Late Rally Falls Short in Football's 35-32 Loss at Ohio
9/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Ohio (2-2, 1-0 MAC) rushed for 385 yards, including a career-high 200 from Kalvin McCrae and 139 from Voncarie Owens, and the Bobcat defense recorded six interceptions but had to hold off a strong fourth quarter surge from Kent State freshman quarterback Jon Brown and junior receiver Najah Pruden."The game came down to turnovers and their ability to run the ball on us," head coach Doug Martin said. "We did some really good things on offense. We're just still too young offensively to be where we want to be. We just couldn't rise up to the challenges that OU gave to us today. They played a great game."
Brown completed 15-of-19 passes for 106 yards, one touchdown and an interception filling in after starter Michael Machen left with a knee injury. Pruden, who had a career day with seven receptions for an even 200 yards, caught a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns that nearly brought the Flashes back from what was at one time a 19-point deficit.
Kent State led 2-0 after the first quarter thanks to strong special teams play. Sophomore cornerback Jack Williams tackled Ohio returner Mark Parson in the end zone on a punt for the first score of the game.
Another strong special teams play, this one by senior receiver Derrick Bush, downed a punt at the one-yard line early in the second quarter. Ohio responded with an 11-play, 99-yard drive, highlighted by a 50-yard scamper by McCrae that set up his own four-yard run to put the Bobcats up 7-2.Matt Muncy intercepted a Machen pass and returned it 37 yards to the Kent state 11, setting up Ohios second touchdown, a 6-yard pass from Austen Everson to Scott Mayle.
After forcing a Kent State punt, the Bobcats struck again with McRae busting loose for a 21 yard run that made it 21-2 with three minutes remaining in the half.
After Machen was intercepted deep in his own territory- the fourth pick of the first half- the Kent State defense answered the challenge when senior linebacker Jon Sessler picked off Everson three plays later and raced 73 yards for the touchdown that brought the Flashes within 21-9 at the half.
Freshman safety Rico Murray intercepted Everson on the opening drive of the second half, setting up a 33-yard field goal by senior Travis Mayle.
Ohio answered back with an 80-yard drive that took 11 plays capped off by a four-yard run by Owens.
The Flashes answered quickly with Machen hitting Pruden for an 84-yard gain down to the Ohio seven-yard line. Two plays later freshman Jerry Flowers took the ball in from 10 yards out with 10 seconds remaining in the third to bring Kent State within 10 at 28-18.
Owens looked to have sealed the game with a 75-yard scamper one minute into the fourth quarter that put the Bobcats up 35-18 but Kent State came roaring back on its next possession. Machen hit Pruden on a short drop and the speedy junior did the rest, weaving through traffic for a 60-yard score.
After forcing an Ohio punt, the Flashes had the ball- and the momentum- at their own 39, but Machen was picked off by Michael Brown on a long pass and was hit awkwardly on the release, ending his day 15-of-32 passing for 382 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions.
After the KSU defense once again forced an Ohio punt, Brown came in and engineered a drive deep inside Ohio territory before being picked off by Dion Byrum- his second of the game- in the end zone to end that threat.
A third defensive stand gave the Flashes the ball back and this time they capitalized with Brown finding Pruden across the middle for an 8-yard score with just under two minutes to go.
Kent State recovered the ensuing onside kick but before the ball had traveled the required 10 yards, giving Ohio the ball and the opportunity to run out the clock.
Everson completed 13-of-19 passes for 145 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Bobcats, who outgained Kent State in total yardage 518-460.
Sessler led all players with 14 tackles to go along with his interception. Murray added a career-high 13 stops and Justin Parrish 10 while Matt Muncy made 12 tackles and broke up two passes for the Bobcats.
Senior Josh Brazen punted three times, averaging 51.7 yards per kick.
Kent State is on the road again next weekend, Oct. 1, at Eastern Michigan for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich. Ohio is at Bowling Green Oct. 8.
GAME NOTES: Sessler has recorded 10 or more tackles in all four games this season... Flowers' touchdown was the first rushing touchdown this season by Kent State...Kent State has intercepted at least one pass in its last nine games dating back to last season... Pruden matched his carer-high in receptions set vs. Bowling Green 11/17/03 and surpasses his previous high of 111 yards at Marshall 10/11/03... Bush now has 999 career receiving yards.. the interception was the second of Sesslers career and his first touchdown... it was the first INT returned for a touchdown by KSU since the 2004 season opener at Iowa (Jack Williams, 99 yards)... senior tight end Nick Bigrigg notched his first career reception in the first quarter... Kent State last recorded a safety Oct. 9, 1993 against Eastern Michigan.
