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Freshmen Keith and Goode make passing plays look effortless
By Jonas Fortune
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Sunday, Nov 01, 2009
KENT: Kent State quarterback Spencer Keith and receiver Tyshon Goode had career days Saturday at Dix Stadium.
Then again, every time the two freshmen take the field, they seem to be improving on their previous best efforts.
Keith threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns. Goode caught both touchdowns and accounted for 198 of those passing yards, as the Golden Flashes beat Western Michigan 26-14 for their third consecutive victory.
The win has allowed a rather unfamiliar four-letter word to be whispered in the hallways of Dix Stadium: bowl. As in bowl eligible, which the Flashes (5-4, 4-1) will be if they can beat rival Akron next week.
''I don't know that we are great in any area, but we are really good all together and our players are really together right now,'' Kent State coach Doug Martin said. ''They have a great belief in each other. You could see it this week in practice. They have something special right now.''
Everything seemed to favor the Flashes on Saturday.
Defensively, Kent State was able to limit Western Michigan senior quarterback Tim Hiller to 255 yards and two touchdowns by applying pressure with the defensive line.
Although Hiller still got his yards, Kent State had a knack for flustering him at the right moment. Junior Monte Simmons had three sacks to bring his season total to 7.5. The Flashes had four sacks overall.
''Their front four and their linebackers are very good, as is their secondary,'' Hiller said. ''We knew they are one of the better defenses we would play.''
Offensively, Kent State stretched the field with vertical passing plays that looked easy with Keith and Goode at the helm. Keith completed 24-of-34 passes to six different receivers for 373 yards, a career high.
''I trust the world of our receivers,'' Keith said. ''My job is to allow them to make a play and they have come through the last few weeks — they had some great catches
today.''
Goode's brilliant one-handed, over the-shoulder 40-yard catch in the second quarter set up a 39-yard field goal to make the score 7-6. His 34-yard catch-and-run touchdown about five minutes later gave KSU the lead for good.
On the first possession of the second half, Goode outmuscled a Western Michigan defender in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown reception. He has scored a touchdown in three consecutive games and has five touchdowns this season.
Goode had 11 catches for 198 yards, breaking the highs he set last week at Ohio University. His two touchdowns equaled his high, also set last week.
''Just having fun, man,'' Goode said. ''That is what I love to do. Just go up there and make plays. But, most of all, I am willing to do anything that it takes to win the football game.''
Kent State had to punt once, which came in the third quarter. It netted 80 yards on the hop.
''They just have a great character about them,'' Martin said of his team. ''They really expect good things to happen. They know they are a good football team and show up each Saturday.''
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: Kent State quarterback Spencer Keith and receiver Tyshon Goode had career days Saturday at Dix Stadium.
Then again, every time the two freshmen take the field, they seem to be improving on their previous best efforts.
Keith threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns. Goode caught both touchdowns and accounted for 198 of those passing yards, as the Golden Flashes beat Western Michigan 26-14 for their third consecutive victory.
The win has allowed a rather unfamiliar four-letter word to be whispered in the hallways of Dix Stadium: bowl. As in bowl eligible, which the Flashes (5-4, 4-1) will be if they can beat rival Akron next week.
''I don't know that we are great in any area, but we are really good all together and our players are really together right now,'' Kent State coach Doug Martin said. ''They have a great belief in each other. You could see it this week in practice. They have something special right now.''
Everything seemed to favor the Flashes on Saturday.
Defensively, Kent State was able to limit Western Michigan senior quarterback Tim Hiller to 255 yards and two touchdowns by applying pressure with the defensive line.
Although Hiller still got his yards, Kent State had a knack for flustering him at the right moment. Junior Monte Simmons had three sacks to bring his season total to 7.5. The Flashes had four sacks overall.
''Their front four and their linebackers are very good, as is their secondary,'' Hiller said. ''We knew they are one of the better defenses we would play.''
Offensively, Kent State stretched the field with vertical passing plays that looked easy with Keith and Goode at the helm. Keith completed 24-of-34 passes to six different receivers for 373 yards, a career high.
''I trust the world of our receivers,'' Keith said. ''My job is to allow them to make a play and they have come through the last few weeks — they had some great catches
today.''
Goode's brilliant one-handed, over the-shoulder 40-yard catch in the second quarter set up a 39-yard field goal to make the score 7-6. His 34-yard catch-and-run touchdown about five minutes later gave KSU the lead for good.
On the first possession of the second half, Goode outmuscled a Western Michigan defender in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown reception. He has scored a touchdown in three consecutive games and has five touchdowns this season.
Goode had 11 catches for 198 yards, breaking the highs he set last week at Ohio University. His two touchdowns equaled his high, also set last week.
''Just having fun, man,'' Goode said. ''That is what I love to do. Just go up there and make plays. But, most of all, I am willing to do anything that it takes to win the football game.''
Kent State had to punt once, which came in the third quarter. It netted 80 yards on the hop.
''They just have a great character about them,'' Martin said of his team. ''They really expect good things to happen. They know they are a good football team and show up each Saturday.''
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 06:50 AM, 11/01/2009
What an unbelievable season so far. When was the last time Kent won three in a row? Great jobs guys. Keep it going, beat Akron!!!!
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 09:07 AM, 11/01/2009
I think we won 3 in a row back in 2006, the last time we sniffed a bowl game and East title. How great it will be to go into Crackron next week and seal our bowl eligibility.
Posted 10:47 AM, 11/01/2009
Whoopeee!!!!!You're going to the International Bowl!Who cares?
Posted 10:50 AM, 11/01/2009
Donde esta mi amigo, Slovenski? I know you`re out there somewhere my little bard? C`mon little buddy, write something profound. Long suffering Kent fans may empathize with your plight, if the Zits beat Kent this week, all is good in Zippyland, eh?
Kent, OH
Posted 03:56 PM, 11/01/2009
Hey ToledoRocket...how was that loss to Miami?
Posted 06:48 AM, 11/02/2009
Hey Cuddy.....got drunk as a skunk and enjoyed it very much!
Posted 11:44 AM, 11/02/2009
Fred, Slovensko appears to have finally kicked out his bar stool and let the rope do the work, so in his honor, I will add his bard:
"Wow."
"Kent Read. Kent Write. Kent play football."
"KSUcks."
