 KENT, OH – Like most games, football is often about making the most of your opportunities. When you do, you score points; when you don’t, it can come back to haunt you.
The Kent State Golden Flashes squandered opportunities and the Miami Redhawks did not as the visitors came from behind to post a 9-3 victory Saturday afternoon before an announced homecoming crowd of 15,245 at Dix Stadium.
Miami (2-4, 1-1 MAC) picked up its second consecutive victory after starting the 2011 season with four losses. The RedHawks, who registered their fourth straight MAC road win over the past two seasons, pulled out the victory win despite generating just 166 yards of total offense.
'HATS OFF' TO KSU DEFENSE
“Hats off to Kent State; they had a tremendous game plan.” RedHawks head coach Don Treadwell said after the game. “We knew that their defense was tremendous and coach (KSU defensive coordinator Jon) Heacock -- we knew he was going to do a great job and (he) did not let us down. It just took us a little bit (of time) to get on track offensively.”
Kent State (1-6, 0-3 MAC) lost its third consecutive game, all coming against MAC opposition. While the Flashes turned in their best defensive showing of the season, they gained just 244 total yards, failing to reach 300 yards in total offense for the seventh consecutive game.
“It’s a disappointing loss.” KSU head coach Darrell Hazell said afterwards. “We squandered some opportunities early, and we had good position and did not capitalize. We went backwards instead of forwards.”
WINDY CONDITIONS
One key to the game was a 22 mile-an-hour wind that factored into play on a day that saw a combined 20 punts in the contest.
Kent State’s only score of the game came early and was set up by the defense.
On Miami’s first possession, junior quarterback Zac Dysert completed a pass to sophomore wide receiver Nick Harwell. He was hit by defensive lineman Roosevelt Nix, causing a fumble that was recovered by junior linebacker C.J. Malauulu, giving KSU excellent field position on the MU 23-yard line. The RedHawk defense however, stopped the Flashes on three straight plays, and sophomore kicker Freddy Cortez converted a 32-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead
Harwell, who came into the game third in the MAC in receptions (36) and receiving yards (638), had just three receptions in the game for a total of just one yard. In addition, Harwell came into the contest averaging 159 yards per game, leading all receivers in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The KSU defense, a unit that came into the game ranked third in the MAC in total defense, forced a three-and-out on Miami’s second possession. After a short punt into the wind, the Flashes had the ball at their own 46 yard line. A quick 20-yard completion by junior quarterback Spencer Keith to fifth-year senior wide out Sam Kirkland put the ball at the Miami 34.Three plays later the drive stalled at the MU 26. Cortez came on for a 43-yard field goal attempt that missed wide to the right.
KEITH GETS THE NOD
There was speculation during the week, whether Hazell would start Keith or redshirt freshman Sam McCloud, who saw action in the 40-10 loss last Saturday at Northern Illinois after Keith’s first pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Hazell decided to go with the veteran Keith, who completed 16-of-31 passes for 165 yards.
“From my perspective, I thought he played more comfortable. I thought he made some clean throws. He missed a couple, but by-and-large he took care of the football. It was good to see him make those improvements.” Hazell said.
The remainder of the first half was a battle of punts and field position. The next scoring opportunity came late in the half when Kent State took possession after a Miami punt on their own 30 yard line with just 43 seconds remaining. Two runs by senior running back Jacquise Terry, and a 19-yard scramble by Keith put the ball on the MU 36 with one second remaining. Keith fired for the end zone and was intercepted by sophomore cornerback Demetrius Quarles to end the first half.
In the first 30 minutes, KSU had gained 153 offensive yards, which was more than double their total for the entire game last Saturday at NIU (70). They came into the game last in the MAC in total points (72) and average yards per game (170). On the other side, Miami had gained just 56 yards and had minus four yards rushing -- this from an offense that gained 338 yards in a win last Saturday at home against Army.
THIRD QUARTER KEYS
There were two key points early in the third quarter. The first happened after Miami’s Chris Givens muffed a Matt Rinehart punt. Freshman Andre Parker recovered for the Flashes at the MU 34. Again, however, the MU defense held KSU to a three-and-out. Rather than risk a 47-yard field goal attempt into the wind, Hazell decided to punt, and Rinehart’s kick went into the end zone for a touchback.
The second key point came on KSU’s next possession. After taking over on their own 39 following an MU punt, the Flashes put together a drive. It included an 11-yard run by freshman running back Trayion Durham and a 25-yard pass from Keith to fifth-year wide out Chris Gilbert that moved the ball to the Redhawk 25.
The drive stalled, however, at the 27. Faced with 4th-and -12, still against the wind, Hazell again decided not to attempt a field goal. This one would have been a 42-yarder. Instead, KSU went for a first down. Keith’s pass was incomplete to running back Tim Erjavec, who if he had even caught the ball, would not have made the first down.
The two missed opportunities would come back to hurt the Golden Flashes deeply.
PENALTY AIDS FIELD POSITION
After an exchange of punts, Miami not only gained possession, but gained critical field position following a penalty for kick catching interference on a Rinehart punt. The 15-yard penalty put MU in business at the Kent State 30. In all, KSU drew nine flags for 107 yards.
Five plays later, the Redhawks took lead for good, thanks to a scramble by Dysert. The junior had three pass completions in the drive, the last being a 16-yarder to Givens who was all alone in the end zone as he made amends for his muffed punt. “I was just in the right place at the right time.” Givens said. “Zac put the ball in a position that I could adjust to it, and it all worked out.”
“Initially there was an opening, but we could not get the ball to him (Givens) right away” Treadwell said. “Zac had to side step the defender that came through. He broke a tackle and kept his eyes downfield, which he does quite often, and it paid off for us.”
When asked about the score, Hazell said “That was frustrating as they (the defense) had him, They had him sacked. He got loose, and the coverage broke down at the back.”
DYSERT SACKED FIVE TIMES
Dysert completed just 13-of-27 passes for 125 yards and was sacked five times, but he did have the touchdown pass. With Mason Krysinski’s PAT, the RedHawks went up 7-3. In his previous two games against the Flashes, Dysert passed for 631 yards and two scores, going 1-1.
As the fourth quarter began, defenses continued to dominate. The MU special teams then came up with a big play as they downed a punt at the Kent State four-yard line to set up the game’s final points. Senior defensive end C.J. Marck sacked Keith, trying to recover a low hike, in the end zone for a safety that extended the Redhawks lead to 9-3.
Kent State one more chance after gaining possession following a punt. Starting on their own 30 with 1:16 remaining in regulation, they moved the ball 47 yards on the strength of four Keith completions, two to Kirkland and two to Gilbert, putting the ball on the Miami 33 with 32 seconds remaining.
The MU pass defense stiffened as Keith tried for the end zone three times and was nearly intercepted twice. On fourth down, with 14 seconds remaining, Keith’s pass for Kirkland fell incomplete and the Hawks had the victory.
MU DEFENSE SHINES
How good was the Miami defense in the second half? It held KSU to five three-and-outs and the Flashes’ longest drive was their last of the game -- 47 yards. Overall, they forced the Flashes into nine punts and just 3-of-17 on third down conversions.
Miami hits the road again next week to face Toledo, who improved to 3-0 in MAC play with a 28-21 win at Bowling Green. Kent State has the week off and returns to action on October 29 at home against the Falcons.
EVAN’S GAMERS
OFFENSE: CHRIS GIVENS-MIAMI. The fifth-year senior from Chillicothe, Ohio made just three catches in the game for 47 yards, but one was the 16-yard touchdown pass from Zac Dysert in the third quarter to give the Redhawks the lead for good. It was his second score of the season (he caught as 29-yarder at Minnesota). He returned to the lineup Saturday after missing time with injuries.
DEFENSE: THE KENT STATE DEFENSE. The Golden Flashes 11 allowed Miami just 166 total yards. The Blue and Gold held WR Nick Harwell to just three catches for one yard and the Redhawk running game to just 41 net yards. Junior LB C.J. Malauulu led the defense with 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, half-a-sack, a pass breakup, and the first quarter fumble recovery that set up a field goal.
SPECIAL TEAMS: ZAC MURPHY-MIAMI. The sophomore from Cincinnati punted 11 times in the game averaging 35.5 yards. Two of his punts were downed inside the KSU five, and the second led to the safety.
NOTES:
It was the 59th game in the series with Miami holding a 46-13 advantage…It was the 29th game at Kent (22-7 MU)…The 12 points scored was the lowest in the series since 1966 a 7-0 Miami win in Oxford (at old Miami field) and the lowest point total in the games at Kent (previous low was 20 in 1959 – 14-6 KSU win)…Zac Dysert-MIA has five touchdown passes over his last two games…The 125 passing yards was a career low for Dysert….Nick Harwell-MIA saw his consecutive games of 100-yard receiving end at four and his four catches was the lowest since 2010 vs. KSU (1-4)…Zac Murphy-MIA punted 11 times in the game (he had punted 18 times in the first five games)…Spencer Keith-KSU became the fourth quarterback in school history to pass for 5,000 yards, passing current New England Patriot Julian Edelman during the game…Freddy Cortez-KSU kicked his 30th career field goal in the first quarter…KSU had pass plays of 25 and 23 yards in the game, their longest plays from scrimmage so far this season…KSU defense held an opponent to under 200 total yards for the second time in 2011 (Louisiana Lafayette-159)..Miami assistant coaches Pete Rekstis (defensive coordinator) and Matt Edwards (Defensive line) were assistants at KSU under Doug Martin (currently offensive coordinator at New Mexico State)…KSU is 22-43 in homecoming games losing four of the last five and eight of the last 10.
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