Kent State University
Miami University (OH)
Flashes Head to Oxford for Key MAC Matchup
10/7/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
KENT-The Golden Flashes hit the road for the first time in Mid-American Conference play, making the trek to Yager Stadium in Oxford to face the Miami of Ohio RedHawks.
The Flashes will be looking for their first road win of the season and their first win in Oxford since a 48-32 triumph in 2012. Like Kent State, Miami has defended their home turf well over the last four seasons, owning the conference's current home win streak at 15 straight. The RedHawks last lost at home in September of 2018.
Kent State is coming off a hard-fought 31-24 overtime win over the Ohio Bobcats on homecoming last Saturday. The Flashes rolled up 736 yards of offense including 330+ yards both through the air and on the ground. The outburst puts the Flashes at the top of the conference in both rushing offense, yards per completion and third down conversions and second in total offense.
It will the classic unstoppable force vs the immovable object as the Flashes' run game, tops in the MAC and 17th in the nation goes against the conference's top rush defense (and 9th nationally) in the Miami Redhawks. The Redhawks have allowed just 84 yards on the ground per game and opponents are averaging a mere 2.8 yards per carry.
Ryan McWood and Matt Salopek help headline the Redhawks' defense. Both defenders rank in the top-60 nationally in tackles, with McWood ranking 12th. They'll go up against the Flashes' offensive line that has helped pave the way for Kent State to average 217 yards per game on the ground and for Marquez Cooper to the number 16 rusher in the FBS 510 yards on the season.
On the opposite side of the ball, the RedHawks have gotten solid play from quarterback Aveon Smith who has seen action in all five games this season. He's a dual threat quarterback, throwing for six touchdowns and running for three more. His favorite target has been Mac Hippenhammer, who has four of the six touchdown catches this year and has had four or more receptions in four of five games this year.
In addition to Smith, the Miami running game has been paced by Keyon Mozee, who has led a stable of back with an average of over five yards per carry this season. The Flashes defense held Ohio to 128 rushing yards last week and Nico Bolden and JoJo Evans, head up the soul collectors defense and both place in the top-30 nationally in solo tackles per game.
Saturday's game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and air on ESPN + as well as the Kent State Radio Network with Rob Polinsky and Tom Evans on the call with the Kent State pre-game show starting at 2:30 p.m. The Flashes stay on the road next weekend, heading to Toledo to face the Rockets for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff from the Glass Bowl.
