Flashes Open MAC Play Saturday Against Bowling Green
9/3/2013 3:19:00 PM | Football
Game Notes in PDF Watch ESPN
Mid-American Conference play opens Saturday, when the East Division's top two teams from 2012 collide as Kent State hosts Bowling Green at noon inside Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes and Falcons each won their opening game with solid defensive performances. Saturday will also be the first conference game under head coach Paul Haynes, who won his debut against Liberty 17-10.
Facts In A Flash
• The Golden Flashes extended their regular season winning streak to 11 games, the fourth longest in the nation.
• Kent State has also won 12 straight conference games against current MAC teams, including an 8-0 mark last season.
• The Flashes' opener marked the first time since 2003 Kent State did not force a turnover and still won the game.
• Kent State has rung the Starner Victory Bell in each of its last nine home games, dating back to a 2011 win over Bowling Green. The Flashes nine game home winning streak is tied for the fourth longest in the FBS.
• The Flashes' defense held Liberty to 33 rushing yards, which ranks fifth in the nation.
• The Flashes also rank third in the nation with a 38:50 time of possession.
• The fourth quarter comeback marked the first Kent State victory after trailing at the third quarter's end since 2008.
• Junior Trayion Durham eclipsed 90 yards rushing (92) for 11th time in his career against Liberty.
• Junior Chris Humphrey caught six passes for 88 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown.
• Junior tight end Casey Pierce made his first career touchdown catch.
• Senior Roosevelt Nix is second among active FBS players in career tackles for loss (52.0), fifth in forced fumbles (10) and 14th in sacks (20.5).
• Sophomore Anthony Melchiori made his debut as the starting kicker by nailing a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to tie the game.
• Paul Haynes became the first KSU head coach to win his debut since 1988.
The All-Time Series
Kent State has played Bowling Green more than any other opponent as the series dates back to 1920. Saturday will be the 81st meeting. Last year the Flashes' win at Doyt Perry Stadium not only clinched the program's first East Division title, but also gave themselves a three-game series winning streak against the Falcons for the first time. BGSU leads the series 55-19-6. When the teams last met in Kent in 2011, the Falcons trailed 20-15, with the ball in the final minute, before Roosevelt Nix returned a fumble for a touchdown.
TV/video/radio
Saturday's game can be seen on the ESPN Regional package including WEWS Channel 5 in Cleveland with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Doug Graber (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 will be 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 was a two-time all-conference defensive back at Kent State from 1987-91, despite joining as a walk-on. Haynes 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 13)
• Dave Clawson (Williams '89) is 81-77 as a head coach and 23-28 in his fifth season at Bowling Green. Clawson led the Falcons to the Humanitarian Bowl in his first season and a Military Bowl appearance last season. He carries a 16-16 mark in conference games. Clawson was named national Division I-AA Coach of the Year at both Richmond and Fordham, where he was also a two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year. Clawson led Richmond to an FCS semifinal appearance.
Mid-American Conference play opens Saturday, when the East Division's top two teams from 2012 collide as Kent State hosts Bowling Green at noon inside Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes and Falcons each won their opening game with solid defensive performances. Saturday will also be the first conference game under head coach Paul Haynes, who won his debut against Liberty 17-10.
Facts In A Flash
• The Golden Flashes extended their regular season winning streak to 11 games, the fourth longest in the nation.
• Kent State has also won 12 straight conference games against current MAC teams, including an 8-0 mark last season.
• The Flashes' opener marked the first time since 2003 Kent State did not force a turnover and still won the game.
• Kent State has rung the Starner Victory Bell in each of its last nine home games, dating back to a 2011 win over Bowling Green. The Flashes nine game home winning streak is tied for the fourth longest in the FBS.
• The Flashes' defense held Liberty to 33 rushing yards, which ranks fifth in the nation.
• The Flashes also rank third in the nation with a 38:50 time of possession.
• The fourth quarter comeback marked the first Kent State victory after trailing at the third quarter's end since 2008.
• Junior Trayion Durham eclipsed 90 yards rushing (92) for 11th time in his career against Liberty.
• Junior Chris Humphrey caught six passes for 88 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown.
• Junior tight end Casey Pierce made his first career touchdown catch.
• Senior Roosevelt Nix is second among active FBS players in career tackles for loss (52.0), fifth in forced fumbles (10) and 14th in sacks (20.5).
• Sophomore Anthony Melchiori made his debut as the starting kicker by nailing a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to tie the game.
• Paul Haynes became the first KSU head coach to win his debut since 1988.
The All-Time Series
Kent State has played Bowling Green more than any other opponent as the series dates back to 1920. Saturday will be the 81st meeting. Last year the Flashes' win at Doyt Perry Stadium not only clinched the program's first East Division title, but also gave themselves a three-game series winning streak against the Falcons for the first time. BGSU leads the series 55-19-6. When the teams last met in Kent in 2011, the Falcons trailed 20-15, with the ball in the final minute, before Roosevelt Nix returned a fumble for a touchdown.
TV/video/radio
Saturday's game can be seen on the ESPN Regional package including WEWS Channel 5 in Cleveland with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Doug Graber (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 will be 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 was a two-time all-conference defensive back at Kent State from 1987-91, despite joining as a walk-on. Haynes 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 13)
• Dave Clawson (Williams '89) is 81-77 as a head coach and 23-28 in his fifth season at Bowling Green. Clawson led the Falcons to the Humanitarian Bowl in his first season and a Military Bowl appearance last season. He carries a 16-16 mark in conference games. Clawson was named national Division I-AA Coach of the Year at both Richmond and Fordham, where he was also a two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year. Clawson led Richmond to an FCS semifinal appearance.
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