EVAN MEYER, MIKE SMITH
Two of the three MAC East leaders meet Saturday when Kent State hosts Miami at Dix Stadium.
Operating under a new head coach, the Flashes (3-4, 2-1 MAC) have already won more games than all of last year (2-7, 1-7 MAC) and will be slight favorites on their home field. They nearly pulled off a big road upset last week, hanging with . . .
With Miami’s 27-24 victory over Northern Illinois, it created a three-way tie atop the MAC East. Ohio, Kent State and Miami all have 2-1 MAC records.
The RedHawks pounded KSU last year 31-6 in Oxford, but much has changed since then. The Flashes appear much improved in their second year under head coach Sean Lewis.
Miami, meanwhile, graduated a huge senior class that included senior quarterback Gus Ragland, a pair of quality running backs and some key defenders. True freshman Brett Gabbert has moved into the quarterback spot, and the RedHawks have been scrambling to recover from numerous injuries incurred during a brutal non-conference schedule.
While MU has demonstrated it can win and/or hang with its MAC competition, it has yet to win on the road. If it hopes to remain in the MAC East crown hunt, it needs to find a way to win in road tilts against Kent State and Ohio over the next two outings.
at
Kent State Golden Flashes (3-4, 2-1 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 26 -- 3:30 p.m. ET
Dix Stadium -- Kent, OH
ESPN+
ABOUT MIAMI
>> The RedHawks offense was hit particularly hard by graduation and injuries mounted to the point where freshmen were moved into the breach in some cases. Jack Sorenson, the RedHawks top returning receiver has been largely unavailable after an injury at Iowa in Week One. The cumulative result has been an offense that sputters at times.
>> Miami is ninth (MAC) in scoring, and last in total offense (272.1 ypg). The RedHawks are 10th in rushing offense (100.6 ypg) and 11th in pass offense (171.6 ypg).
>> What has largely sustained MU, however, are two other phases of football -- defense and special teams.
Senior Maurice Thomas is a major threat returning kickoffs/punts. Kicker Sam Sloman has a strong and relatively accurate leg that shines on both field goals and kickoffs. Punter Kyle Kramer is second among MAC punters, helping MU with field position in the close games that have marked Miami’s MAC battles.
>> The RedHawks have also helped themselves in turnovers for the most part. Their plus-2 margin is third among MAC teams. However, a pick-six interception throw and minus-2 margin against Western Michigan contributed to that loss.
>> Freshman Brett Gabbert has thrown more in recent games. Last week, he completed 15 of 28 passes for 273 yards and one TD. He also ran seven times for 42 yards, helping to keep the chains moving on several drives.
>> Sophomore Jalen Walker and freshman James Maye helped the RedHawks passing game get untracked last week in a win over Northern Illinois. They combined for nine receptions and 203 yards and a 45-yard TD.
>> Junior Jaylon Bester leads the team in rushing, despite missing significant time following an injury at Iowa. His top performance was 107 yards and a TD against Buffalo. However, he had just 32 yards on 14 carries last week against NIU. He did score two TDs in the win.
>> Lb Ryan McWood led Miami with 14 stops and a sack against Northern. Bart Baratti, Sterling Weatherford and Emmanuel Rugamba combined for another 25 hits.
ABOUT KENT STATE
>> Last Saturday, the Golden Flashes saw their two-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Ohio Bobcats in Athens, 45-38.
It was a game that saw 83 total points and 1047 yards of total offense. A close game before the Green and White Bobcats pulled away in the fourth quarter.
>> KSU returns home to Dix Stadium for the first time since September 28 and looks to win three straight home games for the first time since 2012. The Flashes two other home wins were against BGSU and Kennesaw State.
>> QB Dustin Crum had another strong game, completing 24-of-35 passes for 262 yards and a career high four touchdown passes. In addition, Crum rushed for 96 yards.
>> Crum currently has thrown 188 consecutive passes without an interception -- the longest current streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
>> On the season, Crum has completed 71.6 percent of his passes (108-of-151) for 1,139 yards, with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. He has a pass efficiency ratio of 156.9.
>> So far in 2019, Crum has eight completions of 40 yards or more and four of 50 yards or more.
>> KSU is one of two schools in the FBS who still has not thrown an interception (Georgia Southern is the other).
>> DB Qwuantrezz Knight had a career high 12 total tackles against the Bobcats and currently leads the defense with 52 total stops (37 solo).
>> PK Matthew Trickett leads the MAC place kickers in scoring with 55 points.
>> WR Isiah McKoy is fourth in receptions with 35 catches for 441 yards and four touchdowns.