Let’s get to know Kent State
LARAMIE -- Kent State, huh?
If you're like me, you don't know much about the Golden Flashes. They play in the MAC. They won seven games this fall. Like Wyoming, they knocked off the conference champion, Northern Illinois.
They also lost to the Huskies in Saturday's MAC title game in Detroit.
The Cowboys and Flashes will meet in the annual Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Dec. 21 inside Boise's Albertsons Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MT.
These two teams have never played.
This school is probably mostly known for a tragic event that had nothing to do with sports. That was the Kent State Massacre where four students were killed during a peace rally against the country's involvement in the Vietnam War.
Despite playing in just their fifth bowl game, the Flashes do have some serious football history. Here are just a few of the names this school can boast about:
* Nick Saban
* James Harrison
* Julian Edelman
* Jack Lambert
* Lou Saban
* Gary Pinkel
* Josh Cribbs
* Antonio Gates
* Lou Holtz
* Jack Lengyel (Coach at Marshall after plane crash)
* Paul Warfield
They also have their fair share of random celebrities:
* Michael Keaton
* Joe Walsh (Eagles)
* Arsenio Hall
* Don King (Boxing promoter - crazy hair)
* Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo - whip it)
* Thurman Munson (Yankees)
* Drew Carey
OK, let's get to the important stuff and take a look at this current Golden Flashes' squad by the numbers:
8
Statistically, this is the best offense the Cowboys will see in 2021. The Flashes are putting up numbers -- and points -- in bunches. They average 483 yards per game and have found the end zone 52 times.
2,922
That's how many yards Dustin Crum has thrown for this fall to go along with 16 touchdown tosses. The dual-threat senior has also rushed for 633 yards and 11 scores. Crum is ranked 28th in the nation in yards through the air.
1,080
Marquez Cooper eclipsed the 1,000-mark on the ground in 2021. He also has 11 rushing touchdowns. Kent State features three ball carriers who have more than 600 rushing yards.
1,124
Crum's favorite target, Dante Cephas, has rolled up this many yards through the air. He has also added eight touchdowns. The Flashes have four receivers who have hauled in more than 300 yards worth of passes.
44
That's where Kent State ranks in terms of third-down conversions. They are successful .425% of the time (79-186).
122
That's where Kent State's defense ranks our of 130 FBS programs. These guys give up 466 yards of total offense per game. They have also allowed 58 touchdowns.
106
That's Kent State's ranking when it comes to rushing defense. They give up 190 yards per outing on the ground, including 34 touchdowns.
123
That's where the Flashes rank in terms of pass defense, allowing more than 276 yards per game through the air.
103
Leading tackler Dean Clark has this many stops from the safety spot in 2021.
32.6
That's how many points Kent State puts up per game on offense.
2
The Flashes have the second-best turnover margin in the country. They are plus-14 on the season.
106
That's where the Flashed are ranked in terms of sacks allowed. The big guys up front have given up 36 of those in 13 games.
108
Kent State has just 20 sacks of its own this fall. They are ranked three spots behind the Cowboys.