Kent State Athletics
Kent State gets its first taste of conference action on Saturday when Buffalo comes to town for a noon kickoff at Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes (1-1) split their first two games under head coach Mark Carney, opening the year with a 21-17 win over Merrimack before taking their lumps in a 62-14 loss at Texas Tech.
Buffalo (1-1) has also experienced an up-and-down start. The Bulls dropped their opener on the road before bouncing back at home to even their record.
The Flashes are still figuring out their identity offensively. Carney and his staff have used two quarterbacks — CJ Montes and Dru DeShields — through the first two games. Montes picked up the win in his first career start, while DeShields has been effective both through the air and on the ground, tossing two touchdowns and adding a rushing score. No matter who’s under center, wideout Cade Wolford has emerged as the go-to weapon, scoring three of the team’s four offensive touchdowns and ranking among the national leaders in touchdown receptions.
Defensively, Kent State knows it must tighten up. The Flashes have given up 79 points through two games, with opponents averaging nearly 200 yards rushing and 270 through the air. Linebackers CJ Young and Joel Cordoba lead the team in tackles, but stopping explosive plays has been a problem.
On special teams, Da’Realyst Clark provided an early season highlight with a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown in the opener. Field position and hidden yardage could play a big role in Saturday’s matchup.
For Kent State, this game is about starting fresh in MAC play. The Flashes have won three of their last five conference openers, and Carney would love nothing more than to notch his first league win at home in front of the Kent faithful.
Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, with radio coverage on Fox Sports 1350.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
