Kent State University
Buffalo
Flashes Host Bulls on MACTion Thursday Night
11/13/2019 8:55:00 AM | Football
KENT, OHIO- The Golden Flashes (3-6, 2-3) host their lone mid-week "MAC-Tion" game on Thursday night when they welcome in the Buffalo Bulls (5-4, 3-2) on Thursday evening for a 7 p.m. kick off from Dix Stadium.
Thursday evening will be Military Appreciation Night with two free tickets going out to anyone that shows their military ID or ticket voucher to the Dix Stadium ticket office starting at 5:30 on Thursday night.
ABOUT KENT STATE
CRUM NAMED MAC EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kent State quarterback Dustin Crum earned the honor after an ultra-efficient 14-of-18 (78 percent) and throwing for 257 yards and three scores against the Rockets. He hit Mike Carrigan for a 70-yard touchdown strike in the first half, marking his fifth touchdown pass of 40 yards or longer this season.
For the season, Crum leads the MAC in completion percentage (68 percent), a mark that is also good for 15th in the Nation. He's upped that total to nearly 70 percent in conference play. He leads all quarterbacks in conference games in: Completion percentage (69.3 percent), Yards (1190), Yards per game (238), Touchdowns (11), Efficiency (158.8) and Total Offense (307.4).
#FlashFAST OFFENSE
Kent State will bring the top-scoring offense in MAC play to Dix Stadium on Thursday night. Through five MAC games, the Flashes are averaging 35 points per game. It will be the "unstoppable force vs the immovable object" scenario on Thursday as Buffalo has the top scoring defense in the MAC. The Bulls are allowing a scant 17.8 points per contest in conference play, five points better than the next best defense.
TRICK TRICK BOOM
Kent State sophomore kicker Matthew Trickett has continued to be a steady force for the Kent State offense and special teams. Trickett has already surpassed his total field goals from last year, connecting on 17-of-21 field goals this season, including 12-of-14 in conference, both totals lead the MAC. Against the Rockets, Trickett drilled two more field goals with a season-long of 47.
NO FLY ZONE
With his third interception of the conference season, Parker tied for the conference lead in interceptions. Parker now has 10 passes defended (seven break-ups and three picks) in conference games, tops in the MAC. Parker is the lone defender to be averaging two or more passes defended per game in conference.
ABOUT THE BULLS
After a slow start in Mid-American Conference play, the Buffalo Bulls come in as one of the hottest teams in the Mid-American Conference, winners of three straight including a 43-14 thumping of Eastern Michigan last week.
ABOUT THE BULLS' OFFENSE
The Bulls place an emphasis on running the football with an average of 225 rushing yards per night in the MAC, slightly better than the Golden Flashes 223. Jaret Patterson needs just five yards to cross 1000 for the season. Last time out, he rolled up 160 yards and a pair of scores in the rout of Eastern Michigan.
The Bulls average just 150 yards per night through the air with Kyle Vantrease the likely starter under center. Against the Eagles, he threw for 208 yards and a score, while rushing for two more. He was named the MAC East Player of the Week for his efforts.
Vantrease's favorite target has been Antonio Nunn. Nunn had seven catches for 87 yards and a score against EMU. The Flashes will need to account for the junior wide out who has five touchdowns in his last five games.
ABOUT THE BULLS' DEFENSE
The Bulls' defense is a stout one. The Bulls are allowing just 17.8 points per game in conference, five points better than anyone else in the MAC and have allowed just 31 points in their three-game win streak.
Buffalo has done it by stopping the run, allowing just 85 yards per game on the ground. They've been even better during this three-game run, allowing just 101 yards total.
It's been a balanced effort with five players having six tackles for loss or more on the season. Taylor Riggins leads the team with six sacks on the season with 5.5 of them coming in the last four games.
The Bulls pass rush has rung up 18 sacks over the last four games, against just one allowed by the Bulls' O-Line.
FOLLOW ALONG
Thursday night will be the third game of the season for the Golden Flashes on CBS Sports Network, but the first at Dix Stadium. Dave Ryan and former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray will be on the call. As always, you can join the "Voice of the Golden Flashes" Ty Linder, Rob Polinsky and Meghan Donovan on the call on the Golden Flashes Radio Network. You can also catch highlights and updates on Twitter @KentStFootball.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Golden Flashes stay home next week, hosting the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday, November 23rd. It will be a noon kick-off with senior day festivities to take place prior to kick off.
