Our View: Flashes of brilliance at Dix Stadium

DKS Editors

KSU football is on pace for a historic season, so bust out your gold T-shirts and support the team.

If the Flashes defeat the Army Black Knights on Saturday, the team will have its best start to the season in nearly 40 years, with a 5-1 record.

The team, led by all-purpose superstar running back Dri Archer with 11 total touchdowns in five games, will no doubt add to that number on Army’s Homecoming weekend.

Archer’s blazing speed in the return game is reminiscent of former Kent State star and current Cleveland Browns kick returner Joshua Cribbs. Every time Archer touches the ball, he is a scoring threat.

Almost overshadowed by Archer’s brilliant performances this season is sophomore running back Trayion Durham, with a notable four touchdowns in two weeks. He adds a power element to the Flashes’ rushing attack.

With the running game clicking, senior quarterback Spencer Keith has been afforded more time to make plays, and he has shown progress in the way he reads and reacts to opposing defenses.

Keith has enjoyed a few stellar performances even without arguably the best wide receiver on the team, Tyshon Goode, for a few games.

Despite the defense giving up more than 500 yards to the University of Kentucky Wildcats, the defense has yet to allow a single point in any first quarter this season.

The team is led by head coach Darrell Hazell, who has coached on the biggest stage as an assistant coach at the Ohio State University, which means the Flashes have the pedigree both on the field and on the sideline to have a season Kent State students haven’t witnessed in decades.

What this team is offering students is a chance to see the growth and maturation of a successful football program. Most teams in the Mid-American Conference don’t have an electric scoring threat like Archer or a big-time head coach like Hazell.

Now, more than anytime in the last few decades, the Flashes football team is worth coming out on a cold Saturday to watch them play.

With the propensity to shatter records and get to a bowl game — for the first time in 40 years — this is the season you’ll want to sit in the stands and cheer on your fellow classmates.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.