Kent State University
1-6 , 0-3
Eastern Michigan University
4-3 , 2-1
Rain, Eagles Spoil Saturday
10/14/2023 4:40:00 PM | Football
YPSILANTI, MI-Luke Floriea had a pair of touchdown receptions and the Flashes held Eastern Michigan to 218 yards of offense, but Eastern Michigan prevailed in the wind and the rain, 28-14 on a soggy Saturday afternoon in Ypsilanti.
Both teams battled the elements as a steady rain pelted Rynearson Stadium all afternoon long. Eastern Michigan jumped on the board first after the Flashes opened the game with an onside kick. Andrew Glass initially recovered the ball only to have it popped out by a defender, the Eagles scooped it up and rolled 44 yards into the end zone for a score.
Kent State was able to move the ball on the ground. Jaylen Thomas paced the ground game on Saturday and recorded a season high 94 yards on 23 carries on Saturday. But the Flashes first half drives stalled in enemy territory. Josh Smith had a tremendous punting day, flipping the field in the Flashes favor. Smith averaged over 45 yards on seven punts, including a long of 67 and dropped four punts inside the Eagles' 15-yard line. Eastern was able to get a late first-half touchdown and took a 14-0 lead into the locker room.
The Flashes got on the board in the second half as a 14-yard pass from Tommy Ulatowski found Luke Floriea in the back corner of the end zone for Floriea's first of two scores in the game. Two drives later, the defense forced an Austin Smith fumble and immediately capitalized. It was Floriea again, this time on a 43-yard strike from Ulatowski. Two of Floriea's three catches went for scores on Saturday, Ulatowski finished Saturday with 169 yards through the air on 12 completions.
The defense continued to swarm on Saturday, seven players recorded five or more tackles and six players recorded a tackle for loss. But the opportunistic Eagles prevailed on Saturday. The loss puts the Flashes at 1-6 on the season and 0-3 in MAC play. Eastern improves to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in conference. The Flashes return to Dix Stadium next weekend for the annual homecoming game. Kick-off against the Buffalo Bulls is set for 3:30.
Postgame Press Conference
Team Stats
KSU 0, EMU 7
EMU - Nowling,Kendric 44 yd kickoff return (Gomez,Jesus kick)
KSU 0, EMU 14
EMU - Evans,Samson 19 yd run (Gomez,Jesus kick), 12 plays, 85 yards, TOP 04:34
KSU 0, EMU 21
EMU - Knue,Tanner 18 yd pass from Smith,Austin (Gomez,Jesus kick) 7 plays, 59 yards, TOP 04:17
KSU 7, EMU 21
KSU - Floriea,Luke 14 yd pass from Ulatowski,Tommy (Glass,Andrew kick) 7 plays, 87 yards, TOP 01:55
KSU 7, EMU 28
EMU - Evans,Samson 3 yd run (Gomez,Jesus kick), 2 plays, 37 yards, TOP 00:30
KSU 14, EMU 28
KSU - Floriea,Luke 43 yd pass from Ulatowski,Tommy (Glass,Andrew kick) 2 plays, 43 yards, TOP 00:16
