Flashes Host Homecoming Gold Out with Northern Illinois Saturday
10/2/2013 9:39:00 AM | Football
ESPN3 Complete Game Notes in PDF
Following a 32-14 road victory at Western Michigan, Kent State can put itself back in the thick of a Mid-American Conference title hunt Saturday, hosting No. 23 Northern Illinois. The Golden Flashes' 2013 homecoming is also a rematch of the 2012 MAC Championship Game that needed to be settled in double overtime. The Huskies have won 15 straight regular season games, but have not played inside Dix Stadium during that span.
Facts In A Flash
• The Flashes have won 13 of their last 15 conference games, including a 13-1 mark against current MAC teams since the midway point of 2011.
• Kent State has won nine of its last 10 home games.
• The Golden Flashes' offense picked up 26 first downs at WMU, its most in 15 games.
• Kent State's defense allowed only 13 first downs, the fewest by an opponent in 15 games.
• Senior Dri Archer played his first full game of the season, bringing back his big play ability with a 33-yard run and a 31-yard touchdown catch.
• Junior tailback Trayion Durham ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns at WMU.
• Senior Roosevelt Nix is second among active FBS players in career tackles for loss (59.0), fifth in forced fumbles (10) and 14th in sacks (21.5).
• Senior Tyshon Goode is now alone second place among Kent State's career reception leaders with 157.
• Junior cornerback Dylan Farrington has made interceptions in each of his last two games.
• Junior tight end Casey Pierce made his team-leading third touchdown grab at WMU.
• Redshirt freshman Colin Reardon threw his fifth and sixth touchdown passes of the season.
• Behind, sophomore Anthony Melchiori the Flashes rank 15th in the nation in net punting and lead the MAC in kickoff coverage.
Gold Out
Kent State fans are encouraged to wear gold Saturday for a Dix Stadium Gold Out. Gold pom poms and thunder sticks will be distributed throughout the stadium.
The All-time Series
Northern Illinois leads the all-time series with Kent State 17-7 and has won the last six meetings. The Flashes last victory over the Huskies came in 2001. The Huskies have won 10 of the last 11 meetings, including the last meeting at Dix Stadium in 2008 during a November snowstorm. In last year's MAC Championship game, Kent State scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime, where a Jordan Lynch touchdown run in double OT made the difference in a 44-37 NIU win. Dri Archer, Tim Erjavec and Zack Hitchens all had touchdowns. Trayion Durham ran for 72 yards.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game can be seen on Time Warner Sports and ESPN3 with Mike Cairns (play-by-play) and Frank Stams (color).
All Kent State games can be heard live on 640 WHLO and Golden Flashes Radio on iHeartRadio. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined in the booth for the fourth year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. Matt Miller is the sideline reporter. The iHeartRadio channel works on a PC, smart phone or tablet.
WebSite, Twitter & Youtube
For Kent State football stories, statistics, photos, video and more, visit KentStateSports.com. For daily football updates follow @ksuathletics on Twitter. For an extensive video library visit the GoldenFlashesTV channel on YouTube.
The Coaches
• Paul Haynes became the first Kent State head coach to win his debut since 1988, a feat not accomplished by the previous five head coaches. Haynes was a two-time all-conference defensive back at Kent State from 1987-91, despite joining as a walk-on. He returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 1999 and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2000. After seven seasons on an Ohio State staff that won six Big Ten titles (2005-11), Haynes spent the 2012 season as defensive coordinator at Arkansas. (For a complete Haynes bio see page 10)
• Rod Carey (Indiana '93) made his head coaching debut at the 2013 Orange Bowl and has led the Huskies to a 4-0 start this season. Carey served as NIU's offensive line coach during its 2011 MAC Championship season and was the offensive coordinator during the Huskies' 2012 MAC championship run. He was also the offensive line coach at North Dakota for three seasons (2008-10) and served in the same role at Illinois State in 2007.
Flashes Against the West
Saturday will be Kent State's second meeting of the season against a MAC West opponent. The Golden Flashes have won their last six conference games against West Division foes, dating back to 2011.
Rushing Battle is Key
The Golden Flashes outgained the Broncos on the ground 276-151. Since last season, Kent State is 12-1 when outgaining opponents on the ground and 1-5 when the opposition runs for more yards.
• Kent State's 276 yards rushing at Western Michigan were its most in eight games and its 452 yards of total offense were its most in nine games.
As Is a Strong First Half
Since the beginning of last season, Kent State is 11-0 when leading at halftime and 1-6 when trailing at the break.
Breaking Ground at WMU
Kent State's win at Western Michigan snapped the Flashes' seven-game losing streak in Kalamazoo. Head Coach Paul Haynes was a sophomore in 1988, the last time Kent State won at Waldo Stadium.
Piercing the Coverage
Junior Casey Pierce has expanded his role from blocking tight end to scoring threat. During the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Pierce appeared in 23 games, making four catches. This season, he's made nine catches, including three touchdowns.
2-for-2 on Twos
With the help of junior holder Chris Humphrey, the Golden Flashes are 2-for-2 on two-point conversion attempts this season. Humphrey ran for two against Bowling Green and completed a pass in the end zone to long snapper Chad Bushley.
Reardon's Solid Start
Redshirt freshman Colin Reardon completed passes when Kent State needed it most at Western Michigan, with a pair of TD tosses, including a 31-yard strike to Dri Archer on a 3rd-and-6. Reardon has just two interceptions in five games did not throw an pick until his 105th passing attempt of the season.
After winning a closely contested quarterback job for week one, he completed 75 percent of his passes (21-of-28), including his first five attempts totaling 194 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Up Next
Kent State continues a string of five road trips in six weeks, visiting Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. The Flashes won a 45-43 shootout with the Cardinals last season, highlighted by a 15-play, 86-yard drive in the final two minutes.
Archer's Return
Senior Dri Archer's touchdown at Western Michigan was the 30th of his career, tying him for fifth place among Kent State's career leaders.
Western Michigan kicked away from Archer on all three kickoffs, giving the Flashes an average starting field position on their own 37 yard line.
Archer averaged 12.2 yards per carry and 12.0 yards per catch on six carries and four catches.
The 2012 All-American sat for the better part of four games. He was injured in the first quarter of the opening game against Liberty and appeared briefly in the first quarter of the LSU game. Last season, Archer earned All-MAC First Team honors as a running back and a kick returner.
Following a 32-14 road victory at Western Michigan, Kent State can put itself back in the thick of a Mid-American Conference title hunt Saturday, hosting No. 23 Northern Illinois. The Golden Flashes' 2013 homecoming is also a rematch of the 2012 MAC Championship Game that needed to be settled in double overtime. The Huskies have won 15 straight regular season games, but have not played inside Dix Stadium during that span.
Facts In A Flash
• The Flashes have won 13 of their last 15 conference games, including a 13-1 mark against current MAC teams since the midway point of 2011.
• Kent State has won nine of its last 10 home games.
• The Golden Flashes' offense picked up 26 first downs at WMU, its most in 15 games.
• Kent State's defense allowed only 13 first downs, the fewest by an opponent in 15 games.
• Senior Dri Archer played his first full game of the season, bringing back his big play ability with a 33-yard run and a 31-yard touchdown catch.
• Junior tailback Trayion Durham ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns at WMU.
• Senior Roosevelt Nix is second among active FBS players in career tackles for loss (59.0), fifth in forced fumbles (10) and 14th in sacks (21.5).
• Senior Tyshon Goode is now alone second place among Kent State's career reception leaders with 157.
• Junior cornerback Dylan Farrington has made interceptions in each of his last two games.
• Junior tight end Casey Pierce made his team-leading third touchdown grab at WMU.
• Redshirt freshman Colin Reardon threw his fifth and sixth touchdown passes of the season.
• Behind, sophomore Anthony Melchiori the Flashes rank 15th in the nation in net punting and lead the MAC in kickoff coverage.
Gold Out
Kent State fans are encouraged to wear gold Saturday for a Dix Stadium Gold Out. Gold pom poms and thunder sticks will be distributed throughout the stadium.
The All-time Series
Northern Illinois leads the all-time series with Kent State 17-7 and has won the last six meetings. The Flashes last victory over the Huskies came in 2001. The Huskies have won 10 of the last 11 meetings, including the last meeting at Dix Stadium in 2008 during a November snowstorm. In last year's MAC Championship game, Kent State scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime, where a Jordan Lynch touchdown run in double OT made the difference in a 44-37 NIU win. Dri Archer, Tim Erjavec and Zack Hitchens all had touchdowns. Trayion Durham ran for 72 yards.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game can be seen on Time Warner Sports and ESPN3 with Mike Cairns (play-by-play) and Frank Stams (color).
All Kent State games can be heard live on 640 WHLO and Golden Flashes Radio on iHeartRadio. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined in the booth for the fourth year in a row by color analyst Rob Polinsky. Matt Miller is the sideline reporter. The iHeartRadio channel works on a PC, smart phone or tablet.
WebSite, Twitter & Youtube
For Kent State football stories, statistics, photos, video and more, visit KentStateSports.com. For daily football updates follow @ksuathletics on Twitter. For an extensive video library visit the GoldenFlashesTV channel on YouTube.
The Coaches
• Paul Haynes became the first Kent State head coach to win his debut since 1988, a feat not accomplished by the previous five head coaches. Haynes was a two-time all-conference defensive back at Kent State from 1987-91, despite joining as a walk-on. He returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 1999 and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2000. After seven seasons on an Ohio State staff that won six Big Ten titles (2005-11), Haynes spent the 2012 season as defensive coordinator at Arkansas. (For a complete Haynes bio see page 10)
• Rod Carey (Indiana '93) made his head coaching debut at the 2013 Orange Bowl and has led the Huskies to a 4-0 start this season. Carey served as NIU's offensive line coach during its 2011 MAC Championship season and was the offensive coordinator during the Huskies' 2012 MAC championship run. He was also the offensive line coach at North Dakota for three seasons (2008-10) and served in the same role at Illinois State in 2007.
Flashes Against the West
Saturday will be Kent State's second meeting of the season against a MAC West opponent. The Golden Flashes have won their last six conference games against West Division foes, dating back to 2011.
Rushing Battle is Key
The Golden Flashes outgained the Broncos on the ground 276-151. Since last season, Kent State is 12-1 when outgaining opponents on the ground and 1-5 when the opposition runs for more yards.
• Kent State's 276 yards rushing at Western Michigan were its most in eight games and its 452 yards of total offense were its most in nine games.
As Is a Strong First Half
Since the beginning of last season, Kent State is 11-0 when leading at halftime and 1-6 when trailing at the break.
Breaking Ground at WMU
Kent State's win at Western Michigan snapped the Flashes' seven-game losing streak in Kalamazoo. Head Coach Paul Haynes was a sophomore in 1988, the last time Kent State won at Waldo Stadium.
Piercing the Coverage
Junior Casey Pierce has expanded his role from blocking tight end to scoring threat. During the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Pierce appeared in 23 games, making four catches. This season, he's made nine catches, including three touchdowns.
2-for-2 on Twos
With the help of junior holder Chris Humphrey, the Golden Flashes are 2-for-2 on two-point conversion attempts this season. Humphrey ran for two against Bowling Green and completed a pass in the end zone to long snapper Chad Bushley.
Reardon's Solid Start
Redshirt freshman Colin Reardon completed passes when Kent State needed it most at Western Michigan, with a pair of TD tosses, including a 31-yard strike to Dri Archer on a 3rd-and-6. Reardon has just two interceptions in five games did not throw an pick until his 105th passing attempt of the season.
After winning a closely contested quarterback job for week one, he completed 75 percent of his passes (21-of-28), including his first five attempts totaling 194 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Up Next
Kent State continues a string of five road trips in six weeks, visiting Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. The Flashes won a 45-43 shootout with the Cardinals last season, highlighted by a 15-play, 86-yard drive in the final two minutes.
Archer's Return
Senior Dri Archer's touchdown at Western Michigan was the 30th of his career, tying him for fifth place among Kent State's career leaders.
Western Michigan kicked away from Archer on all three kickoffs, giving the Flashes an average starting field position on their own 37 yard line.
Archer averaged 12.2 yards per carry and 12.0 yards per catch on six carries and four catches.
The 2012 All-American sat for the better part of four games. He was injured in the first quarter of the opening game against Liberty and appeared briefly in the first quarter of the LSU game. Last season, Archer earned All-MAC First Team honors as a running back and a kick returner.
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