Kent State (3-7, 2-4 Mid-American Conference) will host its final home game of the year against Central Michigan University (5-5, 4-2 MAC) on Senior Night.

“(They’re a) tough, hard-nosed football team,” said coach Paul Haynes. “Offensively everything they do goes through their quarterback.”

The Chippewas’ junior quarterback Cooper Rush ranks twelfth in the nation with a 68.2 completion percentage and thirteenth in passing efficiency. This season he’s thrown for 2,975 yards and 22 touchdowns. 

“I think he’s a very good player,” Haynes said of Rush. “He’s probably one of the most underrated quarterbacks in this league.”

Defensively, the Chippewas are led by senior defensive back Kavon Frazier, who is coming off a 12-tackle game against Toledo. On the season he has a team-high 88 tackles.

Junior kicker Brian Eavey is ranked 36th in the nation with 1.4 field goals per game. Last week, Eavey made a 48-yard field goal against Toledo. 

Central Michigan comes into the game battle-tested, having played games against No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 13 Michigan State prior to MAC play.

The Flashes have two games remaining in the regular season, including a showdown with rival Akron in the Wagon Wheel challenge. Though the season has not gone as hoped, the team is still motivated to finish the year out strong.

“We have two more games left and both are winnable games,” said junior wide receiver Charles Chandler. “We can’t finish out the way we wanted to, but we still have two ahead of us and we can finish on a positive note.”

Kickoff at Dix Stadium is 8 p.m. Wednesday night.

Contact Stephen Means at [email protected].