Kent State football gets 28-6 win at Eastern Michigan
Rachel Kilroy | Daily Kent Stater
Credit: DKS Editors
The Kent State football team ended a two-game losing streak with a 28-6 win today at Eastern Michigan.
A week after surrendering a fourth quarter lead against Bowling Green, the Flashes (3-4, 2-1 Mid American Conference) scored two touchdowns in the second half to secure the victory.
“We knew coming in this was going to be a hard game,” Kent State coach Doug Martin said. “Eastern Michigan really has a much better football team than their record, and they have gotten better every week, and I thought today they played maybe their most physical football game.”
Martin described the game as a “character check” for Kent State after last week’s lost.
Kent State capitalized on an early scoring opportunity when freshman quarterback Spencer Keith completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Jon Simpson after Eastern Michigan senior defensive back Johnny Sears fumbled on the opening kickoff.
The Flashes extended their first quarter lead when Keith completed a 48-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Tyshon Goode. Keith ended the day completing 10-of-24 passes for 164 passing yards, two interceptions and a rushing touchdown along with his two passing touchdowns.
Sophomore running back Jacquise “Speedy” Terry led the team in rushing with 79 yards on 18 carries as Kent State rushed for a total of 152 yards.
Junior wide receiver Leneric Muldrow’s 31-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Kendrick Pressley with 8:40 left in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach for Eastern Michigan. Muldrow has thrown two passing touchdowns this season.
On defense, the Flashes stopped Eastern Michigan (0-6, 0-3 MAC) on twice on fourth down to hold the Eagles to two field goals on the day.
“We learned from last week,” junior linebacker Cobrani Mixon said. “That’s what you can take from heartbreakers like that-we’ve been talking all week about a sledgehammer and wanting to finish (a game).”
Mixon had 11 tackles on the day, while junior linebacker Dorian Wood led the team with a career-high 13 tackles.
The defense recorded two sacks, forced three fumble and held Eastern Michigan to 75 passing yards.
Kent State continues its conference road trip next week at Ohio.