Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1026347
O T H E R M A T C H U P S THE LOWDOWNPenn State should have a big advantage here. Blake Gillikin is one of the country's top punters and is a Ray Guy Award nominee, averaging 42.8 yards per attempt. DeAndre Thompkins is averaging 20.3 yards per punt re- turn with a 39-yard return for a touchdown. Hamler is averaging 31.3 yards per kickoff return on four attempts, and Jake Pinegar has converted one of two field goals and 13 of 13 extra points. Kent State P Grant Urenovitch is averaging 34.1 yards, while PK Matt Trickett is 2 of 2 on field goals with a long kick of 34 yards. Zaquon Tyson is averaging 6.7 yards per punt return, and Justin Rankin is averaging 17.0 yards per kickoff return. // EDGE Penn State SPECIAL TEAMS THE LOWDOWNThis will be the sixth game between Penn State and Kent State. Their most recent meeting took place in 2016, and it was won by the Nittany Lions, 33-13. Penn State leads the series with a 5-0 record. The Nittany Lions go into the game with a 15-game home winning streak, although Appalachian State nearly ended it two weeks ago. Penn State's past eight home games have all drawn crowds in excess of 100,000. // EDGEPenn State THIS 'N' THAT THE LOWDOWN This is Lewis's first season as Kent State's head coach. He succeeded Paul Haynes aAer the Golden Flashes went 2-10 last season. The Flashes never won more than four games in any of Haynes' five seasons, but Lewis has been making some headway, both on the field and in recruiting. Franklin holds a 38-17 record in his fiAh season at Penn State. Last season, the Nittany Lions posted an 11-2 record and defeated Washington, 35-28, in the Fiesta Bowl. // EDGE Penn State COACHING STAFF S E P T E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 8 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 5 catches, 74 yards), TE Adam Dulka (three catches, 44 yards) and WR Antwan Dixon (three catches, 48 yards). Penn State struggled against the pass in its opening game against Appalachian State, allowing the Mountaineers to throw for 270 yards. At Pitt, the Lions totally shut down the passing game, allowing Kenny Pickett to complete only 9 of 18 at- tempts for 55 yards with one interception. Through its first two games, Penn State has totaled six sacks for 45 yards in losses. Five players (Cam Brown, Shaka Toney, Daniel Joseph, Miller and Scott) have one sack apiece for a combined total of 41 yards in losses. Penn State has two interceptions, both by CB Amani Oruwariye. // KEY MATCHUP Kent State OT Mike Marinelli will try to contain Miller, while OT Jamil Viaud will face Toney. Miller and Toney are top- flight pass rushers, and in Marinelli and Viaud, they will be going up against a pair of first-year starters. Those matchups should create some real problems for the Golden Flashes. // EDGE Penn State