Just under 11 months after NIU tipped the first domino in its conference realignment by announcing its move to the Mountain West, the Huskies are about to bid farewell to their longtime home: the Mid-American Conference.
On Friday, NIU (3-8, 2-5 MAC) hosts the Kent State Golden Flashes (4-7, 3-4 MAC) for their final matchup as conference cohorts. The Huskies aim to send their seniors off with a victory, while the Golden Flashes look to secure their best finish since going 5-7 in 2022.
As NIU gears up for its grand MAC finale, the Northern Star went Behind Enemy Bylines with Gage Wellman, the football beat writer for The Kent Stater, to figure out how the Golden Flashes might stack up in this Black Friday clash.
Northern Star: Despite an ill-timed coaching change, Kent State has well exceeded expectations this season. How has this team come together under new head coach Mark Carney?
Gage Wellman: I’d first like to answer the part about the coaching decision being ill-timed. While it definitely may seem like that from an outside perspective, it was beyond time for KSU to move on from its previous coach. I don’t want to get into the details for a few reasons, but just know that “that” decision was long overdue (also for a lot of reasons).
Coach Carney is a leader of men, someone that the players clearly look up to. When the Flashes lost to CMU last week, junior wide receiver Da’Realyst Clark decided to stay behind and watch his coach’s postgame presser just because. It was announced on Oct. 30 that Carney would sign an extension that will keep him in Kent through the decade, and the team absolutely erupted in exuberance. I would look that video up on IG. Overall, the play calling has improved, the passing game has improved and the team chemistry/attitude has changed under Carney.
NS: Kent State will be NIU’s final MAC opponent before leaving for the Mountain West next season. What’s the attitude toward its departure over in Kent, and is there added incentive to send the Huskies out with a loss?
GW: From a personal perspective, I don’t like it. I’m not a fan of realignment in general, and taking NIU and dumping it in the Mountain West disrupts the geographical alignment that had already existed in both the MAC and the MW. The Atlantic Coast Conference has teams on the West Coast, the Big Ten now has teams from the West Coast, etc. The MAC was the one conference that really made sense. This seems to be the sentiment among my fellow sportswriters.
As for sending out the Huskies with the loss, I think the Flashes are more concerned with just getting a win in general, not necessarily sending NIU with a loss in its last game as a MAC team.
NS: After getting their first road win two weeks ago at Akron, what do the Golden Flashes need to do to keep that momentum going in the season finale?
GW: They’ve got to start fast. In all of their wins so far this season, the Flashes start fast. Whether it’s forcing turnovers against Akron, or fielding kick returns from Clark, KSU is better when it gets off to a fast start. You’ve also got to contain the pass, although the Flashes held CMU in check in that regard. The problem being in that game was that the Chippewas were just too big and too strong, and that showed up in the running game. Overall, redshirt sophomore quarterback Dru DeShields is the key. In his last road game, he was one of the best quarterbacks in the country that week.
NS: Kent State has seen flashes (no pun intended) on offense from players like quarterback Dru DeShields and wide receiver Da’Realyst Clark. In what ways could they threaten NIU’s defense on Friday?
GW: When Carney and OC Clay Paterson get DeShields moving to the right and left in bootlegs, look out. That’s how Akron lost when they couldn’t stop a mobile DeShields from leaving the pocket and finding Ardell Banks. DeShields also steers clear from interceptions, which is rare for a first-year starter. He’s had fumble issues as of late, but when it comes to the air, you’re not really concerned about him making the wrong decision. He’s also great at spreading the wealth. It’s not just Clark that’s a weapon, it’s Cade Wolford, Terik Mulder, and as of late Wayne Harris. As for Clark, if he has a big play, it usually ensures a Kent win. That’s been the common denominator against Merrimack, UMass, BGSU and Akron.
NS: The Golden Flashes are among the lowest-ranked defenses in the Football Bowl Subdivision. What (or who) is to blame for the struggles on that side of the ball?
GW: The secondary has issues covering the deep ball. Receivers in general can have good days against the KSU pass defense, and that’s been an issue. Akron was able to come back in that game purely because Marcel Williams nearly broke all of Akron’s single-game receiving records against the Flashes.
NS: Lastly, what’s your final score prediction for this game?
GW: Overall, I’ll take the Flashes 24-17. I don’t expect KSU to really dominate and leave no doubt in this game, but I do think this is definitely a winnable contest for a team that technically does have bowl game hopes. Should the Flashes move to 5-7, first-year coaches do get priority for bowl spots that become open due to dropping. I’m excited to see how DeShields responds, as the Flashes usually follow conference losses with conference wins.
