By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

Rushing for 1,000 yards and throwing for 1,000 more in the same season was becoming routine for Joshua Cribbs - that is, until this season.

Last season, the Kent State junior quarterback gained 1,057 yards on the ground and 1,014 through the air to become just the second player in NCAA Division I-A football history to post two such seasons. He won't be making it three this season. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Cribbs has been hampered by a bad ankle, and new offensive coordinator Doug Martin has placed more emphasis on passing.

The result? Cribbs has gained just 223 yards rushing, but has passed for 1,375, and he's on pace to reach 2,060, which would smash his previous high of 1,516.

Cribbs could find his passing progress stymied this afternoon, when the Golden Flashes face the Miami RedHawks in a Mid-American Conference East Division matchup at 2 p.m. at Dix Stadium. Miami is ranked fifth in the MAC in pass defense, second in scoring defense and first in total defense.

"The thing is with Miami, the first thing that always comes up is (quarterback) Ben Roethlisberger and their offense, but their defense isn't exactly letting many people score," KSU coach Dean Pees said. "They've won 49-3, 59-3, 45-20. Their defense is stellar, and their special teams have been running back punts and kicks. They have been doing it as a team, scoring in a lot of different ways."

While Miami will be trying to extend its winning streak to seven, matching the school's longest since the 1998 team ended the season with seven straight wins for a 10-1 record, the Golden Flashes are hoping to snap a losing streak that reached three with last Saturday's 34-31 non-conference loss to Connecticut. Despite KSU's increased emphasis on passing, Cribbs scored two rushing touchdowns in that game.

"He's regaining his health," MU coach Terry Hoeppner said. "His ankle's looking better. The threat was always there, but the nature of their offense has changed. When they have the ball, we'll know where he is. They're planning tricks. We'll need to have our antennae up."

Cribbs threw three touchdown passes in the Golden Flashes' season-opening win against over Akron, nearly equaling the total of four he turned in last season. He also threw for three touchdowns in KSU's loss at Marshall two weeks ago.

Even though he's throwing more, Cribbs can't match Roethlisberger. The Miami junior has compiled 2,128 yards passing in the RedHawks' first seven games. Miami is averaging 46.7 points during its six-game winning streak, and KSU stands 11th in the MAC in total defense and 10th in scoring defense.

"We have a big challenge with Miami coming in here," Pees said. "They're better than I've ever seen them play, and they're really confident and the best team I've seen on film this year. I watched the Iowa game last night and they had every opportunity to beat them. ... If Roethlisberger doesn't throw those picks in the red area and if the receivers don't drop one in the end zone, it's a different game. They could very easily be 7-0.

"It's hard to break them down because most of their games are over after three quarters." Pees added. "It's hard to get any tendencies when the score is 49-0. They are just rolling, playing with a lot of confidence and making plays.

"Roethlisberger has a good arm and strong mobility for being 6-5, 240 pounds. When this guy scrambles, he will run the ball some, not like Cribbs, but when he takes off, you better cover your man, because he will find an opening. He wants to pass the ball. He breaks a lot of tackles and is dangerous on the run because he can throw.

"To beat them, we have to do well offensively and keep their offense off the field," Pees said. "We have to move the ball on their defense, which has been tough as of late."

Miami at Kent State

Kickoff: 2 p.m., Dix Stadium (22,500), Kent, Ohio.

Records: Miami (6-1, 3-0 MAC), Kent State 3-5 (2-2).

TV: WB64, ESPN Plus.

Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WMOH-AM (1450).

Series: Miami leads, 40-10.

Line: Miami by 22.

What to watch: Miami is second in kickoff-return coverage in the MAC; Kent's Antonio King is second with 24.8 yards per return.

MIAMI	Team stats	KENT
467.6	Offense avg.	331.8
154.3	Avg. by rush	137.4
313.3	Avg. by pass	194.4
310.3	Defense avg.	424.6
99.7	Avg. by rush	168.0
210.6	Avg. by pass	256.6
40.4	PPG.	23.4
17.0	Avg. pts. against	32.4