 KSU QB Julian Edelman tossed 2 TD passes in the loss to Akron
Kent State (1-5,0-2 MAC) built a 21-10 first half lead on the Akron Zips thanks to a pair of touchdowns from quarterback Julian Edelman and three interceptions from free safety Brian Lainhart only to see the Zips score 14 unanswered points taking a 24-21 lead with 1:28 remaining in the fourth quarter on a touchdown that was initially ruled incomplete, but then overturned by the replay official in the press box.
The Flashes would not quit and battled back to force two overtime sessions but ultimately fell short when PK Nate Reed's 23-yard field goal in the second overtime sailed wide right, resulting a tough 30-27 double OT loss.
Kent State head coach Doug Martin said “One of the best things I saw on Saturday is that we hung in there together. Our offense had a chance to win the game after Akron went ahead on the reversed call. We had two passes into the end zone one of them was dropped, that should have won the game for us, but we got the field goal and put it into overtime”
Offensively, the Flashes amassed 413 yards of total offense with 256 coming on the ground. This despite the absence of their top running back, Eugene Jarvis, who missed his third consecutive game due to a high ankle sprain suffered in their only win of the season on September 13th over Delaware State.
The Flashes lead the MAC in rushing averaging 207.2 yards per game and their 1243 total yards also leads the conference.
The main cog of the running game on Saturday was Edelman, the senior from Redwood City, California ran for 113 yards on 18 carries. It was the second time in the last three games that Edelman has rushed for over 100 yards. He had 136 on 19 carries in the loss at Louisiana-Lafayette on September 20th.
Edelman, who according to Martin, is playing his best football in his time at Kent State, leads the Flashes and is ranked fifth in MAC rushing with 487 yards, and is seventh in total offense averaging 218.2 yards per game along with five touchdowns.
The transfer from The College of San Mateo, is also getting better as a passer so far completing 53.4 percent of his throws (70-for-131) for 822 yards and seven scores.
One nice surprise Saturday was the play of freshman receiver Kendrick Pressley. The native of Sumter, South Carolina, transferred to Kent State from Virginia Tech and after checking his eligibility requirements, got his first game action against the Zips leading the Flashes with eight catches for 57 yards and also had three runs for 13 additional yards.
Martin stated “We thought that Kendrick was a guy when you get the ball in his hands he can do some special things with it. We got the ball in his hands 11 times on Saturday, but not giving him too much so he wasn’t thinking a lot (on the field)”.
Defensively, despite losing two starting linebackers (Cobrani Mixon and Cedrick Maxwell) to injuries, Kent State held Akron to 58 yards rushing and 301 yards of total offense. Both season lows for the Zips. Middle linebacker Derek Burrell had 11 tackles while playing banged up as well.
The key defensive player on Saturday was Lainhart, the sophomore from Cincinnati had eight tackles (three solo) and those three interceptions. For the season, he is second on the team in tackles with 59 (24 solo). The three picks was the first for a Kent State player in a game since Andy Logan in 1988. For his performance, he was named MAC Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Week.
Martin remarked “I thought the defense played a lot more aggressive, they were trying to get the ball rather than someone trying to make a big play.”
This week, the Flashes learned from an old Frank Sinatra song. They have picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and have started all over again to try to pick up a victory this Saturday as the Ohio Bobcats (1-5,0-2 MAC) come to Dix Stadium for Homecoming.
Ohio, in their fourth season under head coach Frank Solich, are a much better team than their record indicates.
The 'Cats lost to Wyoming by one point 21-20 in their opener, then led third ranked Ohio State 14-12 going into the fourth quarter before the Buckeyes scored 14 points to take the victory.
In their MAC opener against defending champion Central Michigan, Ohio came back twice from a 10-point deficit closing to 31-28 only to see their chance for victory fumbled away in the end zone.
After a defensive battle against Northwestern, a 16-8 loss, the 'Cats finally got their first win of the season in a 51-31 offensive outburst at home against Virginia Military (FCS-Big South Conference). Last Saturday in Kalamazoo, they gave the Western Michigan Broncos all they could handle before losing 41-20.
Ironically, the Bobcats are the last team Kent State has defeated within the Football Bowl Subdivision. That came on September 29,2007 in Athens 33-25 when Eugene Jarvis ran for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
“I know Ohio’s record is the same as ours. But you look at the games they have played and how they lost especially to Wyoming on the road, Central Michigan, and Western Michigan. It is a great challenge for us” Martin stated”
“The one thing that is really impressive about them is they are a really well coached football team particularly on defense they do an outstanding job. To me they are one of the most difficult defenses to move the ball against. They play a lot of man coverage, you don’t see much of that in our conference, you have to create big plays against them”
That Bobcat defense is led by middle linebacker Noah Keller, The sophomore from Kearney, Nebraska leads Ohio in total tackles with 49 tackles (20 solo) good for 11th in the MAC. He also has a sack and a quarterback hit. Another of their linebackers who is playing well is junior Lee Renfro. The Burnside, Kentucky native is tied for second in tackles with 35 (16 solo) but has 2 ½ sacks.
“Offensively, They pose a lot of problems for us," continued Martin. They have an athletic quarterback (Boo Jackson) who is really playing well for them.”
Jackson, a junior from Gardena, California, came onto the Bobcat stage when he entered the Ohio State game for the injured Theo Scott and moved the offense well. He was named the starter for the Central Michigan game and has been the Bobcats' starter ever since.
The transfer from El Camino College is seventh in MAC passing completing 57.8 percent of his throws (85-for-147) for 1134 yards and nine touchdowns, but also has thrown seven interceptions. In addition, Jackson ranks ninth in total offense at 210.5 yards per game.
Carrying the load of the running game is redshirt freshman Donte Harden. The Erie, Pennsylvania native leads the Cats in rushing, and is 10th in the MAC, with 339 yards and three touchdowns. He is also seventh in all-purpose yards with 120.2 per game.
One strength for the Bobcats in 2008 has been their kick returns. They rank third in the MAC averaging 23.5 yards per return which is led by Harden who is averaging 23.6 yards, good for third in the MAC.
When asked about the importance of this game, Martin reiterated “Everyone in the MAC East has a loss right now. If our players want to go like they did in 2006 and go on a winning streak they can get right back into this thing”
The Flashes have lost eight straight in MAC play and 12 of their last 13 dating back to last season. They look to end those streaks with a homecoming win against the Bobcats.
NOTES: This is the 61st meeting between the two schools with Ohio holding a 37-21-2 record…The teams have split their last four meetings…Bobcats are 20-9-1 lifetime in Kent and 13-6 lifetime at Dix Stadium…The game will be televised on Fox Sports Ohio…In their head-to-head matchups Solich is 2-1 against Martin…Ohio last started 0-3 in the MAC in 1994…Ohio is in the middle of three straight road games… Shawn Bayes-KSU is ninth in MAC receiving yards 55.0 per game and eighth in total offense 116.2 yds per game…Steven Jackson-Ohio tied for fourth in interceptions with 2…Matt Rinehart-KSU is fifth in punting at 40.8 yds per kick…Matt Schulte-OHIO sixth in punting at 40.1 yds per kick…Barrett Way-OHIO tied for seventh among MAC placekicking with 31 pts (5-11 FG 16-17 PAT)..Derek Burrell-KSU is third in MAC tackles with 62 (23 solo)..Sam Frist-KSU is sixth in tackles for loss with 5.5…Kent State is 21-40 on homecoming losing five of the last six (last win 2006 against Toledo 40-14)…Ohio has been Kent State’s homecoming opponent five times (0-5).
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