Kent State University
Virginia Military Institute
Flashes Welcome in VMI For 2021 Home Opener
9/10/2021 12:54:00 PM | Football
KENT, OHIO- The Kent State Golden Flashes open the 2021 home schedule on Saturday, welcoming in the Virginia Military Institute Keydets to Dix Stadium.
THE MATCHUP
This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
HOME OPENER
The Golden Flashes have won their last four home openers, including a 27-23 victory over Eastern Michigan last season. The Golden Flashes also bring a four-game home win streak into Saturday's contest.
PICK IT UP
The Golden Flashes picked off four passes in the week one setback to Texas A & M last Saturday night. It was the first time since a 2015 game against Western Michigan that Kent State recorded at least four interceptions in a game. Elvis Hines recorded two of the interceptions, it was the first two-pick game for a Flash since Jamal Parker did it in 2019 against Bowling Green.
RUN IT UP
Kent State rushed for 226 net yards against the Aggies last Saturday. That was the most yards given up on the ground by Texas A & M since October of 2019. Last season, the Aggies sported the number two rush defense in the FBS, holding SEC foes to around 90 yards per game.
The Golden Flashes finished third in the FBS last season with 283 yards on the ground. They racked up those yards with a team effort, and that was the case again last week. Four different backs saw at least six carries, with Xavier Williams leading the way. The graduate student ran for 73 yards on just eight carries. That per carry average falls in line with his totals from last year, when he led the team with an 8.3 yard per carry average.
KICK IT
Freshman punter Josh Smith had a tremendous debut for the Golden Flashes. Smith averaged over 40 yards per kick with a long of 57 and placed four punts inside the 20-yard line and two inside the 10. He also neutralized the Aggie return game, allowing just 11 return yards.
The Mid-American Conference selected Smith as the East Division Special Teams Player of the Week.
ABOUT THE KEYDETS
VMI comes into the contest ranked in the FCS top-25. They are coming off a spring season where they went 6-1 in the SoCon and gave top-seeded James Madison all they could handle in a 31-24 playoff opening round loss. The Keydets knocked off Davidson last Saturday 45-24, behind a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Seth Morgan. They had a balanced attack last weekend, rushing for 173 yards and passing for 199.
Wideout Jakob Herres is the reigning SoCon Offensive Player of the year after averaging over 12 catches and 120 yards per game this past spring. The Keydets also return the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in linebacker Stone Snyder. Snyder led the Keydets with 11 tackles per game last season.
FOLLOW ALONG
Saturday's home opener will air on ESPN 3 with Dave Wilson and Ryan Shazier on the call. Rob Polinsky will be on the mic for the Kent State Radio Network alongside analyst Tom Evans and sideline reporter Tyler Henry. Links to watch and listen are on the Kent State Football schedule page.
FIRST RESPONDER-FRONT LINE WORKERS-MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
All first responders, front line workers and all military members will get in free of charge to Saturday's game. The Kent State coaches will be wearing Kent Fire Department and Police Department hats and the team helmets will feature an American flag style logo.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Fans are encouraged to check out our game day fan page prior to attending Saturday's game.
LOOKING AHEAD
Kent State will head to Iowa City for the first of two-straight Big Ten games. First up, the Iowa Hawkeyes, kick off is set for 3:30 p.m. ET next Saturday.
