Kent State University
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Western Michigan University
Flashes Drop Road MACTion Contest at Western Michigan
10/16/2021 7:48:00 PM | Football
KALAMAZOO, MI- Western Michigan (5-2, 2-1) defended their home turf and gave the Golden Flashes (3-4, 2-1) their first conference loss of the season in a 64-31 setback at Waldo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The loss drops Kent State to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference while Western improves to 5-2 overall and the same 2-1 conference record.
After Western scored on the game's opening possession, Kent State responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive to knot the game at seven. Nykeim Johnson racked up 20 yards on a jet sweep and Dustin Crum had a pair of strong runs, including a 12-yard jaunt into the end zone.
Western made it a two-score game on a pair of field goals and a long touchdown pass, it would be 20-7 Broncos after the first quarter. Kent State responded in the second as Johnson again answered the call, this time through the air. The grad transfer caught clutch passes on third and fourth down to keep the drive alive. That set-up Dante Cephas for his fourth touchdown in the last two games, this one from 16-yards out to make it 20-14. Both defenses stepped up in the final stages of the first half with goal line stands. Both teams settled for short field goals, sending the teams into the locker room with Western leading 23-17.
Kent State got the ball to start the second half and the drive got off to a promising start. A long kick return from Ja'Shaun Poke and a big run by Xavier Williams placed the ball at midfield. But the Broncos forced the game's first turnover on the next play and scored six plays later. Western would break the game open on their next three drives, both touchdowns, to lead 50-17. The Flashes got on the board in the third on a 16-yard pass to Keshunn Abram, set up by a 48-yard reception by Luke Florea. The extra point was blocked, and the Broncos would take a 50-23 lead into the fourth quarter. Colin Schlee led a fourth-quarter scoring drive, capped by a Bryan Bradford touchdown and Hayden Junker two-point conversion on a pass from kicker Andrew Glass.
The Flashes are on the road again next weekend, heading to Athens to take on the Ohio Bobcats. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN-Plus.
