Kent State Review

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Tue Sep 05 09:17:26 GMT-04:00 2017

Kent State Review

If you could have scripted the season opener on Saturday, I am not sure you could have written a better story. Almost everything went about as good as can be expected. The only disappointment was just how bad Kent State was and how little resistance they put up.

Offensively the Tigers scored early and often, but perhaps the best news was the effectiveness of Kelly Bryant. We knew Bryant could run and were not surprised by his seven carries for 77 yards and a touchdown, but his passing was on point going 16 of 22 for 236 yards including a 61-yard bomb to Deon Cain. In fact, all three quarterbacks played well going 25 and 35 for 312 yards and two touchdowns.

I was hoping to see the offense play a bunch of players and get everyone touches and that is exactly what happened. Fifteen different receivers caught passes. Nine different players carried the ball. And all three quarterbacks got significant action. The offensive line played well and that most importantly played a lot of reserves.

Everything was pretty efficient in term of the special teams play. Clemson only punted twice but averaged 49 yards. The kick teams and covers teams played well.

Defensively, Brent Venables was able to shut down Kent State holding them to five first downs. Kent State averaged only 2.7 yards per carry but was very predictable and only attempted five passes.

The best news for the defense was 33 players played. It was good to see players get significant snaps. Here is the official snap total:

Bevelle 3, Bryant 27, Carter 15, JD Davis 12, Judah Davis 5, Edmond 13, Ferrell 26, Fields 10, Foster 9, Huggins 13, Johnson 18, Joseph 25, Kelly 10, Lamar 22, Lawrence 23, Magwood 3, Mullen 22, Muse 28, Daniel 22, Pinckney 13, Register 14, Rudolph 12, Simmons 21, Skalski 13, Chad Smith 13, Shaw Smith 8, Van Smith 9, AJ Terrell 21, Trapp 17, Turner 9, Wallace 31, Wilkins 21, and Williams 24.

Going into the game, the two biggest keys were getting their feet wet and staying injury free. Van Smith tweaked his knee and is questionable for the Auburn game, but this was the only new injury from Saturday. The other major goal was to look sharp and efficient. Clemson accomplished that and more

Yes, the opponent was inferior and put up a disappointing fight, but everything else was almost perfect. It was great to see the new signage in the stadium, the band's halftime tribute, and I was delighted to see Deshaun Watson make a return visit to the Valley.

This week is a whole new ballgame. Auburn is coming to town on Saturday night, and the real start of the 2017 campaign is upon us.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

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The prayer list is a medium for our community to recognize those that are in need. If you would like to add someone to the list, please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com. Please let me know when it is appropriate to remove a person off the list.

Those who need our prayers include: Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki Sullins, Peter Laboy, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon Kirkland and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Mr. Gillespie, Bobbi Nicholson, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, Robert Summerville, Michelle Richey, Julie Moore, Ashley Fitch, Kevin Anderson, Lyn Price, John Robert Smith, Allison Williams, Nicholas Wickiser, Hammond Family, Elaine G. Duvall, Addison Grace, Bennie Cunningham, Kevin Orcutt, Alan Finley, Keith Wells, Steve Byrd, Jessica Hernandez, Wayne Mullins, Rita Alexander, Tony Osterman, family and friends of Gary Cooper, Derk Denton, Tim Vacek, Mike Vacek, Phil Compton, Alma Jean Sullivan, Lindsey Motley, Riley Cook, Dwayne Wood, Eileen Thomas, Larry Nimmons and Family, Annie Gregory, Amy Black, Will Black, Sam Smith, Dixon Family, Joe Lazorik, Mark Smith, Rene' Nelson, R. Bruce Harnage, Norris Brown and family, Tanner Cain, Avery Cain, Ted Wilson, Sandra Wilson, Leoffels family, Wren Jansen, Gail Culbreth, Jody Sinex, Donald Sikes, Carolyn and Richard Helderman, Jimmy Hutto, Christina M. Facen, Mike McGrady, John Harrison, Mike Vigdor, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.