Kent State University
4-7 , 3-4
Eastern Michigan University
7-4 , 4-3
Senior Night Spoiled by Eastern Michigan
11/16/2022 11:12:00 PM | Football
KENT-The Golden Flashes honored the 2022 senior class, but Eastern Michigan spoiled the celebration with a 31-24 victory on a MACtion Wednesday inside Dix Stadium.
The Flashes answered Eastern Michigan's first-quarter score with 17 unanswered to end the first half. Collin Schlee threw a dart to Ja'Shaun Poke for a 39-yard score and Marquez Cooper capped an 89-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge. Kent State led 17-7 at the intermission.
The Eagles responded with 24 unanswered to start the second half to go up 31-17 late in the fourth quarter. Devin Kargman, who came into the game in relief of Schlee, engineered a 75-yard drive that ended with Cooper's second touchdown run of the game, a three-yard score late in the fourth quarter. Andrew Glass got a favorable hop on the ensuing onside kick but Eastern Michigan pounced on the high bounce to recover and run out the clock.
Poke's touchdown highlighted a six-catch, 106-yard night and was his first 100-yard receiving game of the season. Devontez Walker also topped 100 yards with a game-high 121 yards on six grabs of his own. Cooper's two touchdowns were part of a 20-carry, 80-yard effort on the evening. Kargman and Schlee collectively threw for 241 yards and the touchdown to Poke.
The defense was led by four players in double figures in tackles, led by Khali Saunders' 12 stops. Naijee Jones had an 11-tackle night, his best as a Golden Flash while JoJo Evans and DJ Miller each had 10. Zayin West closed his career inside Dix Stadium with a team-best 2.5 tackles for loss.
Wednesday's setback drops Kent State to 4-7 overall and 3-4 in MAC play while Eastern Michigan improves to 7-4 overall, 4-3 in the MAC and 5-1 on the road. The Flashes end the season next Saturday with a trip up I-90 to Buffalo to take on the Bulls. Kick time is set for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU 7, KSU 0
EMU - Beydoun,Hassan 13 yd pass from Powell,Taylor (Gomez,Jesus kick) 9 plays, 52 yards, TOP 03:18
EMU 7, KSU 7
KSU - Poke,Ja'Shaun 39 yd pass from Schlee,Collin (Glass,Andrew kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:16
EMU 7, KSU 10
KSU - Glass,Andrew 36 yd field goal 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 01:16
EMU 7, KSU 17
KSU - Cooper,Marquez 1 yd run (Glass,Andrew kick), 9 plays, 89 yards, TOP 02:25
EMU 14, KSU 17
EMU - Knue,Tanner 28 yd pass from Powell,Taylor (Gomez,Jesus kick) 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 03:34
EMU 17, KSU 17
EMU - Gomez,Jesus 33 yd field goal 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 04:08
EMU 24, KSU 17
EMU - Knue,Tanner 11 yd pass from Powell,Taylor (Gomez,Jesus kick) 11 plays, 77 yards, TOP 05:52
EMU 31, KSU 17
EMU - Evans,Samson 1 yd run (Gomez,Jesus kick), 11 plays, 77 yards, TOP 06:02
EMU 31, KSU 24
KSU - Cooper,Marquez 3 yd run (Glass,Andrew kick), 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:10
