Dix Stadium -- Kent, Ohio
ESPN3
Friday afternoon is the wrap-up of Kent State football's first season under head coach Sean Lewis. Providing the opposition is an Eastern Michigan team that defeated Akron last week and is looking for another win to add to its bowl resume.
It's the 31st lifetime meeting in the series, with KSU holding a 17-13 edge. When they last met in 2012, the Flashes claimed a 41-14 victory in Ypsilanti. EMU’s last win in the series came in 2005 by a 27-20 count.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (6-5, 4-3 MAC)
➤➤ The Eagles come into this game winners in five of their last six games, including a 27-7 win over Akron on November 10 as they held the Zips to 90 total offensive yards, along with a special teams touchdown.
➤➤ The win made EMU bowl eligible for the second time in the last three seasons. Its only loss in the last six games came to Army on October 27 at “The Factory,” 37-22
➤➤ EMU is one of seven MAC teams reaching bowl eligibility in 2018 -- four of them coming from the Western Division (Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, and Toledo being the others).
➤➤ Head coach Chris Creighton is completing his fifth season with the Eagles. He has a 21-39 record at EMU and 160-85 overall.
➤➤ The Eagles offensively are averaging 27.5 points and 381.2 yards of offense in their 11 games of 2018.
➤➤ Senior QB Tyler Weigens is completing 56.4 percent of his passes (158-of-238) for 1,748 yards and 11 touchdowns with only two interceptions.
➤➤ Senior RB Shaq Vann leads the ground attack with 590 yards and five touchdowns.
➤➤ A third senior, WR Blake Banham, leads the receivers with 53 catches for 709 yards and five touchdowns.
➤➤ Banham is also one of the top punt returners in the MAC averaging 10.1 yards per return.
➤➤ The offensive line has allowed 36 sacks-- one of the poorest in the MAC.
➤➤ The Eagles defense came up with its best game of the season, holding UA to only 90 total yards. In their last two games (against Akron & Central Michigan), they have allowed 228 total yards.
➤➤ Overall, EMU has allowed 23.2 points and an average 349.7 yards -- one of the tops in the conference. The Eagles have 22 sacks, 12 interceptions, 14 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and 35 pass breakups.
➤➤ Senior LB Kyle Rachwal leads the tacklers with 102 total stops (37 solo) he also has a sack, three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and two interceptions. He is one of six defenders in the MAC with
➤➤ Junior DE Maxx Crosby has eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for losses. Was MAC West Defensive Player of the Week in the win over the Zips
➤➤ EMU also has one of the best kicking duos in the MAC in P Jake Julien and PK Chad Ryland, both have been honored as MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week multiple times this season.
➤➤ The Eagles record of 18-18 since 2016, is their best three-year stretch since 1987-89
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (2-9, 1-6) MAC
➤➤ The Flashes lost last Thursday at home against Toledo 52-34 in a game that saw conditions turn from rain, to freezing rain, to sleet, to snow. It was the Flashes’ fifth consecutive loss in MAC play dating back to last season.
➤➤ Against the Rockets, KSU’s 34 points an 497 yards of offense was its most in a conference game this season and the second most overall (49 points and 511 total yards against Howard).
➤➤ In its 11 games, the KSU offense is aeraging 24.3 points and 383.2 yards
➤➤ RB Justin Rankin leads the ground game with 574 yards and has scored four touchdowns.
➤➤ RB Jo-El Shaw has gained over 100-yard rushing in two of the last three games. He had 116 yards and a score against UT, including the longest run of the season 76-yards in the third quarter.
➤➤ QB Woody Barrett is completing 59 percent of his passes (210-of-356) for 2,130 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
➤➤ Barrett has also rushed to 478 yards and four scores. His seven-yard touchdown run on the opening drive gave KSU its only lead of the game.
➤➤ WR Antuwan Dixon leads the receivers with 47 catches for 466 yards and two touchdowns.
➤➤ WR Mike Carrigan had 100 yards on six catches and a touchdown against UT
➤➤ The offensive line has allowed 39 sacks the most in the MAC
➤➤ The Flashes defense has allowed an average of 35.6 points and 471.4 yards. They have 21 sacks, eight interceptions, eight forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and 41 pass breakups
➤➤ JK Sherald leads Kent State defenders in tackles with 81 total stops (54 solo) He has two sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and six pass breakups.
➤➤ DE Theo Majette has five sacks for 38 yards in losses
➤➤ DB Jamal Parker is one of the best defensive backs in the conference with two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and nine passes defended
➤➤ PK Matthew Trickett is one of the best kickers in the MAC. The freshman leads KSU in scoring with 67 points (12-of-14 field goals, going two-for-two against the Rockets, and is 31-of-32 on extra points).