Saturday September 29, 2018
Scheumann Stadium – Muncie, Indiana
Scheumann Stadium – Muncie, Indiana
By EVAN MEYER
The Kent State Golden Flashes and Ball State Cardinals will open Mid-American Conference play Saturday, each looking to get back on the winning track.
Kent State (1-3) has lost its last two games including a 38-17 setback at Ole Miss last Saturday. Although the Blue and Gold were in the game until late in the third quarter, the hosting Rebels pulled away with 17 unanswered points down the stretch.
Meanwhile, Ball State (1-3) was handed its third consecutive loss (28-20) after squandering a fourth quarter lead last Saturday at Western Kentucky.
This is the 28th lifetime meeting between the Kent State and Ball State -- the first since 2013. BSU holds a 20-7 advantage in the series and won that last meeting 27-24. It is the 15th game to be played in Muncie, with the Cards holding an 11-3 lead.
The Kent State Golden Flashes and Ball State Cardinals will open Mid-American Conference play Saturday, each looking to get back on the winning track.
Kent State (1-3) has lost its last two games including a 38-17 setback at Ole Miss last Saturday. Although the Blue and Gold were in the game until late in the third quarter, the hosting Rebels pulled away with 17 unanswered points down the stretch.
Meanwhile, Ball State (1-3) was handed its third consecutive loss (28-20) after squandering a fourth quarter lead last Saturday at Western Kentucky.
This is the 28th lifetime meeting between the Kent State and Ball State -- the first since 2013. BSU holds a 20-7 advantage in the series and won that last meeting 27-24. It is the 15th game to be played in Muncie, with the Cards holding an 11-3 lead.
Here is a look at this cross-division matchup
BALL STATE CARDINALS (1-3)
>>> BSU opened the season with an emphatic victory at home over Central Connecticut State before losses in-state at Notre Dame and at Indiana.
>>> Head coach Mike Neu is in his third season as head coach of his alma mater and has a 7-21 record overall (1-5 in MAC play)
>>> The Cardinals dropped their third consecutive game last Saturday, calling to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (Conference USA) 28-20 after holding a 17-3 lead in the third quarter.
>>> The Cardinals offense is averaging 22 points and 438.2 yards.
Senior QB Riley Neal is at the controls of the offense. After missing virtually all of last season with an injury, so far this season Neal has completed 57 percent of his passes (85-for-148) for 839 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He ranks third in passing yards and is sixth in total offense in the conference. In addition, Neal is third on BSU’s all-time passing yardage list with 6,315 yards.
>>> Senior James Gilbert, like Neal, is coming back from an injury that cost him his 2017 seaso. He is the Cards leading rusher with 302 yards and two touchdowns.
>>> Sophomore WR Justin Hall leads receivers with 21 catches for 173 yards -- fourth best in the MAC.
>>> The offensive line has allowed only five sacks in the first four games.
>>> BSU leads the MAC in third down efficiency at 43.9 percent (29-of-66) and is also four-of-five on fourth downs.
>>> The defense has allowed 24 points and 401.5 yards per game, while registering three interceptions, 15 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
>>> BSU’s defense is led by LB Jacob White with 29 total tackles (19 solo). His work also includes a sack, 5.5 tackles for losses, and a pair of pass breakups
>>> The Cardinals are 10-3 lifetime against KSU in Muncie and the two have opened MAC play only once before. That was in 1991, with Ball State winning 28-27.
>>> Mike Neu is one of 22 head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision (three in the MAC) coaching at his alma mater.
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (1-3)
>>> KSU gave the Ole Miss Rebels a game until late in the third quarter when the hosts from the SEC pulled away for a 38-17 win.
>>> The Flashes first score was on a trick play as junior WR Kavious Price found junior RB Jo-El Shaw for the score
>>> QB Woody Barrett completed 24-of-42 passes for 224 yards and also was KSU’s leading rusher with 53 yards and a touchdown
So far this season, the sophomore transfer from Auburn has completed 52.4 percent of his passes (85-for-148) for 826 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. He is fifth in MAC total offense with 249 yards per game
>>> Junior RB Justin Rankin leads the ground game with 45 carries for 263 yards and a touchdown sixth in the MAC
>>> Junior WR Mike Carrigan tops receivers with 19 catches for 205 yards and two scores.
>>> The defense is led by senior LB Matt Bahr with 39 total tackles (23 solo) fifth in MAC defensive statistics, Nick Faulkner is eighth in the MAC, registering four tackles for loss, while CB Jamal Parker is tied for interceptions with two Bahr and Parker (INT) each had 12 total tackles last Saturday against Ole Miss
>>> Head Coach Sean Lewis will be coaching his first MAC game. Only three KSU coaches have ever won their first MAC game (Trevor Rees-1951, Glen Mason-1976 and Jim Corrigal-1994)
>>> KSU is 22-43-2 in MAC openers.
BALL STATE CARDINALS (1-3)
>>> BSU opened the season with an emphatic victory at home over Central Connecticut State before losses in-state at Notre Dame and at Indiana.
>>> Head coach Mike Neu is in his third season as head coach of his alma mater and has a 7-21 record overall (1-5 in MAC play)
>>> The Cardinals dropped their third consecutive game last Saturday, calling to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (Conference USA) 28-20 after holding a 17-3 lead in the third quarter.
>>> The Cardinals offense is averaging 22 points and 438.2 yards.
Senior QB Riley Neal is at the controls of the offense. After missing virtually all of last season with an injury, so far this season Neal has completed 57 percent of his passes (85-for-148) for 839 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He ranks third in passing yards and is sixth in total offense in the conference. In addition, Neal is third on BSU’s all-time passing yardage list with 6,315 yards.
>>> Senior James Gilbert, like Neal, is coming back from an injury that cost him his 2017 seaso. He is the Cards leading rusher with 302 yards and two touchdowns.
>>> Sophomore WR Justin Hall leads receivers with 21 catches for 173 yards -- fourth best in the MAC.
>>> The offensive line has allowed only five sacks in the first four games.
>>> BSU leads the MAC in third down efficiency at 43.9 percent (29-of-66) and is also four-of-five on fourth downs.
>>> The defense has allowed 24 points and 401.5 yards per game, while registering three interceptions, 15 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
>>> BSU’s defense is led by LB Jacob White with 29 total tackles (19 solo). His work also includes a sack, 5.5 tackles for losses, and a pair of pass breakups
>>> The Cardinals are 10-3 lifetime against KSU in Muncie and the two have opened MAC play only once before. That was in 1991, with Ball State winning 28-27.
>>> Mike Neu is one of 22 head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision (three in the MAC) coaching at his alma mater.
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (1-3)
>>> KSU gave the Ole Miss Rebels a game until late in the third quarter when the hosts from the SEC pulled away for a 38-17 win.
>>> The Flashes first score was on a trick play as junior WR Kavious Price found junior RB Jo-El Shaw for the score
>>> QB Woody Barrett completed 24-of-42 passes for 224 yards and also was KSU’s leading rusher with 53 yards and a touchdown
So far this season, the sophomore transfer from Auburn has completed 52.4 percent of his passes (85-for-148) for 826 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. He is fifth in MAC total offense with 249 yards per game
>>> Junior RB Justin Rankin leads the ground game with 45 carries for 263 yards and a touchdown sixth in the MAC
>>> Junior WR Mike Carrigan tops receivers with 19 catches for 205 yards and two scores.
>>> The defense is led by senior LB Matt Bahr with 39 total tackles (23 solo) fifth in MAC defensive statistics, Nick Faulkner is eighth in the MAC, registering four tackles for loss, while CB Jamal Parker is tied for interceptions with two Bahr and Parker (INT) each had 12 total tackles last Saturday against Ole Miss
>>> Head Coach Sean Lewis will be coaching his first MAC game. Only three KSU coaches have ever won their first MAC game (Trevor Rees-1951, Glen Mason-1976 and Jim Corrigal-1994)
>>> KSU is 22-43-2 in MAC openers.
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