2008 Woodie Awards
Top offense meets best MAC defense at Kent State
By: Brian Manzullo
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The football team tests its Mid-American Conference-leading offense against the top defense this weekend at Kent State.
Central is averaging 48.3 points per game against MAC opponents this year, but faces a Kent State team leading the MAC in rush defense (149.8 yards per game) and pass defense (197.5 yards per game).
Coach Butch Jones said the team could play its most physical game of the season at 1 p.m. Saturday at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio.
"They have a physical presence about themselves," he said. "They're what I call a downhill football team. They get to the football quickly."
KSU (3-5 overall, 1-3 MAC) also ranks first in allowing opponents to convert just 31.8 percent of third down conversions (35-for-110).
The Golden Flashes, however, have lost four out of their last five, including last Saturday's 31-20 loss to Bowling Green. They allowed BGSU running back Willie Geter to rush for 203 yards on 22 carries.
"We've already seen that people can run against them if everything is executed right," said junior running back Justin Hoskins. "Somebody ran 203 yards on them. Our goal is to run for more than that."
Kent State could have success Saturday with running back Eugene Jarvis.
Jarvis leads the MAC with 1,103 yards on 193 carries this season and eight touchdowns. He averages 137.9 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry.
Senior linebacker Red Keith said Jarvis' short stature (5 feet, 5 inches) lowers his center of gravity, making him more difficult to tackle.
"It's easier for him to make a lot of cuts quicker than some of the bigger guys we've faced," Keith said. "He's a good challenge for our defense. He's going to stretch us in ways we haven't been stretched yet."
Jarvis has averaged 160.3 yards per game in KSU's four MAC games this season. CMU (4-4, 3-0) gives up 191 rushing yards per game.
Jarvis may need similar success Saturday with Kent State's quarterback situation.
Starting quarterback Julian Edelman was lost for the season when he broke his arm late in last week's game. That forced KSU coach Doug Martin to select true freshman Giorgio Morgan as Saturday's starter.
Morgan has yet to play in a college game, something Jones said could actually give him an advantage.
"It's an unknown because we don't have any college film of him," he said. "You have to prepare for anything."
Jones said he watched Morgan's high school film. He said Morgan can throw and run the football, much like Edelman did before his injury.
Keith, however, said the team cannot worry about the quarterback because of Jarvis' presence.
"It doesn't matter if it's a freshman," he said. "Our main focus should be going in and stopping their run game. Their coaches are going to do a great job with a great game plan to put the ball in the running back's hands in as many plays as possible."
bmanzullo@cm-life.com
Central is averaging 48.3 points per game against MAC opponents this year, but faces a Kent State team leading the MAC in rush defense (149.8 yards per game) and pass defense (197.5 yards per game).
Coach Butch Jones said the team could play its most physical game of the season at 1 p.m. Saturday at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio.
"They have a physical presence about themselves," he said. "They're what I call a downhill football team. They get to the football quickly."
KSU (3-5 overall, 1-3 MAC) also ranks first in allowing opponents to convert just 31.8 percent of third down conversions (35-for-110).
The Golden Flashes, however, have lost four out of their last five, including last Saturday's 31-20 loss to Bowling Green. They allowed BGSU running back Willie Geter to rush for 203 yards on 22 carries.
"We've already seen that people can run against them if everything is executed right," said junior running back Justin Hoskins. "Somebody ran 203 yards on them. Our goal is to run for more than that."
Kent State could have success Saturday with running back Eugene Jarvis.
Jarvis leads the MAC with 1,103 yards on 193 carries this season and eight touchdowns. He averages 137.9 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry.
Senior linebacker Red Keith said Jarvis' short stature (5 feet, 5 inches) lowers his center of gravity, making him more difficult to tackle.
"It's easier for him to make a lot of cuts quicker than some of the bigger guys we've faced," Keith said. "He's a good challenge for our defense. He's going to stretch us in ways we haven't been stretched yet."
Jarvis has averaged 160.3 yards per game in KSU's four MAC games this season. CMU (4-4, 3-0) gives up 191 rushing yards per game.
Jarvis may need similar success Saturday with Kent State's quarterback situation.
Starting quarterback Julian Edelman was lost for the season when he broke his arm late in last week's game. That forced KSU coach Doug Martin to select true freshman Giorgio Morgan as Saturday's starter.
Morgan has yet to play in a college game, something Jones said could actually give him an advantage.
"It's an unknown because we don't have any college film of him," he said. "You have to prepare for anything."
Jones said he watched Morgan's high school film. He said Morgan can throw and run the football, much like Edelman did before his injury.
Keith, however, said the team cannot worry about the quarterback because of Jarvis' presence.
"It doesn't matter if it's a freshman," he said. "Our main focus should be going in and stopping their run game. Their coaches are going to do a great job with a great game plan to put the ball in the running back's hands in as many plays as possible."
bmanzullo@cm-life.com
Be the first to comment on this story