Second Half Comeback Falls Short in Season Finale

Friday, November 23

12:00 p.m.

Kent State University

2-10 , 1-7

Eastern Michigan

7-5 , 5-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

EMU

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Second Half Comeback Falls Short in Season Finale

11/23/2018 4:53:00 PM | Football

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – Kent State trimmed a 28-10 second half deficit down to eight points (28-20), but Eastern Michigan hung on for a Mid-American Conference road victory Friday afternoon at Dix Stadium. The Eagles (7-5) appear to be headed to their second bowl game in three years, while the Golden Flashes look toward 2019.

"We need to carry the lessons that we learned this year into the offseason," Head Coach Sean Lewis said. We need to carry that into winter conditioning and we need to know and understand that if I have a set of 10 reps, then I'm going to do that with the focus and intensity needed to win a game like today."

With his 19 completions, sophomore quarterback Woody Barrett broke Kent State's record for completions in a season with 229. Barrett also had his fifth 200-yard passing game of the season, behind connections of 40 yards or more to three different receivers.

An opening drive 41-yard pass from Barrett to Mike Carrigan helped set up a 23-yard field goal by Matthew Trickett as the Flashes jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.

On Eastern Michigan's first play from scrimmage, a trio of Flashes gathered around wide receiver Arthur Jackson as Cepeda Phillips forced a fumble that was quickly scooped up and taken into the end zone by Jamal Parker.

The Eagles responded with 21 straight points in the first half, including a two-minute scoring drive after Parker's touchdown.

Late in the first quarter, Barrett connected with Antwan Dixon on a 47-yard pass later, but the drive ended in a missed field goal.

Eastern Michigan tacked on to its 21-10 halftime lead with a 32-yard touchdown run from Ian Eriksen early in the third.

Midway through the third, the Flashes began an impressive 11-play, 95-yard scoring drive. In his final game, senior Johnny Woods made a 43-yard grab along the left sideline. Later in the drive, the Flashes went for it on fourth-and-goal as Jo-El Shaw pushed through the left side of the line to close the gap to 28-17. It was Shaw's ninth touchdown of the season and seventh on the ground. Shaw picked up 35 of his career-high 159 rushing yards on the drive with 102 of his yards coming the second half.

"Jo-El is kind of a microcosm of our family as a whole to where early on there was learning and growing," Lewis said. "He had to learn how to be himself as it aligned with us. He has done a great job of carving out a role for himself and changing his habits on a daily basis so that he can have success and his teammates know they can trust him. What he has done in practice has shown up on the field. He is a guy we are excited to have coming back for us next season."

Another 11-play drive led to a Trickett field goal in the fourth quarter. The true freshman improved to 14-of-17 on field goal attempts for the season.

Looking to tie the game, Kent State took another drive down to Eastern Michigan's 35, before a fourth down pass was intercepted.

Senior linebacker Matt Bahr saved one of his better games for last, with an interception, a sack and 11 tackles. He and Keith Sherald Jr. finished the season with a team-leading 91 tackles.

"The seniors have done a lot for this program ever since we showed up…of being leaders and setting the tone," Lewis said. "I wish we could have made just a few more plays for them."

Freshman defensive back Montre Miller made his first career start and had a key pass breakup on a third down play in the fourth quarter. He finished with five tackles and two pass breakups.

Parker had the Flashes' longest kick return of the season, going 64 yards in the first half. He also came across the field to make a touchdown-saving tackle in the second half.

The Flashes finished their season with their fourth one-possession loss and third at home.