Who: K-State vs. Kent State
When: September 17, 2011 | 6:00 p.m. CDT
Where: Manhattan, Kan. | Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000)
Media: FCS College Sports | 1350 KMAN
A dreary day awaits fans of the two K-State's today in Manhattan, with a 50 percent chance of rain and high temperatures barely reaching the 70s. Is this October?
The Wildcats come into this game off a bye week following their opening-game 10-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky. Kent State is 0-2 after a 48-7 loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a 20-12 loss to Louisiana at home. Hit the jump for more on the Golden Flashes.
If the two teams' first three games are any indication, this could be a low-scoring affair. We all know about the Wildcats' struggles. Kent State has scored a grand total of 19 points through two games, although only scoring seven against an Alabama defense that has suffocated its opposition thus far is no reason to hang your hear. But against Louisiana last week, the Golden Flashes managed a meager 186 total yards on offense. That total included a woeful 74 yards rushing on 34 attempts.
(No. 3) directs the offense, which isn't really a compliment. The junior from Little Rock, Ark. (that one's for you, ArkieCat), has completed a pitiful 44 percent of his passes for only 213 yards on the season. Keith has two interceptions to go with two touchdowns.
Even if we factor out the 22 yards Kent State lost on sacks, Kent State still only gained 94 yards rushing. Senior Jacquise Terry (No. 22) "leads the way" with 20 carries for 50 yards on the season, with true freshman Antony Meray (No. 28) hot on his heels at 14 carries for 40 yards.
lined up across from No. 18 for Kent State. The next three best receivers for Kent State have caught only four passes each.
Defense is where the Golden Flashes really shine, however. Even with Alabama's 48-point, 482-yard outburst in the first game, Kent State is only allowing an average of 276 yards per game. That was obviously helped by limiting UL to 159(!) yards in the second game. The defensive unit is legit, having finished 10th in the country in total defense last season, allowing only 306 yards per game (97 rushing, 209 passing).
(No. 51) has tallied 2.5 TFL.
and the K-State offense have a tough task today, as they will have to protect the ball so as not to put the defense in bad situations while still trying to figure out a way to keep the chains moving against a stingy run defense.
Go Cats!