FOOTBALL: Kent State vs Bowling Green, Pregame

By David Carducci
Director of New Media

Can the Golden Flashes’ offense play keep away from the Bowling Green offense just as it did last week at UMass?

I’ve talked with a few KSU fans this week who want to see the Flashes open up the gameplan a bit, but my guess is that’s unlikely considering what Paul Haynes said in his video blog this week. This is still a young Kent State offense that is focusing on even younger, less experienced playmakers every week. George Bollas is a redshirt freshman making just his second career start this afternoon, and with ball possession more important than ever this week, look for the Flashes to try their best to run the football, eat clock, and look for some short, high-percentage passes when they throw the football.

The Flashes could still be inventive whene the opportunity arises. The expected return of freshman speedster Antwan Dixon raises those odds. Dixon returns after missing the UMass game due to an injury suffered two weeks ago at Toledo. Also back is Ernest Calhoun, so the Flashes get a bit quicker on offense. They also get stronger up front with the return of Reno Reda, who also missed last week’s game at UMass.

The key to the game is going to be keeping Bowling Green from jumping out to a quick early lead. That has been the norm for Matt Johnson and the Falcons offense. When the Falcons score points in bunches early in the game, they can force opposing offenses to become one-dimensional, taking a great deal of pressure off of the BGSU defense in the process. The Falcons loved it when an already pass-happy UMass offense threw the ball exclusively in an attempt to catch up two weeks ago in a 62-38 BGSU win.

This should be an interesting chess match between Haynes and defensive coordinator Brian George against a Bowling Green coaching staff that is expert in overwhelming opponents with the speed and efficiency of the Falcons spread offense.

Bowling Green has scored 62 and 59 points in its last two games against UMass and Akron, respectively.

I’m anxious to see how KSU’s cornerbacks matchup against a BGSU receiving corps led by Roger Lewis, who may be the most dangerous receiver to play Dix Stadium since Bowling Green’s Freddie Barnes caught 22 passes for 278 yards in a 36-35 win over Kent State. That KSU team had talent in the secondary in Josh Pleasant, Norman Woolfe and Brian Lainhart. This year’s Kent State secondary has similar talent in Demetrius Monday, Najee Murray, Jordan Italiano and Nate Hollley, but more depth in players like Junatez McRae, Nick Cuthbert and Quan Robinson. The only problem there is BGSU’s pace offensively makes it difficult for defenses to get fresh legs onto the field.