Two football players receive MAC honors for performances in division-clinching win over Miami

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Quarterback Dustin Crum (7) runs the ball into the end zone during the football game against Miami University on Nov. 27, 2021. Kent State beat Miami University 48-47 in overtime.

The Kent State football team, one week after sweeping the Mid-American Conference East Division weekly awards, had two players receive the honors following the team’s division-clinching win over Miami. 

Graduate student running back Xavier Williams was named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week. He had 151 second-half rushing yards on his way to a career-high 168 yards game. 

Williams added two long touchdown runs, 79 and 50 yards, with the former being the longest rushing touchdown by a Flash since 2018. He had more yards than any other running back that Miami has faced, and he helped lead KSU to 303 rushing yards. 

​​Miami had not allowed a team to rush for over 150 yards the entire season. Williams did it single-handedly.

Redshirt junior cornerback Montre Miller was named the MAC East Defensive Player of the Week. It is his second weekly honor, with his first coming after Kent State’s week two win over VMI. 

Miller had an excellent day in coveraging, grabbing an interception and recording three passes defended. He is now tied for 12th in the FBS for total passes defended with 13 this season. 

Miller’s most important pass break up came in overtime. After Miami scored a touchdown to pull within one point, it kept the offense on the field, electing to go for a two-point conversion to win the game and clinch the East Division title.

Miller stepped in front of the ball and knocked it to the ground, clinching Kent State’s first division title since 2012. 

The Flashes will take on Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship Game on Saturday. Kickoff is at noon and will be broadcasted live on ESPN.

Jimmy Oswald is a sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].