Kent State University
Utah State
Flashes Gear Up for Aggies in Frisco Bowl
12/19/2019 1:03:00 PM | Football
FRISCO, TX- For the fourth time in school history and first since 2012, the Kent State Golden Flashes (6-6, 5-3 Mid-American) prepare for a bowl game, the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl on Friday evening against Utah State (7-5, 6-2 Mountain West).
OPENING KICK-OFF
Friday's kick-off will be at 7:32 p.m. eastern/ 6:32 local time and can be seen on ESPN 2. Anish Shroff (play-by-play), John Congemi (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline) will be on the call.
As always, you can listen to the game on the Golden Flashes Radio Network with Ty Linder, Rob Polinsky and Meghan Donovan on the call.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State became the only team in the FBS to win their final three games to become bowl eligible. The Golden Flashes won a trio of one-score games to improve to 6-6 on the season and get the invite.
Starting the impressive run to end the season was the largest fourth-quarter comeback in the FBS this season. Kent State erased a 27-6 deficit with under eight minutes remaining to win 30-27 on a Matthew Trickett walk-off field goal.
Trickett headlined six all-conference players, earning a first-team nod and the MAC's Special Teams Player of the Year. It was the most all-conference players for the Golden Flashes since the 2012 season, the last time Kent State was bowl eligible.
REFUSING TO CRUM-BLE
Kent State signal caller Dustin Crum has had quite the season for the Golden Flashes. Crum set a school record in completing over 68 percent of his passes and his 18:2 touchdown to interception ratio is one of the best in the NCAA. That ratio also moved him to 16th in the NCAA in passing efficiency. Only he and Justin Fields of Ohio State have at least 18 touchdowns and two or fewer interceptions this season. It had only been done three previous times in the past 10 seasons: Drew Hare of NIU in 2014 Connor Shaw of South Carolina in 2013 and Chuckie Keeton of Utah State in 2013.
BALANCED GROUND ATTACK
Kent State is one of just 10 teams in the FBS this season to have four different players rush for 100 yards in a game. Jo-El Shaw and Joachim Bangda each recorded a 100-yard game against Bowling Green. Will Matthews crossed the century mark in the Wagon Wheel game. Dustin Crum joined the group with 101 yards vs Ball State.
The other member of the backfield, Xavier Williams, has his own claim to fame this season. The sophomore scored twice in just 27 seconds of game time against Buffalo. That is the shortest time between scores for the same player in the FBS this season. Away from the gridiron. Williams took the #FlashFAST mentality to the track, joining the Golden Flashes track and field team in the spring of 2019. Williams helped 4x100 relay team placed 3rd at MAC Outdoor Championships. He also placed 12 in 100m dash at MAC Outdoor Championships
HOME RUN HITTER
Isaiah McKoy has had seven touchdown catches this season. Each one of them has been for 21 yards or longer. McKoy has four touchdowns of at least 40 yards this season as well. Against Ball State, he became the first Kent State receiver since Eugene Baker in 1997 to haul in three scores in a game.
NO FLY ZONE
Kent State's secondary is allowing 221 passing yards per game, a mark that is fifth in the Mid-American Conference. However, the Flashes have allowed just 15 passing touchdowns, second-best in the conference. The secondary is led by Jamal Parker, a second-team All-MAC selection, who finished third in the MAC in passes defended. Parker will miss the first half of the bowl game due to a targeting call against Eastern Michigan. The secondary does get Q Knight back from injury, and Keith Sherald Jr. led the secondary with a pair of interceptions against Eastern Michigan including one of the final drive to seal the victory.
ABOUT UTAH STATE
The Aggies come into the game at 7-5 overall and went 6-2 in the Mountain West. They are making their third-straight bowl game and eighth bowl game this decade. They are 4-3 in those games including a 52-13 triumph over North Texas in last year's New Mexico Bowl.
NO LOVE LOST
The Aggies are led by quarterback Jordan Love, who has already declared for the NFL Draft. Love has thrown for over 3,000 yards this season (3,085), placing him 23rd in passing yards this season. Love has thrown for 17 touchdowns but 16 interceptions.
RUSHING TO VICTORY
It will be key to stop the Utah State ground game as the Aggies are 4-1 this season when posting a 100-yard rusher and 5-0 when running 40 or more times in a game. Gerold Bright (827 yards, 8TD) and Jaylen Warren (561 yards, 5TD) form a solid one-two punch on the ground for the Aggies.
RETURN TO SENDER
The Aggies are one of the best return teams in the Nation. Savon Scarver is ranked ninth in the FBS, averaging over 29 yards per kickoff return. His two kickoff return touchdowns are tied for second in the FBS. In the punt return game, Deven Thompkins is ranked third nationally in punt returns and the Aggies are number 20 in punt return average, at nearly 13 yards per return. It will be an interesting sub plot to the game as Kent State is 10th nationally, allowing less than three yards per return.
TURNOVER BATTLE
Utah State has a knack for forcing fumbles this season, ranking ninth in the nation with 12 fumbles recovered this season. The Aggies also sit 12th in the FBS with 23 forced turnovers on the season. However, the Aggies have also turned the ball over 23 times, ranking 114th in the Nation. Meanwhile, Kent State has turned it over just 11 times this season, good for 7th in the FBS and tops in the MAC.
THREES A CHARM
This is actually the third all-time meeting between the schools. The two teams had a home-and-home series in 1973 and 74. Each team won on the road with the Flashes prevailing 27-16 in 1973 and Utah State winning 27-24 at Dix Stadium in 1974.
FOLLOW ALONG
The game will air on ESPN2 and the Watch ESPN app, as mentioned above. You can also listen on the Golden Flashes Radio Network through the Tune-In or IHeartRadio app. The Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl will also be providing live stats. Links can be found at the top of the story and on the football schedule page.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Golden Flashes unveiled their 12-man early signing class on Wednesday and continue to work on filling out their class which will be finalized in February. The Flashes open the 2020 season on the road at Penn State on September 5th.
