KSU football tries to strike fear in Broncos

Kali Price

Instead of getting ready for Halloween in Kent, the Kent State football team will be trying to scare away a five-game losing streak tomorrow in Kalamazoo, Mich.

The Flashes (1-6, 0-4 Mid-American Conference) will take on the Broncos of Western Michigan (4-3, 2-2 MAC) at 2.

The Broncos are coming off of a 45-14 win over Bowling Green.

“We’re getting ready to play a hot team right now,” Kent State coach Doug Martin said in a Monday press conference. “They apply a real pressure package on defense, with a lot of zone blitzes. In fact, you’d have to say that their base call is a zone blitz.”

Martin said that the Broncos’ defense will be hard to get through, especially with Western junior linebacker Ameer Ismail, who was named MAC West Defensive Player of the week after posting two sacks and returning a fumble 53 yards for touchdown.

“There will be a lot of pressure coming at us when we have the ball,” Martin said.

The Flashes will have to put on a lot of pressure on the Broncos’ offense as well.

“They are doing a good job on offense of being diversified,” Marti n said. “They do many different and interesting things with their personnel. It will be a challenge dealing with the muddle-huddle offense where they aren’t on the line but they aren’t in a huddle and they are running guys on and off the field, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Not only did Western claim the defensive player of the week honors, freshman quarterback Tim Hiller was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week.

“Tim Hiller looks like he’s doing really well,” Martin said, “he has some nice people around him including Tony Scheffler, who is one of the best tight ends that I’ve seen since I’ve been in this league. He has got size and speed. He’s one of their favorite targets along with Greg Jennings, a wide receiver who has nearly 40 more catches than anyone else on the team.”

Martin said Jennings is the kind of player he wants his wide receivers to become some day.

“Jennings is looked at as somewhat of a the model for our guys,” Martin said. “I think Shawn Bayes is just about there, and Shawn Lewis is heading that way. But Jennings is a go to guy that makes the catch, gets yards after the catch, runs great routes and is a good return guy also.”

Contact assistant sports editor and football reporter Kali Price at [email protected].