Ohio Hands Flashes 17-10 Loss in MAC Opener
10/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio –Kent State took Ohio down to the game's final minutes, before dropping a 17-10 decision to the Bobcats at Peden Stadium Saturday. Ohio improved to 4-1 in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.
The Golden Flashes blocked a field goal and a punt in the first quarter, but could not capitalize as they also threw a pair of interceptions in the opening 15 minutes. After picking off a Jacquise Terry (Phenix City, Ala.) pass on a trick play, the Bobcats marched 50 yard to the Kent State 25, setting up a 43-yard field goal.
Junior C.J. Malauulu (Oceanside, Calif.) forced a second quarter fumble in Bobcat territory, which led to the Flashes' first score. A 12-yard run by Anthony Meray (Spanaway, Wash.) set up a one yard bootleg by Spencer Keith (Little Rock, Ark.) to give Kent State a 7-3 lead.
Ohio responded with a 10-play drive capped off by a catch in the corner of the end zone by LaVon Brazill. The Bobcats had 143 more yards of total offense and over six more minutes of possession then Flashes at halftime, but led just 10-7.
The Bobcats extended their lead to 17-7 on a 13-play drive in the third quarter, topped off by a seven-yard catch by Ryan Boykin. The drive was highlighted by a leaping 22-yard grab by Brazill on a third-and-nine.
A 31-yard field by Freddy Cortez (Fort Meade, Fla.) with 5:42 left in the game cut the lead to seven. However, a Bobcat punt pinned the Flashes at their own one yard line. A fourth-and-three pass sailed incomplete to end Kent State's hopes with 1:23 left.
Eight different KSU receivers caught passes, but the Flashes longest gain on a pass was 19 yards.
The Golden Flashes continue Mid-American Conference play on the road Saturday, Oct. 8 at Northern Illinois.
• Junior Luke Batton blocked a field goal on the opening possession. It was the Flashes first blocked kick of the season and the first since last year against Bobcats.
• Later in the first, sophomore Richard Gray blocked the Flashes' first punt of the season and Kent State's first since hosting Temple last season.
• Senior Matt Rinehart had a 68-yard punt in the first quarter, his longest of the season.
• Junior Spencer Keith had his sixth career rushing touchdown and second in as many games.
• Junior Freddy Cortez made his 28th career field goal, passing Nate Reed for fourth place among KSU's career leaders. He has made 25 of his last 32 field goal attempts over his last 22 games.
• Senior Chris Gilbert made his first catch of the season.
• Junior C.J Malauulu led both sides with a caerr-high 12 tackles, adding his team-leading third sack of the year and a forced fumble. He has made 22 tackles in his last two games.
• Kent State's four running backs (Hollomon, Durham, Meray, Terry) combined for 103 yards on 24 carries.
• Redshirt freshman Tom Pizzurro made his first career start at left guard.
• Redshirt freshman Calvin Tiggle recorded a career-high 11 tackles
• Junior Sidney Saulter recorded a career-high eight tackles with seven solo stops.
• Sophomore Darius Polk recorded a career-high seven tackles and his first career sack.
• Three Kent State players had 10 or more tackles in a game (Malauulu, Tiggle, Batton) for the first time since 2009.
Head Coach Darrell Hazell
It was frustrating. We didn't execute the way we could have and should have. The game was right there in our reach and we couldn't get it going offensively to take the pressure off the defense. There were too many dropped balls and not enough good execution. We've just got to get a whole lot better than we are right now. The disappointing thing is that we had things open in the first half. We've got to go back to the drawing board tomorrow and find a way to right the ship.
On the running game
They were bringing a safety up on the strong side and that got us a few times. And we fell off the block a few times.
On the defense
They played well and kept us in the ballgame.
We've got to stay focused every play and play our own game.
On a first quarter interception
I just didn't get enough air on it. It was a mistake on my part.
CJ Malauulu
On the defense
Overall I thought we played well. But we gave up a couple big plays and could have taken advantage of some turnover opportunities. We need to tackle better. I thought we played good, but we need to be great.
