KENT, Ohio ? For the second straight game, Kent State freshman quarterback Spencer Keith threw two touchdown passes to classmate Tyshon Goode. The Golden Flashes’ 26-14 victory over Western Michigan marked the third straight game in which the duo combined for a touchdown.
“Those two have got a good chemistry together,” said KSU head coach Doug Martin. “It makes you a much better coach when you have those guys.”
Keith and Goode form the most productive quarterback-wide receiver tandem at Kent State since 2004 when senior Josh Cribbs completed 68 passes to classmate Darrell Dowery, Jr., for 712 yards and four scores.
Through nine games, Keith and Goode have combined for 40 completions for 553 yards and five touchdowns, all during the Golden Flashes’ three-game win streak. Their production has the Golden Flashes in the hunt for their first Mid-American Conference title since 1972.
Goode, a 6-foot-1, 178-pounder from Syracuse, N.Y., has started seven of nine games this season and already he’s been more productive than three of Kent State’s best receivers of all time, combined. During their freshmen seasons, Eugene Baker (1995), Dowery (2001) and Najah Pruden (2003) combined to catch 38 passes for 516 yards and two scores.
Baker, a three-time all-MAC selection and third team All-American, went on to catch 229 passes for 3,513 yards and 35 touchdowns. Dowery, who led the Flashes in receiving for three straight years, ended his career with 152 catches for 1,931 yards and eight scores and Pruden hauled in 113 passes for 2,131 yards and 15 touchdowns in his Kent State career.
Goode’s presence has been felt, not only in his production, but also in the timing of many of his catches. For instance, the Golden Flashes led Western Michigan, 26-14, on Saturday but faced a crucial third-and-15 with just over four minutes left in the game.
Keith threw a ball into double coverage but Goode managed to out jump the Broncos’ defenders to make the catch and seal the Flashes’ victory.
“That’s what we saw when we recruited Tyshon from Hargrave (Military Academy),” Martin said. “He would go up and take the ball away from people. He’s a physical receiver. He’s going to get much stronger and bigger. He’s just a freshman. He has great athletic ability when the ball’s in the air. That’s what we really liked about him. He’s just got great hands. He’s a talent.”
Keith has been just as impressive this season.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder from Little Rock, Ark., has completed 120-of-204 passes for 1,538 yards and 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions. His 58.8 completion percentage puts him just ahead of Tim Phillips (1983-87), who is Kent State’s all-time leader in the category with a 58.3 completion percentage. Keith needs 96 more attempts before he can be officially included in the category.
Like Goode, Keith is performing at or above the level of some of Kent State’s best signal callers during their freshmen seasons.
Keith already passed the 1,516 yards and 10 touchdowns Cribbs threw for during his freshman year in 2001. Cribbs went on to throw for a KSU best 7,169 yards in his career.
With 6,722 yards from 1997-99, Jose Davis is second all-time at Kent State. He threw for 2,707 yards and 32 touchdowns during his first year with the Flashes in 1997 and Greg Kokal, third all-time with 5,587 yards, threw for just 792 yards during his freshman season in 1972.
Keith’s progression this season has allowed his head coach to grow more comfortable adding more and more of the playbook to the Flashes’ offensive game plan each week.
“I feel really comfortable right now that I could call any play in the offense with Spencer and know that he’s not going to hurt us,” Martin said. “I really feel confident that I can call anything that I want with him and we’ll execute it.”
Equally important to his success throwing the ball has been Keith’s demeanor on the field, even after making a mistake.
“He’s one of those guys, he’s kind of unflappable,” Martin said. “When he makes a mistake he doesn’t carry it around with him. He just goes to the next play. I think that’s been healthy for all of our players to see.”
If this dynamic duo continues to make plays and produce on the field, they could end their careers atop all their respective statistical categories?and more importantly, could keep the Golden Flashes in contention for a MAC title for the next several years.
Posted on 11/2 8:43 AM | IP: Logged
We already have a nice dymanic duo on D (Mixon/Lainhart), so it's nice to add the boy wonders on offense as well.
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“Those two have got a good chemistry together,” said KSU head coach Doug Martin. “It makes you a much better coach when you have those guys.”