Kent State University
2-9 , 1-6
Toledo
6-5 , 4-3
Defending MAC Champs Win Shootout at Dix
11/15/2018 10:59:00 PM | Football
KENT, Ohio – Kent State put together its third highest scoring output of the season, but Toledo pulled away early in the second half in a 56-34 road victory Thursday night at Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes totaled 497 yards of offense and 314 yards passing.
A 43-yard opening kickoff return by Jamal Parker helped the Flashes get on the board in 1:24 to start the game. Sophomore quarterback Woody Barrett capped off a four-play drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. On the previous played, he connected with Mike Carrigan on a 35-yard pass. It was Barrett's seventh rushing touchdown of the season.
Toledo scored touchdowns on its next three possessions to take a 21-7 lead.
The Flashes took advantage of a pair of 15-yard penalties by Toledo on a second quarter drive that ended with a Matthew Trickett field goal. Trickett, a true freshman, went 2-for-2 on the day, improving to 12-of-14 on field goal attempts this season.
A season-long, 90-yard drive cut the deficit to four (21-17) after Barrett hit Isaiah McKoy on a seven-yard touchdown strike. The drive included a 37-yard catch by Carrigan and a 20-yard grab by Antwan Dixon.
Toledo's Diontae Johnson fumbled a punt, but was able to recover and return it 83 yards for a touchdown to give the Rockets a 28-17 lead heading into halftime.
The Rockets opened the third quarter with three touchdowns in the first five minutes, but the Flashes did not go away quietly
Junior running back Jo-El Shaw stiff-armed two would-be tacklers on the way to 76-yard touchdown run, his seventh score of the season. Shaw's 116 yards on 16 carries was his third 100-yard rushing performance of the season.
Trickett tacked on a 38-yard field goal to trim the lead to 49-27.
Sophomore quarterback Dustin Crum came in for the fourth quarter and led a 12-play, 84-yard scoring drive. Crum flipped a two-yard scoring toss to Carrigan in the backfield for the Flashes' fourth touchdown of the game.
Carrigan finished with career-highs of seven catches and 110 receiving yards. He's made a catch of 30 yards or more in five games this year.
Barrett completed 17 passes and moved into fourth place in completions in a season (210) at Kent State. He also became the seventh quarterback in program history to reach 2,000 yards passing (2,130) in a season.
Junior linebacker Dalton Hicks led the defense with 13 tackles.
Kent State closes out its regular season Friday, Nov. 23, hosting Eastern Michigan at noon.
Head Coach Sean Lewis
Opening Statement…
"Obviously, that is not the result that we were looking for. I'm really proud of the way the kids competed and fought, especially the way the defensive responded at the end of the first half eliminating Toledo to no points and getting us out was a great job of complimentary football back and forth. We did not start the second half the way that we wanted to, with giving up a score with obviously a quick pick six and a special team's touchdown as well. It was really tough coming out and climbing out of that hole, but I'm really proud of the way the kids fought early on and we had that fight and the finish out and everything."
On stopping the run…
"They are a very good program. Coach [Jason] Candle and his staff do a very good job. They did a nice job of their gaps gains, their pin pull, their counter, their power and there were just some things where we were a little over aggressive. But they do a really good job of what they are doing. There is a reason they are defending conference champions. We have to go back and we have to do a good job of our day one stuff and really focus on our techniques and our fundamentals and make sure that we're all where we need to be and just doing our job. A lot of those runs our guys are doing a little bit too much instead of doing their one eleventh and being in the right spots. The ball will naturally come back and find them, so just getting back to our day one stuff, our fundamentally belief in fundamentals. And we need to be better at our fundamentals and that will carry us through to where we need to be and to have the results that we want."
On Punt Returner Diontae Johnson…
"Unfortunately, we left the ball in the field of play a few times and that becomes really tough for the cover team. We wanted to eliminate him and obviously we didn't execute that plan to the best of our ability. He's a good player, and they have a good scheme. They really stress you out with the way that they come at you and their double A gaps. You have to do a great job and make sure that you're sound in protection which obviously eliminates the number of people that you can get out down the field which gives him room to work. He's a dynamic athlete but we could not put the ball in position and he made us pay for that.
Wide Receiver Mike Carrigan
On Woody Barrett…
"We practice every day on deep balls. It is just repetition. I know that if I get my release then Woody [Barrett] is going to put the ball on me."
Defensive Back Jamal Parker
On fourth down stop…
"During fourth down, that is the money down. Execution is key. You want to get off the field so the offense can get back on the field. I just did my job."
On not giving up big plays…
"It is just about finishing the tackle and finishing the play. You have to go hard the whole time. You got them right where you need them, but if you don't finish the play you can see two yard gains turn into five or five yard gains turn into 10."
Team Stats
TOLEDO 0, KENT 7
KENT - BARRETT, WOODY 7 yd run (TRICKETT, M. kick), 4 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:24
TOLEDO 7, KENT 7
TOLEDO - THOMPKINS, Art 31 yd run (VEST, Jameson kick), 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:23
TOLEDO 14, KENT 7
TOLEDO - GILLIAM, Reggie 3 yd pass from PETERS, Eli (VEST, Jameson kick) 9 plays, 85 yards, TOP 4:12
TOLEDO 21, KENT 7
TOLEDO - KOBACK, Bryant 44 yd run (VEST, Jameson kick), 8 plays, 83 yards, TOP 4:02
TOLEDO 21, KENT 10
KENT - TRICKETT, M. 27 yd field goal 7 plays, 32 yards, TOP 1:43
TOLEDO 21, KENT 17
KENT - MCKOY, ISAIAH 19 yd pass from BARRETT, WOODY (TRICKETT, M. kick) 8 plays, 90 yards, TOP 2:07
TOLEDO 28, KENT 17
TOLEDO - JOHNSON, Di. 83 yd punt return (VEST, Jameson kick)
TOLEDO 35, KENT 17
TOLEDO - KOBACK, Bryant 15 yd run (VEST, Jameson kick), 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:29
TOLEDO 42, KENT 17
TOLEDO - TAAFE, Tyler 31 yd interception (VEST, Jameson kick)
TOLEDO 49, KENT 17
TOLEDO - JOHNSON,Jon'Vea 55 yd pass from PETERS, Eli (VEST, Jameson kick) 1 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:09
TOLEDO 49, KENT 24
KENT - SHAW, JO-EL 76 yd run (TRICKETT, M. kick), 3 plays, 81 yards, TOP 0:49
TOLEDO 49, KENT 27
KENT - TRICKETT, M. 38 yd field goal 11 plays, 45 yards, TOP 4:06
TOLEDO 56, KENT 27
TOLEDO - THOMPKINS, Art 1 yd run (VEST, Jameson kick), 7 plays, 59 yards, TOP 3:46
TOLEDO 56, KENT 34
KENT - CARRIGAN, MIKE 2 yd pass from CRUM, Dustin (TRICKETT, M. kick) 12 plays, 84 yards, TOP 5:16
