
Kent State Golden Flashes (0-1, 0-1 MAC)
Dix Stadium, 2 p.m. ET, Saturday, Sept. 6
By EVAN MEYER
The Kent State Golden Flashes look to rebound Saturday after a heartbreaking loss to the Ohio University Bobcats in the MAC opener for both schools.
This week the Blue and Gold will host the South Alabama Jaguars from the Sun Belt Conference, who had the opening weekend off and look to jump start their season.
Last Week: KSU to Ohio University at home 27-24.
QB Colin Reardon had a phemoninal day, completing 30-of-41 passes for 264 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions…Reardon set a career-high in completions and recorded a second-best result in yards…RB Ernest Calhoun had a career high 11 catches against the Bobcats for 62 yards…WR Chris Humphrey had six receptions for 91 yards. His touchdown reception in the fourth quarter tied the score 14-14…The Kent State defense forced four turnovers (all of them fumbles and all in the second half) converting on just one -- the Reardon-to-Humphrey touchdown… S Nate Holley led the defense with 18 total tackles (12 solo), along with two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup. He was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week
OVERVIEW:
Kent State looks to be in rebuilding mode in 2014 as the mainstays of their 2012 MAC East title team have graduated in Dri Archer and Roosevelt Nix. They return 14 starters on offense, including Reardon and Durham along with two offensive lineman…Defensively, they bring back seven starters. Among them is leading returning tackler Dellinger along with NT Nate Terhune…The Flashes were picked fifth in the pre-season MAC poll
NOTES & QUOTES:
Over the last four games, dating back to last season, the KSU defense has allowed just 13 points per game…It has allowed just four touchdowns over their las tfour games dating back to last season… Chris Humphrey has at least one reception in his last 21 games…WR James Brooks got his first collegiate start for the injured Trayion Durham and responded with two catches for 45 yards. He also returned two kickoffs for an additional 41 yards…The team is honoring the late OT Jason Bitsko with the number 54 on their helmets and his number painted on the turf at Dix Stadium…In its history, KSU is 2-4 against the Sun Belt Conference (1-1 vs., South Alabama)
SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS
LAST WEEK: The game with Kent State is the season opener for USA.
PREVIOUSLY:
USA’s offense averaged 425.5 yards per game a season ago…QB Ross Metheny led them offensively as he completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,622 yards and 15 touchdowns with only seven interceptions…Metheny also ran for 604 yards and 10 scores…RB Jay Jones is the team’s leading rusher with 737 yards and five scores a season ago…WR Shavarez Smith led the receivers with 50 catches for 940 yards and six touchdowns. The offensive line brings back three seniors, a junior, and a sophomore…The defense will be led CB Quardarius Ford, who is the leading returning tackler with 76 stops (51 solo), along with two interceptions and six pass breakups.
OVERVIEW:
Last season, South Alabama was a fulltime member of both the Sun Belt Conference and the Football Bowl Subdivision as they finished their transition into both entities. The Jaguars completed 2013 with a 6-6 record overall and 4-3 mark in conference play…They were picked to finish third in the pre-season SBC standings (behind Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State (who played KSU in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile in 2012)…With the graduation of Metheny, head coach Joey Jones has five quarterbacks to choose from. Look for Canadian senior Brandon Bridge to get the start against the Flashes…The Jags will have the two top teams in the conference (ULL & A-State) on the road while the remainder of the non-conference schedule has games against Mississippi State and Navy at home with a road tilt late in the season at South Carolina
NOTES & QUOTES:
The game is the third (and last) in the series between Kent State and South Alabama, with each winning at home -- KSU in 2012 (33-25) and USA last season (38-21)…In that game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Dri Archer rushed for 114 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He added two catches for 85 more yards, including a 73-yard reception early in the fourth quarter…Next time USA plays a MAC school, it will be a home-and-home against Bowling Green in 2021-22