Saturday, October 5, 2013

Kent State vs. Northern Illinois Live Blog


FOURTH QUARTER

15:00 ... Northern starts the quarter at the Kent State 13-yard line.

The Golden Flashes defense has to find a way to slow the Huskies, who have out-gained Kent State 56-to-292 through three quarters. That total includes a 347-to-134 advantage in rushing.

Cameron Stingily already has a career-high 192 yards on 25 attempts.

14:11 ... A couple of breaks for Kent State.

First, an offensive pass interference on 2nd-and-5 from the 13 pushed the ball back to the Northern 28.

Then Northern forced to burn its third and final timeout of the second half trying to get off a play on 3rd-and-11.

13:45 ... Kent State can't take advantage of the breaks as Lynch finds Tomylee Lewis for 13 yards to the Kent State 6 on 3rd-and-11.

13:22 ... Yet another break ... A hold on 2nd and goal from the 1.

13:08 ... The Flashes still can't take advantage as Lynch hits James Spencer for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Short throw to the left, and Spencer runs untouched into end zone. 

Northern Illinois 35, Kent State 24


7:33 ... Northern forced to settle for a field goal after another long drive – a 31-yarder by Sims.

Huskies now up to 658 yards of total offense. That includes 414 rushing on 56 attempts.

Stingily's career rushing high is now up to 226 on 30 attempts.

7:13 ... A nice design by Kent State's offense on a screen to Durham that goes for 34 yards. Reardon looked like he was running some kind of odd option play with Archer running behind him.

Error by officials on what should have been a helmet-to-helmet penalty against Jamaal Bass for a hit on Reardon. The officials picked up the flag. Replay showed it should have been a 15-yard penalty.

4:17 ... Incomplete pass on 4th-and7 from the Northern Illinois 9 effectively ends Kent State's hopes. A nice drive and nearly overcame the blown call by the officials on the hit to Reardon's head. Just came up short.

Amazing considering the inability to slow the Northern Illinois offense that this would have been a one-score game this late if Kent State could have punched that drive into the end zone.


THIRD QUARTER

Some halftime stats:


  • Northern Illinois has out-gained Kent State 385-to-202, with most of damage coming on the ground (a 206-to-87 advantage).
  • Cameron Stinglily has been the difference today. The big Northern back has 124 rushing yards on 16 carries, including touchdown runs of 17 and 2 yards.
  • Northern dared Dri Archer early, kicking off right to the Kent State speedster and paying for it in giving up a 103-yard touchdown return (technically NCAA stats only allow plays to count for 100 yards). Archer also has a 66-yard touchdown catch.
13:57 ... Encouraging start by the Kent State defense, putting the clamps on Stingily on the first series, and then forcing Lynch to throw wildly into his own sideline on third down. Quick three-and-out.

11:37 ... Good for Tyshon Goode! The senior wide receiver gets some redemption after dropping what would have been a game-tying touchdown pass in the second quarter.

His 29-yard touchdown catch on another perfect Colin Reardon throw has put Kent State ahead 24-21. Replay upheld the score. Only needed one foot in, and it looked like he had both feet in at the back of the end zone.

Kent State 24, Northern Illinois 21

7:28 ... Kent State's defense is going to have a tough time watching the tape of some of today's game. To this point, the tackling has been very poor. Several missed tackles allowed Northern to regain the lead on the first touchdown run in the career of James Spencer – a 23-yard run on 2nd-and-14.

Northern Illinois 28, Kent State 24

5:26 ... The Golden Flashes have gone to Dri Archer at tailback for the first time on this series. He gets 12 yards on three carries, and the Flashes move the chains once on a great individual effort on a throw to Humphrey, who caught the ball 2 yards short of the marker and made a great move to get to the marker. Unfortunately, from there the drive stalled.





SECOND QUARTER 

14:08 ... Penalties can be killers, especially when they turn a 39-yard field goal attempt into a more difficult 44-yarder on a soggy field. A false start as Anthony Melchiori was lining up to try to break the tie forced the kicker into a longer attempt that he missed wide right.

12:22 ... Kent State's defense has had a difficult time bringing Northern ball-carriers down on first contact. They have made up for that, however, by getting some pressure on Lynch. That's encouraging considering this is a very good Northern Illinois offensive line that has allowed just three sacks in a season that has already included two wins over Big Ten opponents.

11:58 ... Julian Durden has Kent State on the move with a 48-yard run to the Huskies 36.

10:30 ... An interception ends this Kent State hope. Northern safety Jimmie Ward made a nice play, looking back for the deep throw from Reardon. He was in single coverage on Archer.

9:04 ... Intercepted right back. Jordan Lynch on a deep throw in the end zone... overthrown by about 10 yards and picked by Kent State safety Luke Wollet.

Both offenses going to the air and paying for it. Both teams have had big gains on the ground.

6:16 ... A 54-yard touchdown pass from Lynch to Brown has Northern Illinois on top 14-7 with 6:16 to play. Great job by Lynch standing in and delivering on the money under pressure. Kent State's Darius Polk came clean on a corner blitz and popped Lynch as soon as he released the football.

Northern Illinois 14, Kent State 7

Kent State offense needs to find a way to get something going. So far Dri Archer has only been a factor in the return game with his 100-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Archer has just 2 catches for 3 yards and he hasn't touched the ball in the running game. Look for the Flashes to try to find some different ways to get him the football in space.

5:19 ... Just like that, the Flashes find a way to get the ball into Archer's hands ... and on a 3rd-and-16 throw by Reardon.

A 66-yard touchdown pass from Reardon to Archer ties the score. Archer broke open at midfield, the ball arriving just before a diving gamble by Northern safety Dechane Durante.

Kent State 14, Northern Illinois 14

2:48 ... Kent State just can't bring down Northern Illinois running back Cameron Stingily on first contact. The 244-pound back has broken a season-worth of tackles in the first quarters, and his runs have the Huskies deep in Kent State territory again.

2:24 ... A near fumble by Stingily at the goal line but officials ruled him down at the KSU 1. Looks like the correct call on replay.

The ball is inside the KSU 1, but it looks like it should be spotted about a yard back. No change after review.

2:37 ... Stingly gets the touchdown on a 1-yard plunge. A fair reward for some hard running. His second touchdown of the day.

A too-easy, 10-play, 75-yard drive for the Huskies in just 2:42.

Northern Illinois 21, Kent State 14

1:41 ... A late hit on the sideline by Northern could help Kent State answer. A 13-yard out from Reardon to Humphrey, then tack on the 15 yard personal foul and the Flashes are at the Huskies' 21.

1:34 ... Tyshon Goode with a painful drop in the end zone ... wide open and a perfect throw on the hands by Colin Reardon, who froze the receiver on a beautiful pump fake.

Kent State needs to find a way to make up for the mistake.

0:37 ... After a good, hard run by Trayion Durham on 3rd-and-1 picks up the first down, a 6-yard slant to Humphrey has Kent State at the Northern 3. Timeout leaves the Flashes with one more to burn.

0:31 ... A sweep to Durham to the left on second down loses 4 yards back to the Northern 7... That's the play that always seemed to work on fourth down last season. Another timeout burned.

0:20 ... Disappointing to have to settle for three after the drop in the end zone, but a 24-yard Anthony Melchiori field goal has cut into the Northern Illinois lead.

Northern Illinois 21, Kent State 17



FIRST QUARTER


 15:00 ... The officials are off to a good start, announcing that "Northern Michigan" had won the coin toss.

For the record, Northern Michigan was at home today, losing to Hillsdale 27-17.

10:37 ... A disappointing start for Kent State ... Offense with a quick three-and-out followed by an easy touchdown march by Northern Illinois' offense. The Huskies needed 11 plays to go 69 yards, ending in a 17-yard run by Cameron Stingily.

Northern Illinois 7, Kent State 0

10:25 ... Northern Illinois challenged Dri Archer for the second time today, kicking right to him. On the opening kickoff, he caught it 5-yards deep, backpedaling to end zone. He showed some frustration that he couldn't bring the ball out.

This time he brought it out.

A 103-yard touchdown return, weaving his way to the Northern sideline, then exploding to the end zone.

Officially it is just 100 yards. NFL allows for 100-plus yard returns. NCAA you can only have a 100-yard return.

Of course, that touchdown ties a Kent State record.

Kent State 7, Northern Illinois 7

8:13 ... Kent State defense gets off of the field on drive No. 2 for the Huskies. A third-and-8 throw by Lynch from the Northern 48 was close, but Da'Ron Brown couldn't keep his feet in on the Huskies sideline.

Flashes offense needs to get something going after taking over at its own nine following the punt.

6:32 ... Kent State dodges a bullet as Matthew Sims misses a 40-yard field goal after a quick turnaround following a Dri Archer fumble. The defense was up to the challenge after the Huskies took over at the Kent State 17, forcing two incompletions and dropping Jordan Lynch for a 6-yard loss.

0:42 ... Another bullet dodged ... and this time thanks to a Malcom Pannell interception and 52-yard return to the Northern 44.

The Huskies had marched 75 yards in seven plays all the way to the Kent State 9. They faced a third down and goal from that nine when Lynch's tipped ball was picked off inside the 5.


PREGAME 


2:50 p.m. ... Here's a look at the throwback helmets up close as the Flashes break for warmups.



2:35 p.m. ... A little nugget from yesterday's NADC meeting here at Kent State ... the first meeting of new member Andre Thornton.

"Thunder" Thornton was one of my all-time favorite players when I was growing up in the 1970's and cheering on the Cleveland Indians.

Here is Thornton with athletic director Joel Nielsen and associate athletic director Matt Geis at yesterday's meeting.






 2:02 p.m. ... Kent State's coaches kept a little secret from the players ... until just now.

The team will wear throwback style helmets for Homecoming today. Here's a look:






MORNING UPDATE ... Kickoff at Dix Stadium is 3:30 p.m.

We are expecting our biggest crowd of the season, so plan ahead and get to the stadium early to avoid the heavy traffic on Summit Street and long lines at the ticket window.

I'll be blogging live from the Dix Stadium press box before kickoff. I'll also be fielding questions and comments here on the blog during the game. You can post below.

Here's a gameday "Newsstand" for a look the media is saying about today's game:



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