Kent State Sports News

A very highly regarded recruiting class for Kent State football is already paying huge dividends in the 2009 season as many of the Golden Flashes' key contributors are freshmen and sophomores.  The future of Kent State football is looking very bright.  Jonas Fortune from the ABJ has the complete story.

The Kent State defense will face a very accomplished, gun-slinging quarterback this Saturday when they face Tim Hiller and the Western Michigan Broncos.  Hiller, an Orrville product, has passed for 2,254 yards and a 62.4 percent completion percentage on the season.  KSU's defense, mainly the front four, will have to get some pressure on Hiller.  Elton Alexander from The Plain Dealer is breaking down the matchup.

The Western Michigan Broncos are "beat up" according to their head coach Bill Cubit, writes the Kalamazoo Gazette.

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In what could be one of the biggest wins in recent program history, Kent State went to Athens and beat the Ohio Bobcats 20-11 on Saturday afternoon to improve to 4-4, 3-1 in the MAC. 

In a game that wasn't always pretty, ended up turning into a thing of beauty for the Golden Flashes.  The Kent State defense didn't allow an offensive touchdown, had 15 tackles for loss for – 68 yards and 7 sacks.  Kevin Hogan had 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss on the day.  The Golden Flashes held the Bobcats to – 9 rushing yards on the day.  

QB Spencer Keith was 23-38 for a career high 273 yards, and 2 TD's.  Tyshon Goode had 9 receptions for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns.  WR Sam Kirkland had a career day with 5 catches for 80 yards.  RB Jacquise Terry was a workhorse with 31 carries for a career high 110 yards.

Kicker Freddy Cortez had two big field goals on the day.  

The game was a contest of field position, defense and special teams.  KSU won that battle and won the game.  It was a team effort.  Doug Martin spoke last week about how KSU isn't spectacular in any area, but when they play together, they are a pretty good team.  Maybe they proved that Saturday afternoon when they beat a pretty good Ohio team.

KSU head coach Doug Martin got a Gatorade bath on the sideline from his players with under one minute to play.

Box Score

Kent State notes

KSU head coach Doug Martin:

On Kent State’s play overall:

It was a great team win by our guys. I’m not sure that we were great in any area, but we are good together. We’re playing good team football right now in all phases. Our guys have a real belief in each other, and that showed today. It was a tremendous effort. We beat a good football team today, Ohio is a good team.

On the team’s play after tough loss to Bowling Green:

They got tired of being sick and tired. They are still shaken up by that Bowling Green game. I think emotionally they have gotten themselves back and playing the type of football that we should be playing defensively, and we’re contesting the ball better in the air. The coaches have done a great job simplifying things a bit with zone coverage, and that’s helped us some too.

On how to attack Ohio’s Defense:

When you play a team like Ohio, you have to throw the ball. You have to try and stretch the ball deep.  We tried to create explosion plays with the passing game, you either get the interference or you make the catch. We had several chances to make some plays in the first half that we just didn’t make. In the second half, we made some plays.

On the success of the running game:

That was a key contributor to why we could run the ball. If we don’t get the running game going, then we wouldn’t be able to keep taking those shots down field. We would be in third and long all day long.  We told Jacquise (Terry) that we would have to run the ball for four-five yards to keep us at 3rd and medium.  I thought our offensive line played pretty good too.

GAME NOTES

DE-FENSE!

Kent State’s defense has administered a nice turnaround since a 36-35 loss on October 10 to Bowling Green.  The defense has allowed 6 and 11 points the last two weeks respectively in two wins.  On Saturday in Athens, Kent State’s defense was dominant.  Kent State held Ohio to 164 total yards.  Within that was holding the Bobcats to – 9 rushing yards, which is a new school record for fewest rushing yards allowed.  Even though Ohio hadn’t given up a sack in the previous five games, the Golden Flashes changed that statistic.  KSU had seven sacks and had 15 tackles for a loss on the day for a combined 68 yards lost for Ohio.  Kevin Hogan had 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss on the day.  Monte Simmons had 1.5 sacks, Sam Frist and Danny Sadler both had one while Quinton Rainey and Dorian Wood were each credited 0.5 sack each.  The seven sacks were KSU’s most since 1994, also against Ohio.  Kent State was able to get a lot of pressure from their front four down lineman, as well as when they brought blitz packages.  Sadler, Brian Lainhart and Dan Hartman each had an interception.  The three picks are the most since last season against Akron when they had three.  Josh Pleasant had seven tackles and a forced fumble.  The KSU defense has not allowed a touchdown in eight straight quarters.     

CAREER DAYS

It was a career day all the way around for Kent State’s skill position people on offense.  QB Spencer Keith set career highs in yards with 273.  RB Jacquise Terry set a career high with 110 rushing yards on 31 carries.  It was his third 100 yard rushing game this season and he has rushed for at least 75 yards in each of his five games at running back this season.  WR Tyshon Goode had a career high nine catches for 105 yards with two touchdowns on Saturday.  Not to be out done, WR Sam Kirkland set career highs with five catches for 80 yards.   

FIELD POSITION GAME

Kent State did a great job of winning the field position battle, especially in the first half on Saturday.  Twice, KSU took over in Ohio territory thanks to two good punt returns by Leneric Muldrow.  Meanwhile, punter Matt Rinehart and the punt coverage unit was busy pinning the Bobcats deep in their own territory.  The last five possessions of the first half the Bobcats took over at their own 4, 3, 12, 30 and 19 yard line.  Rinehart had three punts over 50 yards, making that 12 punts over 50 yards on the season.

MULDROW

Speaking of Muldrow, he has been a very nice replacement for Eugene Jarvis as the team’s primary punt returner.  Muldrow hasn’t fumbled or even bobbled any punts on the season, looks pretty natural doing it, and has come up with a few big returns like yesterday against Ohio.

TURNOVERS

Two key turnovers could have cost KSU in the first half Saturday.  The first came off a bizarre play in which Lainhart intercepted a pass then on the return fumbled it, and Ohio’s Jordan Thompson returned it to the KSU 4 yard line.  That’s when the Golden Flashes’ defense got stingy, forcing an OU field goal.  Later, Keith fumbled while lunging for the end zone down at the Ohio 2 yard line, ending a scoring opportunity early in the second quarter.  In the second half after Keith threw an interception and Julian Posey returned it into KSU territory, Dan Hartman was able to pick off a Tyler Tettleton pass to end the Bobcats’ chance.  On the day, both teams had three turnovers.  Kent State is +5 in turnovers in conference play.

ENJOYABLE WIN

Kent State’s victory on Saturday was as enjoyable a win as I can remember since following the program several seasons ago.  Doug Martin has said this was “a different group.”  Kent State has a solid team.  They are a team that isn’t great in any one area, but is solid all the way around.  I don’t think many teams in the MAC will want to play KSU now, with all the confidence they seem to be playing with.  I am not sure what will happen the rest of the 2009 season, but I know me and many other KSU fans are gearing up for what could be a pretty fun, memorable last four games of the season, and hopefully it will be more than four games.  I hope Kent State can create an environment next week that will be a home field advantage when they take on Western Michigan.  The team deserves it.  

NOTES…

Lainhart got his fifth interception of the season and his 13^thof his career, that is tied for third in KSU history, he has caused 14 turnovers in his last 15 games…Hogan increased his career sack total to 21.5, he is 3.5 sacks away from the all time spot…Hartman got his third interception of the season and matched a career high with six tackles…It was Sadler’s first career interception…Senior LB Anthony Mirando had a career high six tackles…KSU has won three of their first four MAC games for the second time since 1986…Kent State’s 34:23 time of possession was their highest of the season…KSU had a season high six third down conversions…KSU has won four of their last five in Athens. 

KENT STATE (4-4, 3-1 MAC)

KentStateSports.com

Flashes claim decisive win at Ohio – Kent Sports Report

Flashes back in MAC East title hunt – Record Courier

Kent State defense sacks Bobcats' passing threat – Cleveland Plain Dealer

Road to redemption – Daily Kent Stater

Kent State Defense Keys Road Win Over Ohio – MAC Report Online

Official Sports Report

OHIO (5-3, 3-1 MAC)

OhioBobcats.com

Video: Ohio vs. Kent State Recap – OhioBobcats.com

Ohio loses for the first time in MAC play, 20-11 to Kent State – The Post

OU offense sputters in 20-11 loss to Kent State – The News and Sentinel

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KENT STATE (3-4, 2-1) @ OHIO (5-2, 3-0)

Saturday, October 24, 2009 | 2:00P.M.

Peden Stadium (24,000 – FieldTurf) | Athens, Ohio

Radio: WNIR/100.1 FM (Tom Linder, Rob Polinsky & Ty Linder)

Internet: K-Zone

Series: Ohio leads 38-21-2.  The teams have split the last eight meetings.  KSU has won three of the last four at Peden Stadium.  The visiting team has won each of the last three games in the series.  Kent State is 12-17-1 in Athens.

Last meeting: Ohio 26, Kent State 19 | October 11, 2008

Last meeting in Athens: Kent State 33, Ohio 25 | September 29, 2007

Ohio Bobcats history: Ohio's first season of football was in 1894.  Their all time record is 494-513-48 (.491).  Their first year in the MAC was 1947 and they are 197-237-11 (.466) in the MAC.  They won MAC Championships in 1953, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1968 and won the MAC East in 2006.  They have played in Bowl Games in 1962 (Sun Bowl), 1968 (Tangerine Bowl) and 2007 (GMAC Bowl).  

KENT STATE Quick facts

- LB Cobrani Mixon averages 10.7 tackles per game which is third in the MAC and 12th nationally.

- FS Brian Lainhart has 10 interceptions in his last 14 games.

- KSU has started five true freshman this season, which is second in the MAC to Miami who has started six true freshman.

- KSU has scored 19 touchdowns this season and six of those have come on one play drives.  Four others have come on drives of two minutes or less.  Another TD came on a kickoff return and another on a blocked field goal.  KSU has only put together seven touchdowns on drives of longer than two minutes.

- The Golden Flashes average 7.86 tackles for loss per game which is first in the MAC and tied for 12th nationally.  They have 16 takeaways which are second in the MAC and tied for 14th nationally.

- KSU has started MAC play at 3-1 or better only eight times while playing in the conference.

OHIO quick facts

- They lead the nation in takeaways with 23 and fumbles recovered with 12.  They are sixth in interceptions with 11.

- It is tied for third in the nation in kicks/punts blocked with 3.

-They are seventh in the nation in turnover margin at 1.43.

- Ohio has had as many or fewer turnovers as the opposition in eight straight games.

- The offensive line has not allowed a sack in the last five games, the longest such streak for the program under Frank Solich.

- The Bobcats are 23-6 when leading at halftime since the 2005 season.

- Ohio is 111th in the nation in net punting (32.0).

-They are tied for 111th in red zone offense, 115th in red zone touchdown percentage and 116th in first downs on offense.

TURNOVER BATTLE

We say it every game, and this week is no different.  There is a little added emphasis to the turnover story this week because of Ohio’s ability to force them.  By now, most fans probably have heard that the Bobcats lead the nation in takeaways (23) and fumbles recovered (12).  They are also sixth in passes intercepted with 11.  They are seventh in the nation in turnover margin at 1.43.  Ohio has had as many or fewer turnovers as the opposition in eight straight games.  Their defense thrives off them with secondary people who are very active in their man coverage while getting their hands on a lot of footballs.  Kent State will have to protect the football while carrying it and also have Spencer Keith make good decisions, with the receivers securing the football.  “When you look at the turnovers they are getting on film, part of it is the speed at which they are playing,” Doug Martin said.  Opponents have fumbled 16 times, and Ohio has gotten 12 of them.  That’s really remarkable.  That’s a result of their guys flying to the football.”  Kent State is second in the MAC and tied for 14^th nationally in forcing turnovers with 16.  The turnover battle could go a long way in deciding who wins this football game.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Two of the best teams in the Mid-American Conference when it comes to their special teams units square off Saturday in Athens.  Kent State leads the nation in kickoff coverage and the punt coverage team is 11^th in the nation.  Anthony Bowman has averaged 24.6 yards on kick returns with a touchdown included.  The Golden Flashes have also scored on a blocked field goal this season.  The Bobcats have blocked three punts on the season and have scored touchdowns in both the kickoff and punt return units.  Both teams have shown the ability to make big plays on special teams this season.  Kent State will have to continue to make some big plays on special teams while attempting to limit the Bobcats’ explosive units.

ATTACKING THE MAN COVERAGE

Kent State will have to attack the middle of the field and throw the ball vertically on Ohio’s man coverage.  QB Spencer Keith will have a big test to put the throws on the money and hopefully his receivers can make plays.  Ohio gets a lot of tipped passes that lead to interceptions.  “This is going to be a good test for Spencer,” said Martin. “He is going to have to not only put us in the right play at times, but he is going to have to be very accurate. His arm strength is going to be tested in this game.”

EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY

It has been well documented this week that Kent State football has not had many games in late October that have been meaningful in regards to conference title implications.  Saturday is one of those games.  Kent State can claim a share of first place if they can beat Ohio and Toledo can beat Temple on Saturday night.  I imagine the Golden Flashes won’t be lacking any excitement or enthusiasm as they take the turf at Peden Stadium on Saturday afternoon.  I hope KSU plays with pride and passion and enjoys the opportunity to play a big Mid-American Conference game in late October against a very good football team in the Ohio Bobcats.

KENT STATE - Doug Martin, 6th year, 22-43 overall, 15-28 MAC

Game Notes

Statistics

KSU coach wants freshman QB to test Bobcats today – Akron Beacon Journal

Dorian Wood: The Silent leader – Daily Kent Stater

Flashes seek win to turn season around – Record Courier 

Ball security is No. 1 priority for KSU – Record Courier

Flashes plan to go deep, challenge man coverage – Record Courier

Official Sports Report

OHIO – Frank Solich, 5th year at Ohio, 11th year overall, 28-28 at Ohio, 20-15 MAC, 86-47 overall

Game Notes

Statistics

Video: Bobcat Keys to victory vs. Kent State – OhioBobcats.com

Video: Preview - Ohio vs. Kent State - OhioBobcats.com

Football: 'Cats hope to kick Flashes to curb – The Post

'Cats hope to keep rolling at home Saturday against Kent – The Athens News

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