Kent State University
Ball State
Flashes Look to Send Seniors Out with Crucial Win
11/22/2019 11:47:00 AM | Football
KENT, OHIO- Kent State (4-6, 3-3) will honor 17 seniors and its football senior support staff in a pre-game ceremony before the Golden Flashes take on the Ball State Cardinals (4-6,3-3) in a crucial Mid-American Conference showdown.
Saturday's kickoff will be at noon with the senior day festivities taking place about 30 minutes before kickoff. Fans can get in for FREE by bringing a canned food item as part of Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State made history last Thursday night, erasing a 27-6 Buffalo lead with under eight minutes to go in an exhilarating 30-27 comeback win. It was the largest fourth quarter comeback in the FBS this season and the largest in Kent State history. Only one other team (Houston-2015) was down three scores with under eight minutes to go to win in regulation.
X GONNA GIVE IT TO YA
Xavier Williams is having a strong end to the season, scoring his first collegiate touchdown against Toledo and scoring two more last week against Buffalo. Williams accounted for 97 yards of total offense and those two scores that came just 27 game seconds apart from each other. It is the quickest someone has scored twice in the FBS this season, Williams was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week as a result.
TRICK TRICK BOOM
Sophomore place kicker Matthew Trickett hit three field goals and recovered his own onside kick in the win over Buffalo last week. His three field goals gave him 20 on the season, setting a new single-season Kent State record. Trickett is one of four kickers in the FBS to have hit at least 20 field goals this season.
NO FLY ZONE
Jamal Parker currently leads the Mid-American Conference in passes defended in conference play, despite Kent State having played just six conference games to date. Parker has 11 passes defended in six games, three more than anyone else in the MAC. He will be tasked with helping shut down a passing attack that is averaging 240 yards through the air this season.
ABOUT BALL STATE
Ball State comes into Saturday at an identical record of 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the MAC. The Cardinals have lost three-straight including a 45-44 heartbreaker against Central Michigan last weekend.
FLYING TO THE BALL
The Ball State defense leads the MAC with 13 interceptions and a plus-eight turnover margin, good for 12th in the FBS. Three players on the Cardinals' defense are in the top-15 in the MAC in picks. Jacob White leads the Cardinal defense and has averaged over 10 tackles per game. Jordan Williams leads the pass rush with 3.5 sacks in conference play. In the secondary, Amechu Uzodinma is the ball hawk. He has broken up 12 passes on the season and picked off three more, both numbers are top-5 in the MAC.
GROUND AND POUND
Ball State is the leading rushing team in the MAC, averaging over 250 yards per game as a team. Caleb Huntley is averaging nearly 100 yards per game on the season and rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown against the Chippewas. Walter Fletcher ran for 115 yards against CMU and is averaging close to 70 yards per game in conference to help form the 1-2 rushing punch.
AERIAL ASSAULT
Drew Plitt has thrown for over 2000 yards this season and 20 touchdowns against seven interceptions. With the Cardinals rushing attack rolling in MAC play, Plitt only has had to average 170 yards through the air in MAC play. However, he threw for 270 yards and three scores in the shootout vs CMU. Justin Hall is Plitt's favorite receiver, hauling in 62 yards per game on the season. On the season, Hall has over 600 receiving yards and five scores and averages just over five receptions per game.
SERIES HISTORY
With the two schools in opposite divisions, this is Ball State's first trip to Dix Stadium since 2012, a 45-43 Kent State victory. The Golden Flashes have won the last two games between the schools in Kent (2012, 2010) with the Cardinals last win at Dix Stadium coming in 2003.
FOLLOW ALONG
Saturday's game will air on ESPN + with Michael Reghi and Dustin Fox on the call. Fans can also listen to the Golden Flashes Radio Network with Ty Linder, Rob Polinsky and Meghan Donovan on the call. For updates and in-game highlights, follow Kent State Football on Twitter @KentStFootball.
LOOKING AHEAD
Kent State will wrap up the regular season with a trip to Eastern Michigan to take on the Eagles on Black Friday. Kick off has been set for noon on ESPN +.
