Photo credit: oanow.com
When Dustin Crum was named the starting quarterback for the Kent State Golden Flashes, many eyebrows were raised, but head coach Sean Lewis knew he was a player who could put up box office numbers like he did yesterday against Ohio University. ‘
“There’s a reason he earned that opportunity,” Lewis said. “Through his preparation, he managed the most critical situations we’ve put him in. We told him there wasn’t a short leash, and if you take hold of this job, it’s yours. He has the respect of the team and obviously, the production speaks for itself.”
Crum had a career day, throwing for 262 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 111 yards rushing. This was not enough though as Kent State suffered their first conference loss of the season at Peden Stadium by a final score of 38-45.
Coming off of an emotional win against Akron, defeating them for the first time in four years, the Flashes lost to their other in-state rival Ohio for the sixth straight season. This high scoring affair got started off in the first quarter with Senior Wide Receiver Mike Carrigan reeling in his second touchdown of the year to power the Golden Flashes to an early 7-0 lead. After a field goal shortly after, a 49 yard pass by Ohio’s Nathan “Air Canada” Rourke to redshirt sophomore Isiah Cox gave the Bobcats a 10-7 lead.
Crum and Rourke from that moment on clashed in a good old fashioned Maction QB duel. Both combined for 715 total yards of offense. The score was tied at halftime 24-24.
Ohio opened up the second half with the football, and they went on a 13 play, 75 yard touchdown drive to take a 31-24 lead. The drive also took a decent chunk of time off the clock in the 3rd quarter. The inability of the Kent State defense, who had a very solid first two weeks of conference play, was the defining factor in the Flashes falling Saturday. Despite the box office play of Dustin Crum, and two touchdown catches by Carrigan, the home team from Athens had the upper hand.
“The kids fought hard,” Lewis said after the game. “Nathan Rourke is one of the premier players in our league who was really efficient on first down.”
As far as the performance of the defense, he thought they did a solid job against the run.
“We did some things to limit the run game, but it starts with the plan, and what we’re doing as coaches, and the positions we’re putting them in. It’s hard to tell right now until I look at the film. We always have “own it” Sunday when we remove the egos and detach the emotions. We will then have a better idea of how to improve.”
After three weeks on the road, the Flashes return home to Dix Stadium next Saturday to face the RedHawks of Miami University at 3:30.