2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

Last updated

2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football
Kent State K.svg
MAC East Division champion
Conference Mid-American Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record7–7 (6–2 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorAndrew Sowder (4th season)
Offensive scheme Veer and shoot
Defensive coordinator Tom Kaufman (4th season)
Base defense 3–4
Home stadium Dix Stadium
Seasons
  2020
2022  
2021 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Kent State xy  6 2   7 7  
Miami (OH)  5 3   7 6  
Ohio  3 5   3 9  
Bowling Green  2 6   4 8  
Buffalo  2 6   4 8  
Akron  1 7   2 10  
West Division
Northern Illinois xy$  6 2   9 5  
Central Michigan x  6 2   9 4  
Toledo  5 3   7 6  
Ball State  4 4   6 7  
Eastern Michigan  4 4   7 6  
Western Michigan  4 4   8 5  
Championship: Northern Illinois 41, Kent State 23
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant

The 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represented Kent State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Sean Lewis and played their home games at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio, as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 4 8:00 p.m. at No. 6 Texas A&M * ESPNU L 10–41 97,339
September 11 11:30 a.m. No. 18 (FCS) VMI * ESPN3 W 60–10 16,785
September 18 3:30 p.m. at No. 5 Iowa * BTN L 7–30 61,932
September 25 3:30 p.m. at Maryland * BTN L 16–37 30,117
October 2 3:30 p.m. Bowling Green
ESPN+ W 27–20 20,537
October 9 7:00 p.m. Buffalo
  • Dix Stadium
  • Kent, OH
ESPNU W 48–38 12,105
October 16 3:30 p.m. at Western Michigan ESPNU L 31–64 18,716
October 23 1:00 p.m. at Ohio ESPN+ W 34–27 15,854
November 3 7:00 p.m. Northern Illinois
  • Dix Stadium
  • Kent, OH
ESPN2 W 52–47 6,076
November 10 8:00 p.m. at Central Michigan ESPNU L 30–54 9,213
November 20 12:00 p.m. at Akron ESPN+ W 38–0 8,879
November 27 12:00 p.m. Miami (OH)
  • Dix Stadium
  • Kent, OH
ESPN+ W 48–47 OT 8,387
December 4 12:00 p.m. vs. Northern Illinois ESPN L 23–41 10,317
December 21 3:30 p.m. vs. Wyoming *
ESPN L 38–52 10,217
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[1]

Game summaries

At No. 6 Texas A&M

Kent State at Texas A&M
1234Total
Kent State300710
No. 6 Texas A&M100171441
  • Date: September 4, 2021
  • Location: Kyle Field
    College Station, TX
  • Game start: 8:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 97,339
  • Game weather: Temperature: 95 °F (35 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: S 3 MPH
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Tom Ramsey (analyst) and Andraya Carter (sideline)
Pregame lineOver/under
TA&M –29.566.0
StatisticsKent StateTexas A&M
First downs1929
Total yards336595
Rushing yards226303
Passing yards110292
Turnovers25
Time of possession24:5035:10
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing Dustin Crum 12/26, 89 yards, 2 INTs
RushingXavier Williams8 carries, 73 yards
Receiving Keshunn Abram 3 receptions, 24 yards
Texas A&MPassing Haynes King 21/33, 292 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing De’Von Achane 12 carries, 124 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Ainias Smith 8 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TDs

VMI

VMI at Kent State
1234Total
VMI003710
Kent State221714760
Pregame lineOver/under
KENT –20.072.5
StatisticsVMIKent State
First downs1931
Total yards288698
Rushing yards142494
Passing yards146204
Turnovers40
Time of possession28:1331:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassingCollin Ironside7/12, 91 yards, 1 INT
RushingRashad Raymond12 carries, 57 yards
ReceivingJulio DaSilva2 receptions, 37 yards
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum12/17, 180 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Marquez Cooper 12 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingNykeim Johnson5 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD

At No. 5 Iowa

Kent State at Iowa
1234Total
Kent State70007
No. 5 Iowa977730
  • Date: September 18, 2021
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium
    Iowa City, IA
  • Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:04
  • Game attendance: 61,932
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), Sunny, Wind SE 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
  • Referee: Larry Smith
  • TV announcers (BTN): Mark Followill (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst) & Coley Harvey (sideline)
  
Pregame lineOver/under
IOWA –22.555.5
StatisticsKent StateIowa
First downs1721
Total yards264418
Rushing yards79206
Passing yards185212
Turnovers11
Time of possession23:5236:08
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing Dustin Crum 16/23, 185 yards, 1 TD
RushingMarquez Cooper10 carries, 38 yards
ReceivingKeshunn Abram6 receptions, 138 yards, 1 TD
IowaPassing Spencer Petras 25/36, 209 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Tyler Goodson 22 carries, 153 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving Sam LaPorta 7 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD

At Maryland

Kent State at Maryland
1234Total
Kent State630716
Maryland71713037
Pregame lineOver/under
MD –13.071.5
StatisticsKent StateMaryland
First downs2723
Total yards458526
Rushing yards150142
Passing yards308384
Turnovers12
Time of possession30:0429:56
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum19/33, 308 yards, 1 TD
RushingMarquez Cooper13 carries, 48 yards
Receiving Dante Cephas 10 receptions, 151 yards, 1 TD
MarylandPassing Taulia Tagovailoa 31/41, 384 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
RushingTayon Fleet-Davis7 carries, 60 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Dontay Demus Jr. 4 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD

Bowling Green

Anniversary Award
1234Total
Bowling Green3314020
Kent State1037727
  • Date: October 2, 2021
  • Location: Dix Stadium
    Kent, OH
  • Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 20,537
  • Television network: ESPN+
Pregame lineOver/under
KENT –16.556.0
StatisticsBowling GreenKent State
First downs1825
Total yards318396
Rushing yards55262
Passing yards263134
Turnovers20
Time of possession32:1527:45
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Bowling GreenPassingMatt McDonald29/45, 263 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJaison Patterson12 carries, 60 yards
ReceivingTyrone Broden5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum15/28, 134 yards
RushingMarquez Cooper31 carries, 120 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingDante Cephas6 receptions, 64 yards

Buffalo

Buffalo at Kent State
1234Total
Buffalo01028038
Kent State141731448
  • Date: October 2, 2021
  • Location: Dix Stadium
    Kent, OH
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 12,105
  • Television network: ESPNU
Pregame lineOver/under
KENT –7.066.0
StatisticsBuffaloKent State
First downs3633
Total yards549633
Rushing yards312226
Passing yards237407
Turnovers20
Time of possession36:2223:38
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BuffaloPassing Kyle Vantrease 24/45, 237 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing Dylan McDuffie 10 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingQuian Williams8 receptions, 86 yards
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum22/36, 407 yards, 3 TDs
RushingMarquez Cooper21 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDante Cephas13 receptions, 186 yards, 3 TDs

At Western Michigan

Kent State at Western Michigan
1234Total
Kent State7106831
Western Michigan176271464
Pregame lineOver/under
WMU –6.568.5
StatisticsKent StateWestern Michigan
First downs2032
Total yards362648
Rushing yards124341
Passing yards238307
Turnovers10
Time of possession22:1937:41
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum15/26, 210 yards, 2 TDs
RushingXavier Williams4 carries, 39 yards
ReceivingDante Cephas5 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD
Western MichiganPassing Kaleb Eleby 15/22, 307 yards, 3 TDs
RushingSean Tyler17 carries, 169 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJaylen Hall5 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD

At Ohio

Kent State at Ohio
1234Total
Kent State10714334
Ohio07101027
  • Date: October 23, 2021
  • Location: Peden Stadium
    Athens, OH
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 15,854
  • Television network: ESPN+
Pregame lineOver/under
KENT –5.068.5
StatisticsKent StateOhio
First downs2827
Total yards457457
Rushing yards200135
Passing yards257322
Turnovers03
Time of possession26:3733:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum26/31, 257 yards, 1 TD
RushingDustin Crum17 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDante Cephas9 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD
OhioPassing Kurtis Rourke 31/38, 308 yards, 1 INT
Rushing De'Montre Tuggle 13 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingIsiah Cox7 receptions, 73 yards

Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois at Kent State
1234Total
Northern Illinois71462047
Kent State03114752
  • Date: November 3, 2021
  • Location: Dix Stadium
    Kent, OH
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 6,076
  • Television network: ESPN2
Pregame lineOver/under
KENT –3.572.0
StatisticsNorthern IllinoisKent State
First downs3231
Total yards663682
Rushing yards131360
Passing yards532322
Turnovers10
Time of possession35:0424:56
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern IllinoisPassing Rocky Lombardi 33/57, 532 yards, 3 TDs
RushingJay Ducker19 carries, 101 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingTrayvon Rudolph14 receptions, 309 yards, 3 TDs
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum20/30, 322 yards, 2 TDs
RushingMarquez Cooper23 carries, 173 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingDante Cephas5 receptions, 124 yards

At Central Michigan

Kent State at Central Michigan
1234Total
Kent State14313030
Central Michigan026141454
Pregame lineOver/under
CMU –2.576.5
StatisticsKent StateCentral Michigan
First downs2333
Total yards456505
Rushing yards134221
Passing yards322284
Turnovers30
Time of possession23:0336:57
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum28/38, 322 yards, 2 TDs
RushingMarquez Cooper21 carries, 83 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingDante Cephas5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
Central MichiganPassing Daniel Richardson 21/27, 268 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing Lew Nichols III 43 carries, 215 yards, 4 TDs
ReceivingJaCorey Sullivan5 receptions, 61 yards

At Akron

Wagon Wheel Trophy
1234Total
Kent State7223638
Akron00000
Pregame lineOver/under
KENT –13.572.5
StatisticsKent StateAkron
First downs2311
Total yards476188
Rushing yards41077
Passing yards66111
Turnovers02
Time of possession31:5928:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum8/13, 55 yards
RushingMarquez Cooper25 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDante Cephas2 receptions, 36 yards
AkronPassingZach Gibson14/21, 111 yards
RushingJonzell Norrils16 carries, 50 yards
Receiving Konata Mumpfield 4 receptions, 39 yards

Miami (OH)

Miami (OH) at Kent State
1234OTTotal
Miami (OH)610718647
Kent State7101410748
  • Date: November 27, 2021
  • Location: Dix Stadium
    Kent, OH
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 8,387
  • Television network: ESPN+
Pregame lineOver/under
EVEN67.0
StatisticsMiamiKent State
First downs3132
Total yards549642
Rushing yards144303
Passing yards405339
Turnovers22
Time of possession28:5831:02
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MiamiPassing Brett Gabbert 26/51, 405 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs
RushingKevin Davis10 carries, 56 yards
ReceivingKenny Tracy5 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum24/33, 325 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
RushingXavier Williams13 carries, 168 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingKeshunn Abram7 receptions, 138 yards, 1 TD

Vs. Northern Illinois (MAC Championship game)

MAC Championship Game
1234Total
Kent State00101323
Northern Illinois10771741
Pregame lineOver/under
KENT –3.575.5
StatisticsKent StateNorthern Illinois
First downs2428
Total yards391368
Rushing yards195266
Passing yards196102
Turnovers21
Time of possession19:5940:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum11/21, 128 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
RushingXavier Williams8 carries, 93 yards
ReceivingDante Cephas7 receptions, 102 yards
Northern IllinoisPassingRocky Lombardi7/15, 102 yards, 1 INT
RushingJay Ducker29 carries, 146 yards
ReceivingTrayvon Rudolph3 receptions, 50 yards

Vs. Wyoming (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
1234Total
Kent State141001438
Wyoming714141752
Pregame lineOver/under
WYO –3.059.0
StatisticsKent StateWyoming
First downs2922
Total yards656531
Rushing yards319404
Passing yards337127
Turnovers00
Time of possession28:5031:10
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassingDustin Crum17/27, 316 yards, 4 TDs
RushingMarquez Cooper24 carries, 125 yards
ReceivingDante Cephas4 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD
WyomingPassing Levi Williams 9/11, 127 yards, 1 TD
RushingLevi Williams16 carries, 200 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving Isaiah Neyor 5 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD

References

  1. "2021 Kent State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 15, 2021.