YSU OPPONENT Kent's hopes high for rebound

The injury-plagued Golden Flashes were a disappointing 3-9 last season.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Dean Pees is in his seventh season as coach at Kent State and has high expectations for this year's team.
Pees' rebuilding program seemed to pay off in 2001 when the Golden Flashes' 6-5 record was their first above .500 in 14 years.
Last year, hampered by a rash of injuries, Kent State slipped to 3-9. The Golden Flashes are 1-1 entering Saturday's game against Youngstown State.
In their season opener, Kent State scored 17 points in the final three minutes and beat Akron 41-38 on Travis Mayle's 40-yard field goal as time elapsed.
Last week, against nationally ranked Pittsburgh, the Golden Flashes scored first to take a 3-0 lead, but then allowed 43 unanswered points to suffer their first defeat.
Main threat
Kent State is led by quarterback Joshua Cribbs, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior, who is equally dangerous running as he is passing.
Cribbs and senior tailback David Alston (5-10, 205) lead the team in rushing with 100 yards each.
Cribbs has completed 36-of-66 passes for 426 yards and three touchdowns.
He had his career-best day against Akron, completing 25-of-43 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns.
His top receivers are redshirt freshman Antwan Smith (6-2, 195) and senior tight end Neil Buckosh, who have 15 receptions combined. Smith had six catches for 75 yards against Akron and a touchdown.
"Our biggest goals on offense are getting balance between our running and passing games and creating more big-play opportunities," Pees said.
"We had one of the best off-seasons we've had in my six years, and the players are very focused," Pees said. "If we stay healthy, this can be the best team we've put on the field since I've been here," he added.
Anchor
The big offensive line is lead by three-year starter Steve Smith (6-4, 280) at center.
"Steve is the mainstay of the offensive line and the glue that holds that group together," Pees said. "He has to do things right because the whole offensive attack starts with him."
Defensively, Kent State switched from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 with hopes of taking advantage of a deep and talented linebacking corps.
The Flashes have two of the best linebackers in the Mid-American Conference -- senior Anthony Henriquez (5-11, 235) and junior Eric Mahl (6-2, 245). Both missed more than half the season a year ago with injuries.
Veterans
Fifth-year senior Alan Williams (6-2, 280) returns at one defensive tackle while sophomore Daniel Muir (6-2, 255) is the other.
Junior free safety Shannon Davis (6-0, 195) is the lone returnee in the secondary for the Golden Flashes.
Mayle (6-0, 180 sophomore) received freshman All-American honorable mention last year when he converted 12-of-14 field goals, with a long of 42 yards.
Sophomore Joshua Brazen (5-11, 185) is in his first season as the punter and is averaging 38.5 yards on 13 kicks.
Saturday's game has been designated the Tops United Way Kickoff and will introduce the United Way of Portage County's 2003-04 campaign.
The two teams also will be playing for the Schwebel Challenge Series trophy, which is sponsored by the Schwebel Baking Company of Youngstown.
It is a hand-blown vase with a finished rollercoaster top and a detailed stone-wheel engraving of two players' profiles bearing the logos of the two schools.
mollica@vindy.com