For the Kent State Golden Flashes and Bowling Green Falcons, their 2017 seasons have not gone as they had imagined back in those warm days of August.
Both teams have endured a series of losses, and with four games remaining, they have fallen out of contention for any conference titles. Pride, momentum, evaulation, experience and . . .
THE SERIES
Tuesday’s evening’s tilt is the 85th lifetime meeting between the two schools, with the Falcons holding a dominating 59-19-6 advantage. BGSU has won the last four games in the series, including last season’s 42-7 victory at Doyt Perry Stadium.
It will be the 44th lifetime game in Kent, with the Falcons having a 33-8-2 edge. KSU’s last win in the series was in 2012 at BGSU, 31-24 (a victory that clinched the Eastern Division title), and its last win over the Falcons at home was 2011, 27-15.
BOWLING GREEN STATE FALCONS (1-7, 0-3 MAC)
>>> Last Saturday the Falcons lost their second straight game, falling at home to Northern Illinois 48-17
>>> Bowling Green's lone win so far this season was a 37-29 victory over the Miami RedHawks in Oxford.
>>> The Falcons offense is averaging 20.5 points and 373.6 yards over eight games. At the controls is sophomore QB James Morgan, one of three signal callers the Falcons have used this season. He has completed 45.3 percent of his passes (96-of-221) for 1,250 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions.
>>> Senior Josh Cleveland leads the running game with 504 yards on 99 carries with two touchdowns. Junior WR Scott Miller tops receivers with 40 catches for 450 yards and a pair of scores. The offensive line has allowed 19 sacks
>>> The Falcons defense has allowed 37.8 points and 523.8 yards per game. They have nine sacks and five interceptions.
>>> Junior DE Brandon Harris leads the charge with 62 total tackles (39 solo). Junior LB David Konowalski has six tackles for losses, while junior DB Marcus Milton and Clint Stephens have two interceptions each
>>> RB Andrew Clair is the first true freshman in school history to rush for 100 or more yards in three consecutive games, including 108 last Saturday against the Huskies.
>>> Fifth year senior P Joe Davidson ranks eighth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a 43.1 average per kick
>>> BGSU leads the FBS with 12 fumble recoveries and 240 return yards.
>>> Bowling Green will finish the season with two of three on the road (Buffalo and Eastern Michigan). Its final home game will be against arch-rival Toledo for possession of the I-75 trophy.
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (2-6, 1-3 MAC)
>>> The Flashes lost in their final Saturday day game last week at Ohio, 48-3, after taking a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter
>>> KSU's offense managed just 166 total yards -- the fourth time this season Kent State failed to gain at least 200 yards.
>>> Kent State is averaging 9.0 ppg in MAC play. That is one point better than No. 12 Ball State.
>>> With that first quarter field goal in Athens, PK Shane Hynes moved into the fifth plave on KSU’s all time field goals made list with 29
>>> KSU defense has 10 quarterback sacks over its last three games after having just three in the first five.
>>> In MAC play, the Flashes pass defense has allowed just 142 yards passing. That tops all MAC squads. However, KSU is seventh in pass defense efficiency.
>>> Kent State is plus-2 in turnover margin (third, MAC).
>>> The Flashes have 10 interceptions, third among MAC teams.