Flashes Take on Penn State Saturday

Complete Notes in PDF Golden Flashes Radio on iHeart

Kent State continues its three-game road swing visiting Penn State Saturday at 3:30 inside Beaver Stadium on Big Ten Network. The Golden Flashes will be on a BCS conference opponent's field in back-to-back weekends for the first time since 2010. The last time Kent State traveled east to take on a BCS conference opponent, the Flashes defeated Rutgers 35-23 on Oct. 27, 2012. The Scarlet Knights were 7-0 and ranked No. 15 heading into that contest.

Facts In A Flash
• In the second and third quarters at Tiger Stadium, Kent State outscored LSU 13-10.
• The Golden Flashes will be playing on natural grass for the second straight week, but for only the third time since the start of the 2012 season.
• Kent State has only turned the ball over twice in three games, including no interceptions.
• The Golden Flashes have won six of their last seven true road games.
• The Kent State offense has scored on all six of its trips to the red zone this season.
• Senior Roosevelt Nix is second among active FBS players in career tackles for loss (56.0), fifth in forced fumbles (10) and 14th in sacks (21.5).
• Nix also became Kent State's career leader in tackles for loss with four TFLs vs. Bowling Green.
• Senior Tyshon Goode made his 150th career reception at LSU, which is two shy of second place among Kent State's career leaders.
• Junior tailback Trayion Durham improved to 2-for-2 this year on converting fourth down runs into first downs. The previous week he scored his 19th career touchdown against Bowling Green.
• Redshirt freshman Colin Reardon has completed 66 percent of his passes in three games.
• Senior all-purpose threat Dri Archer returned to action at LSU and made his first catch, but did not return after the first quarter.
• Sophomore Anthony Melchiori improved to 3-for-3 on field goal attempts inside 40 yards and matched a season-long 62-yard punt.

The All-Time Series
Penn State leads the all-time series with Kent State 3-0, with all three victories coming at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions most recently defeated the Golden Flashes in 2010 (24-0). Tyshon Goode made three catches for 24 yards in the at game, while Dri Archer had seven carries for 26 yards. Darius Polk and Roosevelt Nix made four tackles each.

TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game can be seen on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Chuck Long (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. Dan Scotchmer will be Saturday's 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 9)
• Bill O'Brien (Brown '92) is 10-5 in his second season at Penn State after being named 2012 National Coach of the Year by three organizations. O'Brien was also a unanimous choice for Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading the Nittany Lions to a 6-2 mark in conference play. Also a quarterbacks coach, he helped Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin break 10 program season and career passing records. Prior to Penn State, O'Brien was an assistant coach with the New England Patriots for five seasons and served as the offensive coordinator in 2011.

Flashes against Big Ten
Saturday marks Kent State's 11th meeting against a program currently playing in the Big Ten. The Golden Flashes are a combined 0-10 all-time against six different Big Ten opponents with their most recent meeting coming in 2010 at Penn State. Next season, the Golden Flashes will visit Ohio State for the third time in program history.

PREVIEWING PENN STATE
• Penn State's football tradition includes seven undefeated seasons since 1966, the most in the nation and 837 program victories, the fifth most in the nation.

• The Nittany Lions came away with a convincing 45-7 victory over Eastern Michigan on Sept. 7 in their most recent matchup with a MAC program.

• Penn State ranks in the nation's top 30 in passing offense, pass efficiency, total defense and punt return average.

• The Nittany Lion offense is averaging 461 yards per game.

• Three Penn State ball carriers have combined for 535 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in three games.

• The Lion offense has scored on all 10 of its trips to the redzone.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
• Freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg has completed 72 percent of his passes for 851 yards and four touchdowns.

• Coming off an All-Big Ten first team selection in 2012, junior receiver Allen Robinson leads the team with 23 catches, 405 yards and three touchdowns.

• Junior running back Zach Zwinach ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns against UCF.

• Senior Glenn Carson is in his third season as the starting middle linebacker coming off an 85-tackle season in 2012. Carson has 22 tackles this year, including 1.5 for loss.

• Senior defensive tackle DaQuan Jones leads the Lions with 23 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and two sacks.

• Senior safety Stephen Obeng-Agyapong has intercepted a pass, forced and recovered a fumble and has made 15 tackles.

• Senior kicker Sam Ficken has made 15 of his last 16 field goal attempts.

Kent State University Athletics

Related Videos

Footer