Dix Stadium – Kent, Ohio
CBS Sports Network
Last week, the Kent State Golden Flashes completed a stretch of five straight games against the Mid-American Conference Eastern Division teams and were soundly beaten by the East Division leading Buffalo Bulls 48-13. That dropped KSU’s overall record to 2-8 and MAC mark to 1-5.
This week, the Flashes face a Toledo Rockets squad who saw its chance to repeat as Western Division champions come to an end last week at the hands of Northern Illinois 38-15. That ended UT’s two-game winning streak moved the Rockets record back to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
Thursday night’s game is the 47th lifetime meeting between the two schools, with Toledo holding a 25-21 record. The Rockets have won seven of the last eight in the series, including their last meeting on October 10,2015 at the Glass Bowl, 38-7. Thursday’s game is the 23rd lifetime meeting in Kent, with KSU holding a 16-6 advantage
Here is more on the two teams . . .
TOLEDO ROCKETS (5-5, 3-3 MAC)
►► The Rockets were in DeKalb last week and saw their two-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the West Division-leading Huskies 38-15. That dropped UT into third place -- one game behind second place Western Michigan.
►► UT has to win one of its final two games (against KSU or in their finale against Central Michigan) to become bowl eligible for a ninth consecutive season.
►► Head coach Jason Candle is completing his third season with a record of 26-11 overall. His first game against the Flashes.
►► UT has been one of the most explosive offenses in the MAC for a majority of the season. After 10 games, the offense is averaging 38.6 points per game and 439.2 yards per contest.
►► Junior Mitchell Guardagni, who started the season at QB, has been in and out of the lineup since the Fresno State game with an assortment of injuries and has missed the last two games (vs. NIU and against Ball State).
►► Sophomore Eli Peters will be under center against KSU. He is completing 59 percent of his passes (99-for-183) for 1,262 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.
►► The running game is led by freshman Bryant Koback who has gained 559 yards and has scored nine touchdowns.
►► Junior WR Dionte Johnson leads the receivers with 40 catches for 635 yards and seven touchdowns.
►► The offensive line has allowed 28 sacks
►► The UT defense through 10 contests has allowed 31.5 points per game and 448.3 yards. They have 25 sacks, 10 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and 36 pass breakups.
►► Senior LB Richard Olekanna leads the tacklers with 66 total stops (22 solo)
►► Senior DT Reggie Howard owns six sacks, Freshman DE Jalam Hines and SS Xach each have a pair of interceptions, while senior DB Josh Teachey has nine pass breakups.
►► The Midnight Blue and Gold has one of the best special teams in the MAC led by senior PK Jameson Vest, who leads the conference with 86 total points.
►► Dionte Johnson is one of the best kick returners in the conference, averaging 26 yards per return. His 2018 work includes a 100-yard return for a touchdown in the season opening win over VMI.
►► The special teams has also blocked seven kicks in 2018
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (2-8, 1-5) MAC
►► Last Tuesday at Buffalo, the Golden Flashes were dominated by the East Division leading Bulls in every facet of the game losing 48-14.
►► KSU’s points came in the fourth quarter, engineered by backup quarterback Dustin Crum who scored a one-yard touchdown run then connected with WR Mike Carrigan on an 11-yard score.
►► Offensively KSU is averaging 23.3 points and 371.8 yards in their 10 games. Against UB, the Flashes were held to a season low 183 total yards.
►► RB Justin Rankin leads the ground game with 565 yards on 113 carries and has scored four touchdowns.
►► QB Woody Barrett is completing 59.8 percent of his passes (193-of-323) for 1,932 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions
►► WR Antuwan Dixon leads the receivers with 42 catches for 406 yards and two touchdowns.
►► The offensive line has allowed 36 sacks -- most in the MAC
►► The Flashes defense through 10 games has allowed 35.6 points and 471.4 yards. They have 21 sacks, eight interceptions, eight forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and 33 pass breakups
►► JK Sherald leads Kent State defenders in tackles with 75 total stops (50 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 interception, seven pass breakups, and nine passes defended
►► KSU will conclude their season on Friday November 23 against Eastern Michigan.