Peden Stadium – Athens, OH
ESPN+
By EVAN MEYER
Kent State's MAC momentum took a hit last week in Kalamazoo when Western Michigan exploded for six second half touchdowns in a 64-31 win. The MAC preseason favorite will now try to get back on track against an Ohio Bobcat team that aims to avoid a three-game losing streak. Ohio's recent losses to Central Michigan and Buffalo were by a total of four points.
Saturday’s game is the 73rd lifetime meeting between the two schools. Last year’s meeting scheduled for Dix Stadium was cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Bobcats program.
Ohio holds a decisive 46-25-2 overall series advantage. They have won the last six in the series. KSU’s last win came in Southeast Ohio on Novem,ber 13, 2013 44-13.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
OHIO BOBCATS (1-6, 1-2):
>> Last Saturday, Ohio traveled to Western New York where it dropped a 27-26 decision to the Buffalo Bulls. The loss was the second in MAC play for the 'Cats, who opened the conference schedule with a win at Akron.
>> The game started out looking like a runaway, as Ohio built a 21-0 first quarter lead, fueled by a 99-yard touchdown run by senior QB Armani Rogers. However, the Bulls chipped away at their deficit, closing to 21-10 at halftime.
>> In the third quarter, the Bobcats added a field goal and a safety to push their lead out to 26-10. However, UB owned the fourth quarter and closed the margin to two points, 26-24, with 6:19 remaining.
>> Ohio went three-and-out on its next possession, and the Bulls moved the ball to the Ohio 12. Buffalo's 31-yard field goal try to win the game went wide left. However, Ohio was called for off-sides. With no time on the clock, UB made the second FG try -- this from 26-yards out and in the game.
>> Ohio offensively was again run oriented, gaining 271 of its 346 yards. Rogers, a senior transfer from UNLV, led all rushers in the contest with 183 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns. He was also 6-of-10 through the air for 75 yards. WR Isiah Cox had three catches for 22 yards.
>> The defense had seven tackles for losses, a pass breakup, and an interception. LB Bryce Houston had 15 total tackles (11 solo), the most tackles by a Bobcat defender so far this season.
>> Head Coach Tim Albin is in his first season as head coach. He succeeded Frank Solich, who retired just before the 2021 season due to health problems.
>> Ohio lost all four of its non-conference games (Syracuse, FCS member Duquesne, Louisiana, and Northwestern).
>> The Bobcats' offense is averaging 20.3 points and 346.3 yards per game. Their 201.7 yard per game average on the ground is third in the MAC.
>> RB De’Monte Tuggle leads the rushers with 481 yards on 73 carries with four touchdowns.
>> Rogers, who came in as the starting QB in the second half against the Zips, is completing 65 percent of his passes (26-of-41) for a touchdown.
He has also rushed for 448 yards and six scores. His 99-yard touchdown run last Saturday was the longest run by a quarterback in Division I-A/FBS history, breaking the mark former Arizona State QB Mark Malone set in 1979.
>> WR Ty Walton leads Ohio receivers with 21 catches for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
>> Defensively, Ohio is yielding 30.7 points and 419.3 yards through seven games. It has allowed 196.1 yards passing, good for third in the conference.
>> Houston leads the defense with 60 total tackles (37 solo) -- fourth in the MAC.
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (3-4, 1-2):
>> KSU suffered its first conference loss and saw their two-game winning streak end Saturday at the hands of Western Michigan.
>> WMU wasted little time as the home team scored on 10 of its first 11 possessions (seven of them touchdowns). However, the Flashes matched the Broncos for the first 30 minutes of the contest, trailing just 23-17 at halftime.
>> KSU had the ball to start the third quarter. On the second play of the drive, a fumble by RB Xavier Williams proved to be Kent State's undoing. WMU converted the turnover into a touchdown. That score was part of a 27-point third period that put the game out of reach.
>> Offensively, the Flashes gained 362 yards on the afternoon. Williams was the leading ball carrier with 39 yards on just four carries. QB Dustin Crum completed 15-of-26 passes for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns. One went to WR Dante Cephas (5 receptions, 96 yards) and the other to Keshaun Abram.
>> The KSU defense had one of those days -- ot only giving up 64 points but 648 total yards. It was the most allowed since the final game of 2020, when Buffalo put up 71 points with 663 yards. Add to that, the Flashes allowed a 100-yard rusher, a 300-yard passer, and a pair of 100-yard receivers.
>> On a positive note, the defense, led by LB Mandela-Lawrence Burke with eight total tackles (all of them solo) had three tackles for losses and ive pass breakups.
>> After seven games, the KSU offense has averaged 28.4 points and 449.6 yards per game. It leads the MAC in total yards and has a rushing attack that is second at 223.0 yards per contest.
>> RB Marquez Cooper leads the ground game with 508 yards on 10 carries and four touchdowns -- third in the MAC.
>> Crum is completing 58.7 percent of his passes (111-for-189) for 1,513 yards with eight touchdowns and only two interceptions (those came in the opening game of the season at Texas A&M. He also leads the conference in total offense at 255.4 yards per game.
>> Cephas leads the receivers corps with 41 catches for 580 yards (second in the conference) and five touchdowns (tied for second in scoring with Crum).
>> The Golden Flashes defense has allowed 34.3 points and 476.9 yards through seven games.
>> DB Dean Clark leads tacklers with 49 total stops (34 solo)
>> DB Elvis Hines and DB Montre Miller are tied for the conference lead with three interceptions, while Hines is second in passes defended with nine.
>> Nykeim Johnson is third in kickoff returns averaging 23.4 yards .