This Tuesday, the #14 ranked Western Michigan Broncos travel to Kent State to take on the Golden Flashes. The game, to be aired on ESPN2, just might give the Flashes their best opportunity to upset a ranked opponent on national TV since defeating Rutgers four years ago. The last time Kent State upset a nationally ranked opponent was in 2012 against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Rutgers had a 7-0 record and was ranked #18 in the AP poll and #15 in the BCS rankings. It was homecoming against the 6-1 Kent State Golden Flashes, who featured sensational running back-returner Dri Archer. It was also sort of a homecoming for Kent State head football coach Darell Hazell, a native of Cinnaminson Township, New Jersey, who served as a wide receivers coach at Rutgers under Greg Schiano from 2001-2003.
According to Rutgers fans, the reason the Scarlet Knights lost 35-23 to Kent State, was because they were simply not ready to play the game. Rutgers, a member of the Big East Conference in 2012, appeared to have taken its Homecoming MAC opponent too lightly. Overconfident and lacking the intensity that got them to 7-0, Rutgers' quarterback threw 6 interceptions that ruined any chance for a Scarlet Knight comeback. The Flashes came out hungry and smashed Rutgers in the mouth, jumping out to a 21-3 lead in the 2nd quarter. Surprisingly, Rutgers committed 7 turnovers and lost the time of possession battle by almost 15 minutes
"This is a great win for our program," said Darrell Hazell. "We came on the road against a very tough opponent. We knew they were going to be tough, and they did a great job prior to playing us. I thought our kids prepared like crazy this week. We made enough plays early in the game to keep those guys off balance. Rutgers kept fighting back, and our guys kept fighting them off."
Arguably the biggest play of the game was made by Kent State defensive end Mark Fackler, whose one-handed, 25-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the second quarter gave the Flashes a 14-3 lead and the belief it could win. It was Facker's second interception of the game and one of six picks by Kent State.
"We were dropping some of the inside guys, and I just saw his eyes, followed his eyes and was right there on the first one," Fackler said. "The second one was a play call. We were going that way, and I saw what he did. That was a play that was going to happen. It was there."
"It always builds momentum when you get turnovers," said linebacker Luke Batton, who had 13 tackles, a sack and an interception. "It gets your whole team up, especially the defense. Everyone is trying to get a little piece of the pie. I guess you can say it snowballs."
"That was a huge win for us. It's exciting, that's for sure," said Batton. "It was definitely huge for us and for the program itself."
Whether the Scarlet Knights took the Flashes too lightly or they were simply overrated, no one really knows for sure but the loss appeared to have seriously affected Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights went 2-3 the rest of the season despite having arguably the best defense in school history. Conversely, the Flashes went on winning 11 games and finishing with a 25th BCS ranking after climbing as high as 17th.
Could Western Michigan with its #14 ranking take Kent State too lightly and give the Flashes an opportunity to upset the Broncos? It's possible, but not likely given that P.J. Fleck is one of college football's greatest motivators (see video below). However, anything is possible with Kent State's strong defense.
Go Flashes!!!
According to Rutgers fans, the reason the Scarlet Knights lost 35-23 to Kent State, was because they were simply not ready to play the game. Rutgers, a member of the Big East Conference in 2012, appeared to have taken its Homecoming MAC opponent too lightly. Overconfident and lacking the intensity that got them to 7-0, Rutgers' quarterback threw 6 interceptions that ruined any chance for a Scarlet Knight comeback. The Flashes came out hungry and smashed Rutgers in the mouth, jumping out to a 21-3 lead in the 2nd quarter. Surprisingly, Rutgers committed 7 turnovers and lost the time of possession battle by almost 15 minutes
"This is a great win for our program," said Darrell Hazell. "We came on the road against a very tough opponent. We knew they were going to be tough, and they did a great job prior to playing us. I thought our kids prepared like crazy this week. We made enough plays early in the game to keep those guys off balance. Rutgers kept fighting back, and our guys kept fighting them off."
Arguably the biggest play of the game was made by Kent State defensive end Mark Fackler, whose one-handed, 25-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the second quarter gave the Flashes a 14-3 lead and the belief it could win. It was Facker's second interception of the game and one of six picks by Kent State.
"We were dropping some of the inside guys, and I just saw his eyes, followed his eyes and was right there on the first one," Fackler said. "The second one was a play call. We were going that way, and I saw what he did. That was a play that was going to happen. It was there."
"It always builds momentum when you get turnovers," said linebacker Luke Batton, who had 13 tackles, a sack and an interception. "It gets your whole team up, especially the defense. Everyone is trying to get a little piece of the pie. I guess you can say it snowballs."
"That was a huge win for us. It's exciting, that's for sure," said Batton. "It was definitely huge for us and for the program itself."
Whether the Scarlet Knights took the Flashes too lightly or they were simply overrated, no one really knows for sure but the loss appeared to have seriously affected Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights went 2-3 the rest of the season despite having arguably the best defense in school history. Conversely, the Flashes went on winning 11 games and finishing with a 25th BCS ranking after climbing as high as 17th.
Could Western Michigan with its #14 ranking take Kent State too lightly and give the Flashes an opportunity to upset the Broncos? It's possible, but not likely given that P.J. Fleck is one of college football's greatest motivators (see video below). However, anything is possible with Kent State's strong defense.
Go Flashes!!!
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