KENT, Ohio -- On the heels of an eye-opening performance at Illinois, Kent State fans have more reason to be optimistic for the remainder of the 2018 season, beginning with the home opener Saturday against Howard. The Golden Flashes host the Bison at 3:30 on Parents & Families Weekend as the FlashFAST era makes its Dix Stadium debut. The Flashes' new look offense and defense began to take shape at Illinois as Kent State jumped out a 17-3 halftime lead. Preventing the program's first win against the Big Ten was an Illini fourth-and-goal stop late in the game.
Facts In A Flash
• The Flashes' 84 offensive plays at Illinois were the most in the program's last 35 games.
• Kent State's 28 completed passes were its most in the last 37 games.
• Sophomore transfer Woody Barrett put up unprecedented numbers (387 yards total offense) for a Kent State quarterback in a season opener.
• Antwan Dixon returned to the field, following a long, life-threatening battle with aplastic anemia and scored the first touchdown of the season.
• Fellow wide receiver Mike Carrigan made a career-high eight catches and scored his fourth career touchdown.
• Senior All-MAC First Team inside linebacker Jim Jones led the defense with 11 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery at Illinois. He led the Flashes with 98 tackles and 6.0 sacks last season.
• In December, Sean Lewis (now 32) became the youngest FBS head coach.
• Junior center Nate Warnock recently earned the No. 54 jersey, honoring the late Jason Bitsko.
• Junior safety Jamal Parker made 10 tackles at Illinois (8 solo). He finished fourth in the MAC in passes defended last year.
• Senior linebacker Matt Bahr was named to the Wuerffel Trophy and Campbell Trophy Watch Lists.
• Kent State returned 11 players who have earned Academic All-MAC honors in their career and two MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes.
All-Time Series
Last year was the first meeting between Kent State and Howard. The Golden Flashes scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to hold off the upset-minded Bison 38-31. One week earlier Howard shocked UNLV. Justin Rankin and Raekwon James each caught touchdown passes. The Golden Flashes are 4-1 all-time against the MEAC.
TV/Video/Radio
Saturday's game game can be seen on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (analyst), who are calling the Kent State-Howard matchup for the second straight year. The game can be heard live on 640 WHLO and the free Golden Flashes Radio channel on iHeartRadio with a one-hour pregame show. Ty Linder will handle the play-by-play duties and is joined by 10th-year color analyst Rob Polinsky. Jacob Pavilack will be on the sideline. By 2017, iHeartRadio reached over 100 million registered users.
Looking Like a Veteran
In his first career FBS start, Woody Barrett completed 28 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 117 yards and one touchdown at Illinois. Spending his first year at Auburn, Barrett played at Copiah-Lincoln Community College last season, before winning the quarterback job at the end of preseason camp.
Barrtett ranks 11th in the nation in total offense (387.0) per game and ninth in the nation in completions per game (28.0). His 117 rushing yards are the second most in the MAC. During one stretch Barrett completed 28-of-34 passes.
A New Look O-Line
Along the with Barrett, the offense saw three linemen make their first career FBS starts at Illinois: junior left tackle Jamil Viaud, freshman left guard Julian Sams and junior right guard Chase Van Hoef. The Flashes do not have a senior among their offensive linemen.
• Former running back Myles Washington made his debut as a starting tight end.
COURTESY: KENT STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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