Kent State University
University of Maryland
Golden Flashes Wrap Up Non-Con at Maryland
9/24/2021 10:00:00 AM | Football
KENT, OHIO- Â The Golden Flashes wrap up the 2021 non-conference schedule with a trip to College Park, Maryland and a Saturday afternoon date with the Maryland Terrapins.
Saturday will kick-off at approximately 3:40 eastern time and air on the Big-10 Network and the Kent State Radio Network.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
This will be the first matchup between the two schools. Â It will be a return home for several Kent State players. Marquez Cooper, Mason Isaac, Collin Schlee, Keith Sherald Jr. and Xavier Williams all hail from the Old Line State while Joachim Bangda, Nykeim Johnson and Juan Wallace call nearby Washington D.C. home.
ABOUT KENT STATE
Kent State comes into Saturday at 1-2 on the season after a 30-7 hard-fought loss at #5 Iowa.
CATCHING FIRE
Keshunn Abram had a breakout performance, grabbing six passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, setting Kent State career highs in receptions and yards. His 138-yard performance is a team-high for the season and second-most by a Mid-American Conference wideout so far this year.
RUSH HOUR
It has been a team effort when it comes to rushing the football for Kent State. Four players rank in the MAC's top-25 in rushing yards per game. As a team, the Flashes have run for 799 yards total and have averaged 5.4 yards per carry, both tops in the MAC.
TURNOVER MACHINE
Kent State has forced at least one turnover in each game this season and ranks second in the FBS with 10 total forced turnovers. Montre Miller and Elvis Hines have been the leaders in that department. Miller has three interceptions and a forced fumble while Hines has three picks of his own. Both rank second in interceptions in the FBS, Hines also is fourth in the FBS with six passes defended while Miller ranks 25th.
ABOUT THE TERRAPINS
Maryland comes into the game at 3-0 with wins over West Virginia, Howard and Illinois to their credit so far this year. They are one of three teams to have both a top-20 offense and a top-20 defense, joining Auburn and Baylor with that claim to fame.
The matchup to watch will be in the Maryland passing game. They are led by Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Taulia is averaging 281 passing yards per game, thanks in part to a pair of dynamic wide receivers. Dontay Demus Jr. leads the Big-10 with 338 receiving yards through three games and has caught at least one pass in 25-straight contests. On the other side is Rakim Jarret who has 259 yards receiving this year. Together, they have the second-most combined yards in the "power-5".
Defensively, no team has scored more than the 24 points put up by West Virginia and have allowed only 10 in their last two games, shutting out Howard in week two and holding Illinois to 10 points in Champaign. They can really get after the passer, recording 11 sacks and seven more quarterback hurries in three games so far this season. Grad student Sam Okuayinonu leads the charge with four sacks this season and has recorded a sack in each game this season.
FOLLOW ALONG
As mentioned, Saturday's contest will air on the Big-10 Network and the Kent State Radio Network. Radio coverage starts at 2:30 p.m. ET with Rob Polinsky and Tom Evans on the call.
LOOKING AHEAD
Kent State returns home on October 2nd and kicks off conference play with a homecoming contest against the Bowling Green Falcons. Kick-off is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN 3 and the Kent State Radio Network.
