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By Jonas Fortune
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:06 p.m. EDT, Oct 26, 2009
KENT: Look out Kent State!
The youngsters have taken over the football team, and it is obviously for the better.
For the fifth time in the past 50 years, the Golden Flashes have started the Mid-American Conference slate at 3-1 and are doing so with eight freshmen on their two-deep depth chart.
''That whole freshman class that we brought in,'' Kent State coach Doug Martin said. ''They were the No. 1-ranked class in the MAC, and I would have to say that they are probably proving that was pretty accurate.''
While it has not been uncommon for freshmen to play in a lot of different roles for the Flashes, many players of this group are starting, playing a huge role and often times ''making huge plays,'' Martin said.
Perhaps the star pupil is quarterback Spencer Keith of Little Rock, Ark. The little-known Keith got plenty of passing attempts to perfect his craft at Pulaski Academy. His high school coach, Kevin Kelley, was highlighted in a September issue of Sports Illustrated for refusing to punt the football. Ever.
Since arriving at Kent State, Keith has translated those reps into an impressive freshman season. Since he took over as starter, the Golden Flashes are 2-1, with a heart-breaking loss to Bowling Green in the final seconds.
He is 96 for 170 for 1,165 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions. With three more touchdowns this season, Keith will be tied for tenth all-time in a Kent State career. He is already at or near the top 10 in most school passing records for a season.
''He has a great calmness about him,'' Martin said. ''He is really perceptive. He sees things during the game. He can come to you and tell you what he is seeing. He is humble enough to come and tell you when he is struggling . . . Spencer is really good at communicating.''
Keith, who had a 4.0 grade-point average at Pulaski Academy, has developed far enough where Martin feels comfortable letting him call plays at the line of scrimmage, which he did against Ohio last Saturday.
''In my eyes, Spencer is not a freshman,'' sophomore receiver Sam Kirkland said. ''He has already been through a lot.''
His top target is also a freshman. Tyshon Goode leads the team with 29 receptions, 14 more than anyone else, 355 yards and three touchdowns.
Freshman Dri Archer has caught two of his touchdown passes, as well. Archer averages 3.8 yards a carry at running back, where he has accumulated 132 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Right tackle Brian Winters, a freshman from Hudson, is also excelling during his first season.
''He has really given a lot to us because of his strength,'' Martin said. ''He is probably one of the strongest players on the team. From day one, he stepped in here and he hasn't been like a freshman; he is like a sophomore.''
Freshman kicker Freddy Cortez has solidified the kicking game, and linebacker Luke Batton, a Nordonia graduate, and free safety Zack Gonosz have slipped into the defensive rotations.
''We've had so much to deal with losing [running back] Eugene [Jarvis] and playing a true freshman quarterback,'' Martin said. ''If you would have told me we would be 3-1 at the beginning of the season, that that was going to happen, I would have been shocked. I think we are probably ahead of where I thought we would be now under those circumstances.''
He has his recruiting class to thank for that.
Jonas Fortune can be reached at jfortune@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Varsity Letters high school sports blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/. Also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ABJ_Preps.
KENT: Look out Kent State!
The youngsters have taken over the football team, and it is obviously for the better.
For the fifth time in the past 50 years, the Golden Flashes have started the Mid-American Conference slate at 3-1 and are doing so with eight freshmen on their two-deep depth chart.
''That whole freshman class that we brought in,'' Kent State coach Doug Martin said. ''They were the No. 1-ranked class in the MAC, and I would have to say that they are probably proving that was pretty accurate.''
While it has not been uncommon for freshmen to play in a lot of different roles for the Flashes, many players of this group are starting, playing a huge role and often times ''making huge plays,'' Martin said.
Perhaps the star pupil is quarterback Spencer Keith of Little Rock, Ark. The little-known Keith got plenty of passing attempts to perfect his craft at Pulaski Academy. His high school coach, Kevin Kelley, was highlighted in a September issue of Sports Illustrated for refusing to punt the football. Ever.
Since arriving at Kent State, Keith has translated those reps into an impressive freshman season. Since he took over as starter, the Golden Flashes are 2-1, with a heart-breaking loss to Bowling Green in the final seconds.
He is 96 for 170 for 1,165 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions. With three more touchdowns this season, Keith will be tied for tenth all-time in a Kent State career. He is already at or near the top 10 in most school passing records for a season.
''He has a great calmness about him,'' Martin said. ''He is really perceptive. He sees things during the game. He can come to you and tell you what he is seeing. He is humble enough to come and tell you when he is struggling . . . Spencer is really good at communicating.''
Keith, who had a 4.0 grade-point average at Pulaski Academy, has developed far enough where Martin feels comfortable letting him call plays at the line of scrimmage, which he did against Ohio last Saturday.
''In my eyes, Spencer is not a freshman,'' sophomore receiver Sam Kirkland said. ''He has already been through a lot.''
His top target is also a freshman. Tyshon Goode leads the team with 29 receptions, 14 more than anyone else, 355 yards and three touchdowns.
Freshman Dri Archer has caught two of his touchdown passes, as well. Archer averages 3.8 yards a carry at running back, where he has accumulated 132 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Right tackle Brian Winters, a freshman from Hudson, is also excelling during his first season.
''He has really given a lot to us because of his strength,'' Martin said. ''He is probably one of the strongest players on the team. From day one, he stepped in here and he hasn't been like a freshman; he is like a sophomore.''
Freshman kicker Freddy Cortez has solidified the kicking game, and linebacker Luke Batton, a Nordonia graduate, and free safety Zack Gonosz have slipped into the defensive rotations.
''We've had so much to deal with losing [running back] Eugene [Jarvis] and playing a true freshman quarterback,'' Martin said. ''If you would have told me we would be 3-1 at the beginning of the season, that that was going to happen, I would have been shocked. I think we are probably ahead of where I thought we would be now under those circumstances.''
He has his recruiting class to thank for that.
Jonas Fortune can be reached at jfortune@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Varsity Letters high school sports blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/. Also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ABJ_Preps.
Comments
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Posted 09:33 PM, 10/26/2009
Hopefully these kids will continue to pay dividends in the future of KSU football. Go Flashes!
Canton, OH
Posted 09:54 PM, 10/26/2009
THUGS, MISCREANTS, & HOOLIGANS. . . .
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:43 AM, 10/27/2009
Call them what you will but don't call them losers - that's reserved for the worst team in the MAC - akron.
Posted 08:23 AM, 10/27/2009
That`s right Ski, that is exactly what you are. Your little brain is a drain and you`re fading fast. THE master bard strikes again!!! Go Flashes!
Posted 09:33 AM, 10/27/2009
Ah, Slovensko. Thank you for yet another example of the fine quality and intelligence of Akron grads.
On a side note, if you are looking for the three names you capitalized above, maybe you should check on Akron's former 2009 starting quarterback...
Kent, Oh
Posted 12:18 PM, 10/27/2009
Slovensko,
Yea that Spencer Keith guy, with a 4.0 GPA, is such a Hooligan! I hope you are enjoying your empty $60 million dump! Go Kent State!
Posted 04:41 PM, 10/27/2009
Aahhh, another Zip that bashes Kent!Let`s see......how many Akron football players have been in trouble this year? His royal know nothing opens mouth and inserts foot.....I mean leg!
