'Hawks seek first victory at Kent St.

Both teams suffered lopsided losses in their season openers.

As disappointed as Doug Martin was in his team's season-opening performance, he still believes the Kent State football program is headed in the right direction.

Michigan State piled up an astounding 685 yards of offense against the Mid-American Conference's top-rated defense from last year and romped 49-14.

"We were really disappointed in the way we played defensively," Martin said. "Michigan State is a great team and I give them a lot of credit. But we can play a lot better than we did."

The Golden Flashes (0-1) will have their next opportunity to validate Martin's faith in them when they host Division I-AA Southeast Missouri State (0-1) today in a 3 p.m. kickoff in Kent, Ohio.

Martin, KSU's second-year coach, led the Golden Flashes to one of their better showings in nearly three decades last season as they went 5-6, including 4-4 in the MAC.

That might not seem like much, but consider that KSU has only one winning record in the past 17 years -- a 6-5 mark in 2001 -- and just two winning seasons since 1977.

KSU ended 2004 with four consecutive victories for the program's longest winning streak since 1976.

The Golden Flashes also made their mark statistically last year. They scored 335 points and gained 4,168 yards, the second and third highest totals in school history, and set a school record for points in a game by blasting Eastern Michigan 69-17.

"I really do feel good [about the program]," said Martin, who also serves as KSU's offensive coordinator. "We did some nice things last year, and we return a lot of players on both sides [seven starters on both offense and defense]."

KSU's defense, which entered the season with especially high hopes, is spearheaded by senior linebacker Justin Parrish, who had a school-record 14 sacks last year. Parrish is on the watch list for the Lombardi Award, given to the nation's top lineman.

Offensively, sophomore quarterback Michael Machen had a strong debut for KSU, his latest stop on an interesting journey.

Machen, a 6-foot-6, 235-pounder, was selected out of high school in the 14th round of the 2000 baseball draft by the Braves. He pitched for three years in Atlanta's minor league system, then gave up the sport and signed to play football for Alabama.

After redshirting for the Crimson Tide in 2003, Machen transferred to Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, where he threw for more than 2,000 yards last year, then signed with KSU.

Against Michigan State, Machen completed 31 of 52 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.

"We feel we have a special quarterback and he proved that [against Michigan State]," Martin said. "He obviously has a very good arm, or he wouldn't have pitched for the Braves for three years."

The Golden Flashes attempted 55 passes against the Spartans, while running the ball just 15 times (and gaining 14 yards). That was partly because KSU trailed substantially for most of the game -- but also because the Golden Flashes' offense is centered around an air attack.

And that could make for an interesting matchup today, because Southeast also relies heavily on the passing game. Redhawks coach Tim Billings joked that "it's going to be raining footballs at Kent. It may be a five-hour game."

Said Martin, "He's right; the offenses are two mirror images. We throw the ball all over the field, and I know they do, also."

Like KSU, Southeast was hammered in its opener, as Southern Illinois -- ranked fourth in Division I-AA -- romped 58-23.

But Martin said he was impressed with the Redhawks on tape.

"Their quarterback looks real good, and it looks like they can run," he said.

Southeast quarterback Mike Haley also made his first start in the opener, completing 19 of 35 passes for 223 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

"I was real excited about Mike Haley and the offense [in the SIU game]," Billings said.

Billings knows that, even though KSU is far from a Division I-A power, the Redhawks will be major underdogs today. Southeast is 0-6 against MAC teams since Billings took over the program in 2000, but the Redhawks did upset Division I-A Middle Tennessee State from the Sun Belt Conference in 2002.

Asked whether he believes today's contest is winnable for the Redhawks, Billings said, "I don't know, until I get there and see them. What concerns me is their size and strength. But I think speed-wise we match up with them."

Martin said he doubts that his players will take a Division I-AA opponent lightly for several reasons.

"Our players understand you can be beat on any day, and we haven't had enough success here to take anybody for granted," Martin said. "After last week, we just need to play another game, no matter who it is, to get the bad taste out of our mouths. I'm sure they feel the same way."