With just a three hour drive on I-77 separating Athens and Kent, it is no wonder why the Bobcats and Golden Flashes are pretty familiar with each other on the football field.
I think that's one thing that makes this conference so appealing ' you know so much about each other
Kent State coach Doug Martin said during Monday's Mid-American Conference teleconference. We all recruit the same kids pretty much and most of our kids all played against each other in high school.
However, this season provides an unfamiliar twist on the two teams' annual meeting as the Bobcats (5-3, 3-1 MAC) and the Golden Flashes (5-2, 4-0 MAC) are battling for first place in the MAC East Division tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Dix Stadium in Kent ' not the third or fourth spot as in many years past.
Kent State is riding its first five-game winning streak since 1976 and is undefeated in its first four conference games for the first time in the program's history.
It's a lot more fun to be around town right now I know that Martin said. The excitement on campus has been great for our students. It's the first time they've been able to have a lot of pride in the football program around here.
The Golden Flashes have rallied around quarterback Julian Edelman, a junior college transfer from the College of San Mateo, who came to Kent this season after posting record numbers with the Bulldogs in 2005.
In seven games this season Edelman has connected on 83-of-140 passes for 1,221 yards and seven touchdowns, but he has also thrown seven interceptions. The good news for Kent State is that Edelman has shown a talent for burning opponents on the ground, rushing for an additional 418 yards and four touchdowns this season. Edelman has rushed and passed for a touchdown in his last five games.
I think (Edelman) could be the best combination player we've played so far
and we've played some good ones
said Ohio coach Frank Solich Monday. He's as good of a runner as we will have faced ... There are a lot of challenges ahead for us defensively in slowing them down a little bit.
The Ohio defense will also have to be weary of Kent State's tandem of tailbacks, sophomore Tony Howard and redshirt freshman Eugene Jarvis.
(Jarvis) is only about 5-5
but he's a very elusive type of guy. He reminds you a little bit of Chris Garrett from our side of it
Solich said. Then they bring in (Howard)
who is about a 200-pound back that is very athletic. They have the right combination of big-play people operating on the offensive side of it.
Howard is currently third in the MAC in rushing behind Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe and Western Michigan's Mark Bonds. In six games this year for the Golden Flashes, Howard has 494 yards and three touchdowns on 96 carries.
The task of stopping Edelman, Howard and Jarvis on the ground starts first with the Bobcats' defensive line, which has been improving steadily all season.
If we can be technically sound in any situation
I feel like we can win every game
Ohio defensive lineman Landen Cohen said.
One thing the Bobcats will have in their favor, at least on paper, is that Kent State is coming off its bye week. MAC teams are 1-3 when having an extra week to prepare for their opposition this season.
When asked if he would rather have a bye week or keep the momentum his Bobcats have built from a three-game winning streak, Solich said although it does help when the team is battling injuries or fatigue to have a week off, he will take the cards he has been dealt this season.
