Kent State University
University of Iowa
Flashes Head to Iowa to Take on Hawkeyes
9/17/2021 10:00:00 AM | Football
KENT, OHIO- The Golden Flashes hit the road this week for the first of two Big-10 matchups as the Flashes head to Iowa City to face the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Kick-Off is set for approximately 3:40 p.m. ET and will air on the Big-10 Network, coverage on the Kent State Radio Network will start at 2:30 p.m. ET.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State is coming off a 60-10 home opening victory over FCS #17 VMI Keydets last Saturday at Dix Stadium.
The Flashes ran wild against VMI, rolling up 494 yards on the ground, the most in program history since 1954 and a single-game high so far in the FBS this season. Kent State showed tremendous balance last Saturday with seven different players scoring a rushing touchdown. The seven rushing touchdowns are also tied for the most in a FBS game this season.
Defensively, the Flashes continued their ball hawking ways. Kent State picked off four passes for the second-straight game. Kent State leads the FBS with eight interceptions this season and with nine total takeaways. On Saturday, it will be a match-up of the top two defenses in interceptions, Iowa is second in the FBS with six.
The cornerback tandem of Elvis Hines and Montre Miller have led the pick parade, each with three so far this season. The teammates are tied for the FBS lead with three picks and Hines is second in the FBS with five passes defended. While the secondary has led the charge, it has been a team effort against the pass. The Golden Flashes lead the MAC and are 15th in the nation in pass efficiency defense.
ABOUT THE HAWKEYES
Few teams have had better starts to the season than Iowa. Ranked 18th to begin the year, the Hawkeyes have knocked off a pair of top-25 teams in Indiana and Iowa State so far this year and vaulted 13 spots to a number-five ranking entering the matchup.
Iowa has had their stout defense fuel their offense so far this season. Against Indiana, Riley Moss took both of his interceptions to the house and Matt Hankins had a pick-six against Iowa State. The Hawkeyes have allowed just 82 yards per game on the ground so far this season, forcing teams to throw against the opportunistic secondary. Iowa has feasted on turnovers this year scoring 37 of their 61 points off opponent miscues.
The offense has worked with a short field a lot this season and quarterback Spencer Petras is completing 50 percent of his passes (24-48) with one touchdown and no interceptions. Tyler Goodson has anchored the run game, averaging 77 yards per game this season and has a pair of rushing touchdowns.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
This is the third meeting all time between the schools. The teams met twice in a four-season span in the early 2000s with Iowa winning at home in 2001 and again in 2004.
LOOKING AHEAD
Kent State will wrap up the non-con with a trek out to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins. Game time is also set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will also air on the Big Ten Network and the Kent State Radio Network.
