Yager Stadium -- Oxford, OH
Kent State came tantalizingly close to getting its second win of the 2018 season last week -- and a big win it would have been. The Flashes never trailed until preseason MAC East favorite Ohio pushed across a winning score with just 1:28 remaining for a 27-26 victory.
KSU goes back out on the road this week, facing a Miami RedHawks team that bounced back for its second win of the season at Akron last Saturday. It was Miami's second MAC win in three outings as the 'Hawks lost a heart-breaker at home to Western Michigan the previous week.
The most recent meeting in the KSU-MU series went to Kent State. It was one of just two Flashes victories in 2017. Miami was up 14-3 at the half but could not score again. Two third quarter TDs by KSU -- one an 84-yard pass play on first down -- closed the scoring in a 17-14 Flashes win.
The last meeting at Miami was also close, with MU rallying from a 14-3 third stanza deficit to post an 18-14 victory. Winless to that point, the RedHawks reeled off six straight and went to a bowl game.
Most fans and analysts felt Miami had turned the corner, but it slumped to 5-7 in 2017 and struggled early this season.
Miami holds a 48-17 advantage all-time in the series and is 25-7 versus the Flashes in Oxford. KSU's last win at Yager Stadium was 2012, when Kent State prevailed in a 48-32 slugfest. More recent games, however, have been lower scoring.
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (1-5, 0-2)
>>>> The Flashes turned the page and brought in Sean Lewis as head coach this year. Upon taking the position, he became the youngest head coach among FBS teams. While Kent State has just one win to its credit, last week's solid performance was just the latest sign that KSU is not a team to overlook.
>>>> Kent State out-gained Ohio 472-414 last week. Of that total, 201 came on the ground.
>>>> Justin Rankin carried 16 times for a 123 yards with a long of 41.
>>>> Sophomore QB Woody Barrett contributed 61 rushing yards on 12 trips. Through the air, he completed 27 of 35 for 271 yards. Rankin tossed two touchdowns and two picks. He was sacked twice.
>>>> Freshman Isaiah McKoy caught eight balls for 116 yards and a score., while juniors Trey Harrell and Antwan Dixon combined for 11 receptions and 88 yards.
>>>> Kent State hurt its own cause against Ohio with 11 penalties for 100 yards. The Flashes are last among MAC teams, averaging 94.7 ypg.
>>>> Ohio and Kent State combined for seven turnovers -- four by the visiting Bobcats, who lost three fumbles. KSU lost one fumble and threw a pair of picks.
>>>> Kent State tops the league in red zone defense, holding opponents to scores 66.6 percent of the time.
>>>> The Flashes are ninth in scoring offense (24.8 ppg) and 11th in scoring defense (37.5 ppg). They are fifth in total offense (418.0) and last/12th in total defense 508.8 ypg). However, KSU is tied for second in sacks, bringing down opponent QBs 14 times.
MIAMI REDHAWKS (2-3, 2-1 MAC)
>>>> The RedHawks have been saddled with injuries since the Minnesota game, but they got RB Kenny Young back for limited duty Saturday. He had just three carries but turned two of them into touchdowns and added another score on one of five pass receptions. The senior's 74-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter helped break the game open for MU.
>>>> Senior Alonzo Smith is a key contributor in the run game and increased his workload during Young's absence. Smith picked up 164 yards on 19 carries as MU picked up its first MAC victory of 2018 at Bowling Green
>>>> After Ulysses Gilbert III put Akron ahead by taking a put return fumble 46 yards for a score, Miami scored the next 27 points.
>>>> The RedHawks are now plus-4 in turnover margin after a big day by Miami's defense against Akron. The Zips threw three interceptions a lost two fumbles, while MU lost one fumble (the punt return) and tossed one pick.
>>>> Linebacker Brad Koenig earned MAC East Defensive Player of the Week honors after grabbing two interceptions. Lineman Jordan Rigg fell on a ball in the end zone for his second touchdown in two weeks.
>>>> All-MAC receiver James Gardner is out indefinitely. Jack Sorenson. Luke Mayock and Dominique Robinson have been the key targets, with the latter his first touchdowns two weeks ago and leading MU with five receptions for 77 yards against Akron. Sorenson, Robinson and TE Andrew Homer had never caught a pass for Miami prior to this season.
>>>> Young often gets his touches through Miami's passing game and, despite missing time, is second on the team with 21 catches.
>>>> Quarterback Gus Ragland completed 24 of 33 for 214 yards with one TD and one interception at Akron.
For the year, Ragland has completed 114 of 187 attempts (61.0%) with nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
>>>> Miami is tied with Western Michigan for second least sacks allowed (4). It is also tied for second in sacks of opponents (14).
>>>> The RedHawks are 2-2 against KSU since Chuck Martin came on board. During that time, they have averaged just 11.5 ppg.
>>>> Ragland missed last year's Kent State game. Billy Bahl, no longer with the Miami program, filled in, completing 12 of 29 for 174 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions -- the game's only turnovers.
>>>> Despite a number of key injuries, Miami has recently improved its scoring. The RedHawks have put 118 points on the board over the last three games, surpassing 38 points in all three contests.
>>>> De'Andre Montgomery leads MU defenders with 51 tackles (28 solo). Koenig is next with 43 stops, including 3.0 sacks, tied with Doug Costin for the team lead. Costin also has a team-high 6.5 tfl.
>>>> After relatively few opportunities early in the year, kicker Sam Sloman has been active lately. He has converted 17 of 18 PATs and 6 of 7 field goals. The only field goal miss was a 48-yard attempt against Western Michigan, a game in which he also missed his only PAT.