Kent State University
Eastern Michigan
Flashes Bid for Bowl Eligibility Against Eagles on Friday
11/28/2019 2:49:00 PM | Football
KENT, OHIO- The Kent State Golden Flashes (5-6, 4-3) will look to gain bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012 and end the regular season on a three-game win streak as they travel to Ypsilanti on Friday to take on Eastern Michigan (6-5, 3-4) with a noon kick-off scheduled.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
A win for the Golden Flashes would move them to 6-6 on the season and 5-3 in the Mid-American Conference. It would mark the first time the Golden Flashes have been bowl eligible since 2012 and the fourth time since 2000 (2001, 2006, 2012). The five MAC wins would also be the most since 2012 and the fourth time of five conference wins or more since 2000, joining the 2001, 2006 and 2012 seasons.
For Eastern Michigan, while they have gained bowl eligibility, a seventh win would all but guarantee a post-season berth. The Eagles would also be sending out their 22 seniors with a victory in their final home game.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN FLASHES
The Golden Flashes got to 5-6 with a 41-38 victory last Saturday over Ball State. The win closed out the home slate for Kent State at 4-1 in 2019 and sent 18 seniors out with a victory in their final game inside Dix Stadium.
CAREER DAY AT DIX
Dustin Crum had a career day with a career high 369 yards passing and 101 yards rushing and amounted for four touchdowns. He became the first quarterback since Josh Cribbs in 2003 to rush for 100 and throw for 300. His 470 yards are the most ever in a victory and the most overall since 1997 (Jose Davis).
Crum's favorite targets last Saturday were Isaiah McKoy and Mike Carrigan. McKoy had the first three touchdown day for a Kent State receiver since Eugene Baker had one in 1997. McKoy now has seven touchdown catches this season, all over 21 yards.
Mike Carrigan had eight catches for 178 yards, both career highs for the senior. It was the most yards for a Golden Flash receiver since Justin Rankin in 2016. McKoy and Carrigan became the first Kent State duo to top 150 yards in the same game since a loss to UCF in 1997.
NO FLY ZONE
Jamal Parker is one of the MAC leaders in passes defended with 12 and leads the team with three interceptions. The Golden Flashes defense has three players in the top-25 in passes defended (Elvis Hines, KJ Sherald). As a defense, Kent State ranks third in pass defense, allowing just under 210 yards per game through the air. The secondary will be tested as Eastern Michigan brings the top passing attack in the MAC into the game on Friday.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
Senior quarterback Mike Glass comes into the matchup as one of the hottest quarterbacks in the MAC. In the past two victories over Northern Illinois and The School Down the Road, Glass is completing over 80 percent of his passes and averaged 240 yards and threw three touchdowns over the two games
SPREADING THE WEALTH
FOUR different Eagles' receivers are in the MAC's top25 in yards per game. Glass spreads the ball around to Arthur Jackson, Matt Sexton, Quian Williams and Dylan Drummond, all of whom average 38 yards per game or more per game.
SHAQ ATTACK
Shaq Vann averages over five yards per carry on the season with seven touchdowns. Vann is averaging about 75 yards per game on the ground on the season, a mark that has ticked up to over 90 yards per game in MAC play.
ABOUT THE EMU DEFENSE
Kobie Beltram leads the Eagles' defense with 104 stops on the season and has averaged over 10 stops per game on the year. Turan Rush has a very appropriate last name as he leads the Eagles in sacks with five. Brody Hoying has a team-best four interceptions on the season. As a team, Eastern Michigan has 11 interceptions on the season.
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday's game will kick off at noon with coverage on ESPN Plus with Michael Reghi and Jay Sonnhalter on the call. As always, you can listen to the game on the Golden Flashes Radio Network with Ty Linder, Rob Polisnky and Meghan Donovan bringing the action. Fans can also follow along with live stats and on Twitter with in-game updates @KentStFootball.
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday's game is the regular-season finale. With a victory, the Golden Flashes would find out their bowl fate next week.
