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Had fans been asked in early August if a Kent State-Eastern Michigan game in November would have significance, few would have said, “Yes.” As things developed, these two teams, along with Ball State, have been some of the pleasant surprises in MAC Football this season. Consequently, Saturday's Flashes-Eagles matchup does have a lot riding on it - for both sides.
Kent State (4-6, 3-3 MAC) has won three consecutive games for the first time since 2009. A win Saturday would give the Flashes five wins for the third straight year. If they defeat Temple next weekend, they could finish with six victories for the first time since 2006 and become bowl eligible..
The KSU resurgence officially started after its bye week, when the Flashes defeated Bowling Green and then Central Michigan at home. The streak reached three last Saturday as they made the short trip to Akron and routed the Zips 35-3 to retain possession of ‘The Wagon Wheel’ trophy in consecutive years for the first time since 1987-88.
When looking at the streak, one of the main keys has been a surge by the offense. Going into the BGSU game, the Flashes offense was averaging 181 yards and just under 11 points per game. Both numbers were at the bottom of the MAC and one of the lower numbers in the entire Football Bowl Subdivision. Since then, KSU has scored 86 points (28.7 per game) and gained 1,121 total yards (373.7 per game). The 35 points scored last week against the Zips was a season high.
One of the key factors behind the improvement has been the running game, which produced a season-high 265 yards last Saturday. At the heart of the running game is freshman Trayion Durham, who rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns against UA; both were career highs. His rushing output has increased the last five games since he was held to just 18 yards at Ohio back on October 1, and he leads the Flashes in rushing with 518 yards.
“We have been running the ball great.” junior quarterback Spencer Keith said. “The offensive line has done a great job these past three games both, in the running game and protection in the passing game. Everyone is more determined and focused in practice.”
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Another factor in the offensive surge has been Keith, who struggled through the first seven contests, but since the game with the Falcons, he has played back to the level he was at last season before he was injured in the game against Temple. Over the last three games, Keith has completed 44-of-70 passes for 575 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. In addition, Keith has turned the ball over just once (a first quarter fumble against BGSU) and has used his feet to help the cause, as witnessed by his 59-yard scramble last Saturday.
While Durham and Keith have been the main players in the offensive resurgence, two other players who were supposed to be integral parts in 2011, but were used sparingly earlier this season, have stepped to the fore.
Senior RB Jacquise Terry was supposed to be the lead running back for the Flashes with the graduation of Eugene Jarvis. Until the last three games, he saw limited action, rushing for 151 yards and a touchdown.
The other reinvigorated vet is junior WR Tyshon Goode. In the last three games, he has 11 catches for 121 yards and has been another option for Keith in the passing game.
The defense has given up some yards during the winning streak, but that must be put into context as they have faced quarterbacks like BGSU’s Matt Schilz and CMU’s Ryan Radcliff. Over the course of the season, the Flashes will have faced five of the best quarterbacks in the MAC, including Ohio’s Tyler Tettleton, and Northern Illinois’ Chandler Harnish.
Last Saturday, Kent State allowed UA only 223 yards -- their third lowest total of the season after giving up over 400 against BGSU and CMU. They completely handled the Zips running game, holding RB Jawon Chisholm to just 26 yards and a long of six yards. Coming into the game, Chisholm had four 100 yard rushing games this season.
Sophomore DT Roosevelt Nix was simply phenomenal last Saturday. The reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year had just six tackles, but he constantly beat his blocker and was in the Zips backfield almost at the same time as the ball.
Half of his tackles were for losses, and he registered two pass breakups that came on consecutive downs in the third quarter. Nix was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week.
“Rosie always seems to be in the right place at the right time.” senior DT Lee Stalker said. “It was one of his best games I have seen him play. He had a great game last year against Akron. He is just outstanding.”
For their final home game of the season. KSU will face an Eastern Michigan squad that has confounded all the MAC experts in 2011.
EMU (6-4, 4-2 MAC) started the 2011 campaign with home wins over FCS opponents Howard and Alabama State. Then came a stretch where they lost three of four, with the losses coming at Michigan, Penn State, and Toledo by a combined score of 119-25. The lone win in that stretch was their MAC opener at home against Akron.
Since then, the Green and White have won three of their last four games pulling out a pair of dramatic wins. In a 35-28 win at Central Michigan, they scored on the final drive of the game. Against Western Michigan, the Eagles defense stopped Alex Carder and the Broncos offense on the one-yard line to record a 14-10 victory. The lone loss in the stretch came against Ball State, 33-31, when the Cardinals Stephen Schott hit a 41-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining.
The strength of the EMU offense has been its running game. In the first 10 games they have rushed for 2,293 yards, 14th best in the FBS, and 15 touchdowns. They have gained over 100 yards as a team in eight of those games.
The Eagles offense is paced by junior QB Alex Gillett, who leads EMU in rushing with 654 yards and three touchdowns. In the passing game, he has completed 57.3 percent of his throws (90-for-157) for 1,273 yards with 13 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Last Saturday in EMU’s 30-17 home win over Buffalo, Gillett rushed for 89 yards and completed 10-of-15 passes for a season-best 234 yards and four touchdowns.
When Gillett is not running with the ball, he has two fine running backs in sophomore Javonti Greene, who has rushed for 618 yards and five touchdowns, and fourth-year junior Dominique White, who has 579 yards.
In the passing game, junior tight end Corey Hoskins leads with 18 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns, two coming last week in the win over the Bulls.
Defensively, the Eagles are led by senior defensive back Willie Williams, who has 73 tackles (30 solo), and junior linebacker Justin Cudworth, who has 71 stops (29 solo). Senior defensive end Brad Ohrman leads the defense in sacks with four and a half and was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week as he had eight tackles (one and a half for loss) and a sack in the win over UB.
EMU has not been Bowl Eligible since 1995. They also still have shot, albeit remote, at the MAC West Division title.
Although Ohio has clinched the MAC East Division crown, KSU still would like to send its seniors out with a victory. Kickoff is set for 2PM on Saturday afternoon.
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