The 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represented Kent State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Sean Lewis and played their home games at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio, as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
The Golden Flashes finished the regular season with an overall record of 7–5, going 6–2 in conference play to finish first in the MAC's East Division. In the MAC Championship Game, Kent State faced off against Northern Illinois in a rematch of a regular season game; the Golden Flashes would lose the championship game 23–41. Kent State was then selected for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, losing to Wyoming 38–52 to finish the season with an overall record of 7–7. To date, this is the last season the Golden Flashes finished with a non-losing record.
Preseason MAC prediction poll The MAC released its preseason prediction poll on July 20, 2021. The Golden Flashes were predicted to finish first in the conference's East Division with 112 points, along with 11 out of 22 first place votes.
Schedule
Game summaries
At No. 6 Texas A&M
Statistics KENTTAMU First downs 19 29 Total yards 336 595 Rushing yards 226 303 Passing yards 110 292 Turnovers 2 5 Time of possession 24:50 35:10
Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Dustin Crum 12/26, 89 yards, 2 INT Rushing Xavier Williams 8 rushes, 73 yards Receiving Keshunn Abram 3 receptions, 24 yardsTexas A&M Passing Haynes King 21/33, 292 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing De’Von Achane 12 rushes, 124 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ainias Smith 8 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TD
VMI
Statistics VMIKENT First downs 19 31 Total yards 288 698 Rushing yards 142 494 Passing yards 146 204 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 28:13 31:47
Team Category Player Statistics VMI Passing Collin Ironside 7/12, 91 yards, INT Rushing Rashad Raymond 12 carries, 57 yards Receiving Julio DaSilva 2 receptions, 37 yards Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 12/17, 180 yards, TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 12 carries, 119 yards, TD Receiving Nykeim Johnson 5 receptions, 55 yards, TD
At No. 5 Iowa
Statistics KENTIowa First downs 17 21 Total yards 264 418 Rushing yards 79 206 Passing yards 185 212 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 23:52 36:08
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 16/23, 185 yards, TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 10 carries, 38 yards Receiving Keshunn Abram 6 receptions, 138 yards, TD Iowa Passing Spencer Petras 25/36, 209 yards, TD Rushing Tyler Goodson 22 carries, 153 yards, 3 TD Receiving Sam LaPorta 7 receptions, 65 yards, TD
At Maryland
Statistics KENTMD First downs 27 23 Total yards 458 526 Rushing yards 150 142 Passing yards 308 384 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:04 29:56
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 19/33, 308 yards, TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 13 carries, 48 yards Receiving Dante Cephas 10 receptions, 151 yards, TD Maryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 31/41, 384 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Tayon Fleet-Davis 7 carries, 60 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dontay Demus Jr. 4 receptions, 108 yards, TD
Bowling Green
Statistics BGSUKENT First downs 18 25 Total yards 318 396 Rushing yards 55 262 Passing yards 263 134 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 32:15 27:45
Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green Passing Matt McDonald 29/45, 263 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jaison Patterson 12 carries, 60 yards Receiving Tyrone Broden 5 receptions, 75 yards, TD Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 15/28, 134 yards Rushing Marquez Cooper 31 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dante Cephas 6 receptions, 64 yards
Buffalo
Statistics BUFFKENT First downs 36 33 Total yards 549 633 Rushing yards 312 226 Passing yards 237 407 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 36:22 23:38
Team Category Player Statistics Buffalo Passing Kyle Vantrease 24/45, 237 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Dylan McDuffie 10 carries, 87 yards, TD Receiving Quian Williams 8 receptions, 86 yards Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 22/36, 407 yards, 3 TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 21 carries, 112 yards, TD Receiving Dante Cephas 13 receptions, 186 yards, 3 TD
At Western Michigan
Statistics KENTWMU First downs 20 32 Total yards 362 648 Rushing yards 124 341 Passing yards 238 307 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 22:19 37:41
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 15/26, 210 yards, 2 TD Rushing Xavier Williams 4 carries, 39 yards Receiving Dante Cephas 5 receptions, 96 yards, TD Western Michigan Passing Kaleb Eleby 15/22, 307 yards, 3 TD Rushing Sean Tyler 17 carries, 169 yards, TD Receiving Jaylen Hall 5 receptions, 144 yards, TD
At Ohio
Statistics KENTOHIO First downs 28 27 Total yards 457 457 Rushing yards 200 135 Passing yards 257 322 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 26:37 33:23
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 26/31, 257 yards, TD Rushing Dustin Crum 17 carries, 93 yards, TD Receiving Dante Cephas 9 receptions, 103 yards, TD Ohio Passing Kurtis Rourke 31/38, 308 yards, INT Rushing De'Montre Tuggle 13 carries, 59 yards, TD Receiving Isiah Cox 7 receptions, 73 yards
Northern Illinois
Statistics NIUKENT First downs 32 31 Total yards 663 682 Rushing yards 131 360 Passing yards 532 322 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 35:04 24:56
Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois Passing Rocky Lombardi 33/57, 532 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jay Ducker 19 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 14 receptions, 309 yards, 3 TD Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 20/30, 322 yards, 2 TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 23 carries, 173 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dante Cephas 5 receptions, 124 yards
At Central Michigan
Statistics KENTCMU First downs 23 33 Total yards 456 505 Rushing yards 134 221 Passing yards 322 284 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 23:03 36:57
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 28/38, 322 yards, 2 TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 21 carries, 83 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dante Cephas 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD Central Michigan Passing Daniel Richardson 21/27, 268 yards, 4 TD Rushing Lew Nichols III 43 carries, 215 yards, 4 TD Receiving JaCorey Sullivan 5 receptions, 61 yards
At Akron
Statistics KENTAKR First downs 23 11 Total yards 476 188 Rushing yards 410 77 Passing yards 66 111 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 31:59 28:01
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 8/13, 55 yards Rushing Marquez Cooper 25 carries, 135 yards, TD Receiving Dante Cephas 2 receptions, 36 yards Akron Passing Zach Gibson 14/21, 111 yards Rushing Jonzell Norrils 16 carries, 50 yards Receiving Konata Mumpfield 4 receptions, 39 yards
Miami (OH)
Statistics MOHKENT First downs 31 32 Total yards 549 642 Rushing yards 144 303 Passing yards 405 339 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 28:58 31:02
Team Category Player Statistics Miami Passing Brett Gabbert 26/51, 405 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Kevin Davis 10 carries, 56 yards Receiving Kenny Tracy 5 receptions, 104 yards, TD Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 24/33, 325 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Xavier Williams 13 carries, 168 yards, 2 TD Receiving Keshunn Abram 7 receptions, 138 yards, TD
Vs. Northern Illinois (MAC Championship game)
Statistics KENTNIU First downs 24 28 Total yards 391 368 Rushing yards 195 266 Passing yards 196 102 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 19:59 40:01
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 11/21, 128 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Xavier Williams 8 carries, 93 yards Receiving Dante Cephas 7 receptions, 102 yards Northern Illinois Passing Rocky Lombardi 7/15, 102 yards, INT Rushing Jay Ducker 29 carries, 146 yards Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 3 receptions, 50 yards
Vs. Wyoming (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)
Statistics KENTWYO First downs 29 22 Total yards 656 531 Rushing yards 319 404 Passing yards 337 127 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 28:50 31:10
Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Dustin Crum 17/27, 316 yards, 4 TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 24 carries, 125 yards Receiving Dante Cephas 4 receptions, 116 yards, TD Wyoming Passing Levi Williams 9/11, 127 yards, TD Rushing Levi Williams 16 carries, 200 yards, 4 TD Receiving Isaiah Neyor 5 receptions, 87 yards, TD
References