# 2021 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

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.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Texas A&M* | Kyle FieldCollege Station, TX | ESPNU | L 10–41 | 97,339 |
| September 11 | 11:30 a.m. | No. 18 (FCS) VMI* | Dix StadiumKent, OH | ESPN3 | W 60–10 | 16,785 |
| September 18 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 5 Iowa* | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA | BTN | L 7–30 | 61,932 |
| September 25 | 3:30 p.m. | at Maryland* | Maryland StadiumCollege Park, MD | BTN | L 16–37 | 30,117 |
| October 2 | 3:30 p.m. | Bowling Green | Dix StadiumKent, OH (Anniversary Award) | ESPN+ | W 27–20 | 20,537 |
| October 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Buffalo | Dix StadiumKent, OH | ESPNU | W 48–38 | 12,105 |
| October 16 | 3:30 p.m. | at Western Michigan | Waldo StadiumKalamazoo, MI | ESPNU | L 31–64 | 18,716 |
| October 23 | 1:00 p.m. | at Ohio | Peden StadiumAthens, OH | ESPN+ | W 34–27 | 15,854 |
| November 3 | 7:00 p.m. | Northern Illinois | Dix StadiumKent, OH | ESPN2 | W 52–47 | 6,076 |
| November 10 | 8:00 p.m. | at Central Michigan | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | ESPNU | L 30–54 | 9,213 |
| November 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at Akron | InfoCision Stadium–Summa FieldAkron, OH (Wagon Wheel) | ESPN+ | W 38–0 | 8,879 |
| November 27 | 12:00 p.m. | Miami (OH) | Dix StadiumKent, OH | ESPN+ | W 48–47 $^{OT}$ | 8,387 |
| December 4 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. Northern Illinois | Ford FieldDetroit, MI (MAC Championship Game) | ESPN | L 23–41 | 10,317 |
| December 21 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. Wyoming* | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) | ESPN | L 38–52 | 10,217 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At No. 6 Texas A&M

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kent State | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| • No. 6 Texas A&M | 10 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 41 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TA&M –29.5 | 66.0 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Texas A&M |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 12/26, 89 yards, 2 INTs |
| Kent State | Rushing | Xavier Williams | 8 carries, 73 yards |
| Kent State | Receiving | Keshunn Abram | 3 receptions, 24 yards |
| Texas A&M | Passing | Haynes King | 21/33, 292 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Texas A&M | Rushing | De’Von Achane | 12 carries, 124 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas A&M | Receiving | Ainias Smith | 8 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TDs |

### VMI

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| VMI | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| • Kent State | 22 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 60 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| KENT –20.0 | 72.5 |
| Statistics | VMI | Kent State |
| 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, 1 INT |
| VMI | Rushing | Rashad Raymond | 12 carries, 57 yards |
| VMI | Receiving | Julio DaSilva | 2 receptions, 37 yards |
| Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 12/17, 180 yards, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 12 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Receiving | Nykeim Johnson | 5 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD |

### At No. 5 Iowa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kent State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • No. 5 Iowa | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| IOWA –22.5 | 55.5 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Iowa |
| 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, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 10 carries, 38 yards |
| Kent State | Receiving | Keshunn Abram | 6 receptions, 138 yards, 1 TD |
| Iowa | Passing | Spencer Petras | 25/36, 209 yards, 1 TD |
| Iowa | Rushing | Tyler Goodson | 22 carries, 153 yards, 3 TDs |
| Iowa | Receiving | Sam LaPorta | 7 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD |

### At Maryland

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kent State | 6 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
| • Maryland | 7 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 37 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MD –13.0 | 71.5 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Maryland |
| 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, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 13 carries, 48 yards |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 10 receptions, 151 yards, 1 TD |
| Maryland | Passing | Taulia Tagovailoa | 31/41, 384 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Maryland | Rushing | Tayon Fleet-Davis | 7 carries, 60 yards, 2 TDs |
| Maryland | Receiving | Dontay Demus Jr. | 4 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD |

### Bowling Green

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bowling Green | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
| • Kent State | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| KENT –16.5 | 56.0 |
| Statistics | Bowling Green | Kent State |
| 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, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Bowling Green | Rushing | Jaison Patterson | 12 carries, 60 yards |
| Bowling Green | Receiving | Tyrone Broden | 5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 15/28, 134 yards |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 31 carries, 120 yards, 2 TDs |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 6 receptions, 64 yards |

### Buffalo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffalo | 0 | 10 | 28 | 0 | 38 |
| • Kent State | 14 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 48 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| KENT –7.0 | 66.0 |
| Statistics | Buffalo | Kent State |
| 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, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Buffalo | Rushing | Dylan McDuffie | 10 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD |
| Buffalo | Receiving | Quian Williams | 8 receptions, 86 yards |
| Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 22/36, 407 yards, 3 TDs |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 21 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 13 receptions, 186 yards, 3 TDs |

### At Western Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kent State | 7 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 31 |
| • Western Michigan | 17 | 6 | 27 | 14 | 64 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WMU –6.5 | 68.5 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Western Michigan |
| 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 TDs |
| Kent State | Rushing | Xavier Williams | 4 carries, 39 yards |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 5 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Michigan | Passing | Kaleb Eleby | 15/22, 307 yards, 3 TDs |
| Western Michigan | Rushing | Sean Tyler | 17 carries, 169 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Michigan | Receiving | Jaylen Hall | 5 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD |

### At Ohio

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Kent State | 10 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 34 |
| Ohio | 0 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| KENT –5.0 | 68.5 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Ohio |
| 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, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Rushing | Dustin Crum | 17 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 9 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD |
| Ohio | Passing | Kurtis Rourke | 31/38, 308 yards, 1 INT |
| Ohio | Rushing | De'Montre Tuggle | 13 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD |
| Ohio | Receiving | Isiah Cox | 7 receptions, 73 yards |

### Northern Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northern Illinois | 7 | 14 | 6 | 20 | 47 |
| • Kent State | 0 | 31 | 14 | 7 | 52 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| KENT –3.5 | 72.0 |
| Statistics | Northern Illinois | Kent State |
| 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 TDs |
| Northern Illinois | Rushing | Jay Ducker | 19 carries, 101 yards, 2 TDs |
| Northern Illinois | Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 14 receptions, 309 yards, 3 TDs |
| Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 20/30, 322 yards, 2 TDs |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 23 carries, 173 yards, 2 TDs |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 5 receptions, 124 yards |

### At Central Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kent State | 14 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 30 |
| • Central Michigan | 0 | 26 | 14 | 14 | 54 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CMU –2.5 | 76.5 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Central Michigan |
| 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 TDs |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 21 carries, 83 yards, 2 TDs |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Daniel Richardson | 21/27, 268 yards, 4 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Lew Nichols III | 43 carries, 215 yards, 4 TDs |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | JaCorey Sullivan | 5 receptions, 61 yards |

### At Akron

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Kent State | 7 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 38 |
| Akron | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| KENT –13.5 | 72.5 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Akron |
| 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 |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 25 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 2 receptions, 36 yards |
| Akron | Passing | Zach Gibson | 14/21, 111 yards |
| Akron | Rushing | Jonzell Norrils | 16 carries, 50 yards |
| Akron | Receiving | Konata Mumpfield | 4 receptions, 39 yards |

### Miami (OH)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Miami (OH) | 6 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 6 | 47 |
| • Kent State | 7 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 48 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| EVEN | 67.0 |
| Statistics | Miami | Kent State |
| 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 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Miami | Rushing | Kevin Davis | 10 carries, 56 yards |
| Miami | Receiving | Kenny Tracy | 5 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD |
| Kent State | Passing | Dustin Crum | 24/33, 325 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Kent State | Rushing | Xavier Williams | 13 carries, 168 yards, 2 TDs |
| Kent State | Receiving | Keshunn Abram | 7 receptions, 138 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Northern Illinois (MAC Championship game)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kent State | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 23 |
| • Northern Illinois | 10 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 41 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| KENT –3.5 | 75.5 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Northern Illinois |
| 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, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Kent State | Rushing | Xavier Williams | 8 carries, 93 yards |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 7 receptions, 102 yards |
| Northern Illinois | Passing | Rocky Lombardi | 7/15, 102 yards, 1 INT |
| Northern Illinois | Rushing | Jay Ducker | 29 carries, 146 yards |
| Northern Illinois | Receiving | Trayvon Rudolph | 3 receptions, 50 yards |

### Vs. Wyoming (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kent State | 14 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 38 |
| • Wyoming | 7 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 52 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WYO –3.0 | 59.0 |
| Statistics | Kent State | Wyoming |
| 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 TDs |
| Kent State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 24 carries, 125 yards |
| Kent State | Receiving | Dante Cephas | 4 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD |
| Wyoming | Passing | Levi Williams | 9/11, 127 yards, 1 TD |
| Wyoming | Rushing | Levi Williams | 16 carries, 200 yards, 4 TDs |
| Wyoming | Receiving | Isaiah Neyor | 5 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD |