Kent State University
Ohio
2018 Homecoming: Flashes Host Bobcats in Key East Division Matchup
10/1/2018 10:23:00 AM | Football
2018 Homecoming Events Notes Tickets Golden Flashes Radio ESPN+ Live Stats
Kent State will celebrate its homecoming against Mid-American Conference East Division rival Ohio. Saturday will be the MAC opener for the Bobcats, who were picked to win the conference title in both the media and coaches preseason polls.
Facts In A Flash
• Kent State is averaging 82.2 plays per game and its 85 snaps at Ball State were the most in 40 games.
• Sophomore Woody Barrett's 30 completions and 314 yards passing at Ball State were both the most by a KSU quarterback since 2014.
• Freshman Isaiah McKoy's 10 catches at Ball State were the most by a Kent State wide receiver since 2010.
• Senior linebacker and Campbell Trophy semifinalist Matt Bahr made 14 tackles at Ball State and has made 9 or more tackles in 5 of his last 7 games.
• Junior Mike Carrigan has catches of 47, 49 and 40 yards in his last three games. He has touchdown catches against Illinois and Penn State.
• In first halves, KSU's defense has allowed just three points at Illinois, seven at Ole Miss and kept Howard scoreless.
• The Flashes' 23.0 first downs per game ranks third in the MAC.
• Eight of KSU's last 11 wins have come at home.
• Junior safety Jamal Parker made his second interception of the season (6th career) at Ole Miss.
• Junior Justin Rankin ran for two touchdowns at Ball State. ranks He 61st in the nation in rushing yards per carry (5.3) and 30th in all-purpose yards.
• In their last home game, the Flashes 355 rushing yards against Howard, are the second most by a MAC team in a game this season and KSU's biggest rushing output since 2012.
• KSU also scored six rushing touchdowns for the first time in a decade against the Bison.
• Kent State returned 11 players who have earned Academic All-MAC honors in their career and two MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes.
All-Time Series
Ohio leads the all-time series with Kent State 43-25-
2 and has won the last four meetings. The Bobcats hold a 22-11-1 edge in Kent. Last year in Athens, the Bobcats put up 28 points in the third quarter in a 48-3 victory. The last time the teams met at Dix Stadium (2016), the Flashes trailed 14-3 at halftime and came up three yards shy of the end zone late in the fourth quarter in a 14-10 loss.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game game can be seen on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (analyst). The game can be heard live on 640 AM WHLO and the free Golden Flashes Radio channel on iHeartRadio with a one-hour pregame show. Ty Linder handles the play-by-play duties and is joined by 10th-year color analyst Rob Polinsky. Jacob Pavilack will be on the sideline. By 2017, iHeartRadio reached over 100 million registered users.
On Homecoming
Since 1947, Kent State is 26-44 in its homecominggames, winning five of its last eight. Since 1988, the Flashes are just 9-21 on homecoming. Kent State is 0-6 in homecoming games against Ohio. The Bobcats last crashed Kent State's party in 2008, 26-19 in the only homecoming meeting of the Frank Solich era.
Last season on homecoming, the Flashes earned a 17-14 comeback victory over Miami. The RedHawks led 14-3 at halftime, before Justin Rankin and Mike Carrigan each scored second-half TDs.
Redzone Defense
Eight different opponent trips inside Kent State's 20 yard line have resulted in no scoring as the Flashes rank 12th in the nation and second in the MAC in redzone defense.
Morris Back in Middle
Senior and 322-pound nose tackle Kalil Morris made a career-high 11 tackles at Ball State, the most by a defensive lineman since 2016. After a one-year absence, Morris returned to the Flashes, anchoring a new 3-4 defense. At Ole Miss, he had six tackles, a sack, 2.0 TFL and a key field goal block.
QB Pressure
Kent State is tied for second in the MAC in sacks at 2.40 pr game. At Ball State, Matt Bahr and Matt Bell became the 10th and 11th different players with a sackthis season. Senior defensive end Theo Eboigbe had a sack in each of his first two games.
