6. Gardner's totaled 23 grabs for 405 yards.
• Junior defensive back Heath Harding and sophomore DB De'Andre Montgomery have each made two interceptions. Harding has 5.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
• Sophomore kicker Nick Dowd is 5-for-6 on field goal attempts with his only miss coming from 50 yards.
• Junior tight end Ryan Smith made five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown against Akron.
• Sophomore running back Alonzo Smith rushed for 86 yards on 17 carries at Akron. He leads the RedHawks with 354 rushing yards and has one touchdown.
• Junior defensive back Tony Reid leads the defense with 41 tackles and three pass breakups.
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.
Twin Threat
Nick and Nate Holley are one of six sets of twins on FBS rosters and are the most experienced duo among that group. As freshmen, they made their mark on special teams then played pivotal roles on offense and defense in 2014.
Although Nate has earned more career accolades, Nick was the team's leading rusher in 2014 with 516 yards. Last year, a season-ending injury in week 3 allowed for a medical hardship from the NCAA.
Prior to the Akron game, Nick led the Flashes with 13 catches and 135 receiving yards.
Position Change
Kent State discovered a new and effective offensive identity when Nick Holley moved to quarterback for the first time since his senior year of high school in 2012 against Akron. Holley became the first Kent State player since 1973 (Larry Poole) to be named MAC Offensive Player of Week in consecutive weeks. At Buffalo, Holley became the first Kent State player with four rushing touchdowns in a game since Eugene Jarvis in 2008. Holley had Kent State's two longest runs of the season in the first two series, going 65 yards on the first play and 67 yards on a second possession touchdown.
Holley became the first Kent State player since Dri Archer in 2012 with over 200 yards in a game and the first player since Archer with a pair of carries over 60 yards in the same game.
Holley Cracks Career Top 10
At Buffalo, senior safety Nate Holley became Kent State's 10th player in program history to reach 400 career tackles and the first to do so since Sean Patterson in 1993. Showing why he's on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, Holley's made 43 solo tackles in his last four games. He is the FBS active career tackles leader with 401.
This week, College Football News rated him No. 10 among its FBS Midseason Top Players.
Holley had a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss at Alabama and is on pace to have the most tackles by a Kent State player since 1981.
His career tackles are on pace to pass head coach Paul Haynes who is at at No. 7 with 440 tackles. After making 17 tackles at Penn State, Holley was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week.
The senior ranked in the nation's top five in tackles per game in 2014 and 2015, claiming All-MAC First Team honors in both seasons
Cribbs Brings Karma
When Nick Holley finished with 402 yards of total offense against Akron, it was the first time a Kent State player hit that mark since Josh Cribbs in 2004. Earlier that day, Cribbs served as grand marshal of Kent State's homecoming parade and conducted the coin toss prior to kickoff.
Strong Start at Buffalo
Three minutes into the second quarter at Buffalo, Kent State had jumped out to a 13-0 lead and had allowed just 26 yards of total offense.
Making Them Play Catch Up
In each of the Flashes' two victories this season, its defense has not allowed a touchdown in the first three quarters.
Linebackers Improving
Starting linebackers James Alexander and Nick Cuthbert each turned in milestone performances at Buffalo. Alexander recovered a fumble and returned it 15 yards for his first touchdown. He also posted career-highs of six tackles and five solo stops and added a pass breakup. Cuthbert had a season-high 10 tackles and combined on a tackle for loss.
A Drive to Remember
Kent State's 97-yard touchdown drive in the closing minutes against Akron was the program's longest in over a decade. The 16 plays on the drive were the most since Sept. 17, 2011 at Kansas State. The final play on fourth-and-two included incredible instincts by Nick Holley on his pass and stellar concentration by Justin Rankin to catch the ball after falling on his back.
Foster Breaks Through
After missing the entire 2015 season, junior cornerback Jerrell Foster returned to the fold in 2016 and got his first start of the year in game 3 against Monmouth. Foster had played in 10 games in 2014, but made his first career interception against Akron in the first quarter. Later in the first half he made his second interception..
Monday Back in Action
Junior cornerback Demetrius Monday returned to action at Buffalo after missing the previous three games with an injury. Monday was one of 39 defensive backs named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List. Last year, Monday finished seventh in the nation in total interceptions (6) and had a pair of defensive touchdowns. Monday also led Kent State cornerbacks with 35 tackles in 2015. He made nine starts as a freshman and has seven interceptions in his last 15 games. At Penn State, he did not allow a big gain on any pass thrown in his direction.
Turnover Battle
In its last two games, Kent State is plus-4 in turnovers. The Flashes rank 26th in the FBS in fumbles recovered and 21st in fewest interceptions thrown.
Limiting Penalties
The Flashes rank 23rd in the nation for fewest penalty yards per game and 34th in fewest penalties per game.
Kent State did not commit a single penalty at Alabama, marking the first time the Flashes had not been penalized since the 2012 MAC Championship game.
Telling First Half
Since the beginning of 2012, Kent State is 19-4 when leading at halftime and 1-28 when trailing at the break.
O-Line Adjustment
Prior to what may have been the best two performance by the Flashes' offensive line this season, Kent State coaches made a position adjustment. Junior Nathan Puthoff moved to center, where he has seen action last season and sophomore Stefano Millin moved to right tackle.
Hynes Piling up Points
Sophomore kicker Shane Hynes ranks sixth in the nation in field goals per game (2.0).
Prior to a blocked kick against Monmouth, Hynes had made nine straight field goal attempts from inside 50 yards. In wet conditions against NC A&T, Hynes went 3-for-3 on field goals, including a pair of clutch field goals in overtime from 40 and 42 yards out. In strong winds at Buffalo, he went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, matching his career long of 43 yards.
Cuthbert On Watch Lists
Campbell Trophy semifinalist and senior Nick Cuthbert was one of 88 FBS players on the Wuerffel Trophy Preseason Watch List. The trophy is awarded to the player that best combines exemplary community service, with athletic and academic achievement. Cuthbert was also Kent State's nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team and the Burlsworth Trophy, which goes to nation's best player who started as a walk-on.
Cuthbert, who had just one B in his undergraduate career, posted a season-high eight tackles at Alabama with 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Cuthbert earned his undergraduate degree last December and is on pace to earn a graduate dgree in May of 2017.
Winning the Run Game
Since 2012, Kent State is 19-5 when out-gaining opponents on the ground. The Flashes are 3-28 when the opposition runs for more yards with two of those wins coming against the run-heavy Army offense in 2012 and 2014. Kent State's slim deficit in the running game against Akron (141-138) may have been reflective of the close outcome.
Kent State's 235 yards rushing in a win over Monmouth were the most in an 11-game span and its 341 rushing yards at Buffalo were the most since 2012 at Miami (399). Monmouth's 67 yards rushing were lowest by an opponent in the Flashes' previous 13 games.
And Third Down Conversions
Success in the run game has resulted in success on third downs. Kent State's two best outputs on third down came in their two victories going 8-of-16 against Monmouth and 6-of-12 at Buffalo. KSU also had a season-low two 3-and-outs at Buffalo.
Hitting 27 Helps
At Buffalo, Kent State improved to 7-1 when scoring 27 or more points in regulation since the beginning of the 2013 season. Kent State is 4-29 when falling short of 27 during that time.
Waugh On Hendricks List
Senior Terence Waugh is on the Ted Hendricks Watch List for the second consecutive season. Waugh is one of 28 FBS players on the list that honor's the nation's best defensive end. He finished seventh in the nation in sacks per game last season and was among the MAC's leaders in tackles for loss.
Picking up where he left off last season, Waugh now has 15.0 sacks and 21.0 tackles for loss in his last 15 games played. His forced fumble at Penn State resulted in a touchdown.
