Recordpub.com - Season could be over for Vanderink

A back injury could sideline Alan Vanderink for the rest of Kent State’s 2009 season.

The former Crestwood star missed most of the Golden Flashes’ preseason camp with a sore back. He has now been diagnosed with a stress fracture in one of his vertebrae.

“Alan is going to be out quite some time, maybe for the season,” said Martin. “This has been something he has been dealing with for a while. He was actually in a car wreck during the summer and it hasn’t healed up since that time. During practice this week he got banged around a little bit and it flared up again.”

After playing wide receiver during his first two seasons in Kent, Vanderink moved back to his old high-school position, running back, at the start of the year. Missing reps in training camp led to his seeing limited action and only on special teams this season.

If Vanderink does not return this season, he could apply for for a medical hardship from the NCAA.

“We’ll see how all of that goes throughout the season,” said Martin. “It is possible we could get him back this year, but right now he’s going to miss a while at least.”

With Eugene Jarvis already lost for the season with a lacerated kidney and backup Andre Flowers recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of last week’s game at Baylor, Kent State is now even thinner at the running back position.

Sophomore Jacquise Terry, a running back who had been switched to wide receiver at the start of the year, stepped into the starting job and performed admirably last week, recording his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game. In 27 attempts this season, Terry is averaging a gaudy 7.9 yards per run. True freshman Dri Archer has also provided a spark, averaging 5.0 yards per carry in his 21 attempts.

Martin said wide receiver and kick returner Anthony Bowman could be used at running back in an emergency situation.

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ON THE MEND — Kent State should have its starting offensive line back at full strength for Saturday’s Homecoming game with Bowling Green.

Left guard Michael Fay is expected to return to the lineup after missing two weeks following minor knee surgery. Josh Kline came back to play right guard against Baylor after missing the previous week.

The play of the offensive line has been improving, and Fay’s return should keep the unit going in the right direction. The group led the way for 165 rushing yards and 6.6 per carry average against Baylor. It also kept the Bears’ massive offensive line from recording a single sack.

“(Linebacker) Dorian Wood has a concussion,” said Martin. “That’s the only injury we had in the Baylor game. I’m not sure of his status. Probably doubtful.”

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POINTS MATTER, NOT YARDS — A great quote from Saturday’s FSN Southwest broadcast of the KSU-Baylor game explains the philosophy of the Golden Flashes’ defense.

KSU defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis apparently told the broadcast team “I’ve never seen a team lose a game because of the number of yards they gave up,” when asked about the 552 yards the Flashes surrendered in the previous week’s 29-19 win over Miami University.

The RedHawks marched up and down the field, but were forced into either a turnover or to settle for a field goal on most of their red-zone opportunities.

Rekstis’ charges are starting to like the bend-but-don’t-break label.

“I think we make a lot of plays in the red zone. We get turnovers,” said senior linebacker Anthony Mirando. “Coach Rekstis instilled in us that we have to get turnovers. They are going to get yards, but we can’t get down. Red-zone defense is a big thing. We can’t let them score. It’s the defense’s mentality.”

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IN THE MIX — It has been good to see Kent State using more of the field in the passing game in recent weeks. Throwing to the middle of the field and not just to the sidelines has allowed tight end Jonathon Simpson and H-back Jameson Konz to get more involved in the passing game.

That duo combined for seven catches for 85 yards and a touchdown at Baylor

After being used mostly as a blocker in the season’s first three games, Konz has posted seven of his 10 catches, 127 of his 153 yards and both of his touchdown receptions in the last two weeks. That is the kind of production the Flashes were hoping from Konz when they moved him from linebacker to a receiver position last season. Unfortunately, Konz missed all of 2008 with an ankle injury.

“The injury was kind of a setback, but I tried to play my role, keep the team encouraged any way I could, and just get in the weight room to get stronger and faster to focus on (2009),” said Konz. “Now everything has come full circle. Hopefully we can have a good year this year, and I can contribute any way I can.”

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David Carducci can be contacted at dcarducci@recordpub.com