Football Comes Up Short at Kent State

Photo Gallery.

KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team saw its chances for a seventh win fall just short in a 28-22 loss to Kent State University here Saturday, Nov. 19, in a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional game in Dix Stadium.

Trailing 28-22, the EMU offense drove all the way to the Kent State 19-yard line with less than two minutes left but an interception by the Golden Flashes' Sidney Saulter at the goal-line ended the Eagles scoring attempt.

The Eagles then stopped the ensuing Kent drive, setting up one last drive, from their own 45-yard line with just 39 seconds left.

The last gasp effort ended on an incomplete pass and holding call on the Eagles as time expired.

In the end the key play for Kent State was a 70-yard long-distance pass from quarterback Spencer Keith to Tyshon Goode that proved to be the game winner.That same duo hooked up for the two-point conversion, giving Kent a 28-22 lead with 6:40 left in the game.

The loss leaves the Eagles at 6-5 overall and 4-3 in MAC action while Kent improves to 5-6 overall and 4-3 in the league.

The setback also spoiled a strong offensive effort by junior running back Dominique Sherrer (Cincinnati, Ohio-Colerain) who gained 136 yards on 24 carries.

Eagles' quarterback Alex Gillett (Green, Springs, Ohio-Clyde) completed 8-of-16 passes for 74 yards.

Kent was led by quarterback Keith who completed 11-of-25 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown.

The Eagles' defense came up with the game's first big play when defensive lineman Andy Mulumba (Montreal, Quebec, Canada-Vieux Montreal) forced a fumble on Kent QB Keith with Brandon Slater (Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup) recovering at the nine-yard line.

That recovery led to a 27-yard field goal by sophomore place-kicker Kody Fulkerson (Zanesville, Ohio-Maysville) for a 3-0 EMU lead at the 12:33 mark of the first quarter.

Fulkerson added a 44-yard three pointer at the 6:10 mark for an early 6-0 EMU lead.

The EMU defense once again forced a Kent error when L'Shane Bynum (Taylor, Mich.-Truman) blocked a punt which was recovered by Marcus English (Dayton, Ohio-Trotwood Madison) on the KSU 32-yard line.

The Eagles' offense made Kent pay for that turnover also, with Javonti Greene (West Palm Beach, Fla.-Royal Palm Beach) racing 32-yards down the left sideline on the next play for a touchdown with 1:50 left in the first. Fulkerson added the PAT for a 13-0 EMU lead.

The Golden Flashes mounted a 10-play, 52-yard drive to notch their first points with Durham bulling in from one-yard out at the 7:49 mark of the second quarter. Freddy Cortez added the PAT kick to make it 13-7 in favor of the Eagles.

The home squad made the Eagles pay for a major mistake to take its first lead of the game.

After EMU's Slater blocked a KSU field-goal attempt at the 36-yard line the Eagles touched the blocked kick at their own two-yard line and Kent recovered. That was Slater's fourth blocked kick of his career.

The Golden Flashes scored on the next play on a 3-yard run by Keith with Cortez adding the PAT kick for a 14-13 Kent lead with just 1:23 left in the half.

The Eagles turned in the first score of the second half when Demarius Reed (Chicago, Ill.-Simeon Academy) raced through the KSU defense and down the right sideline for an 83-yard punt return, the sixth longest in school history and the longest since Chris R. Roberson returned an 82 yarder against Ball State (Oct. 19, 2002). After a holding penalty on the PAT kick, Fulkerson was forced to attempt a 30-yard PAT and it was no good, giving EMU a 19-14 lead with 10:49 left in the third quarter.

Kent then took advantage of a Reed fumble on a punt to put three points on the board with Cortez finding the range from 35 yards out to make it EMU 19, KSU 17, with 7:35 left in the third.

The Golden Flashes went back on top with 2:27 remaining in the third on a career-long 49-yard field goal by Cortez for a 20-19 Kent lead.

Fulkerson put EMU right back on top, 22-20, on a 40-yard field goal by Fulkerson with 12:59 remaining.

Kent State then went the long-distance route to scored the game's final points on the Keith to Goode 70-yard strike.

The Eagles will close out the regular season Friday, Nov. 25, with a MAC West Division matchup with Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill.

Next Event

Team Stats

Alex Gillett

Players Mentioned

L’Shane Bynum

Marcus English

Kody Fulkerson

Alex Gillett

Javonti Greene

Andy Mulumba

Demarius Reed

Dominique Sherrer

Brandon Slater

Players Mentioned

L’Shane Bynum

Marcus English

Kody Fulkerson

Alex Gillett

Javonti Greene

Andy Mulumba

Demarius Reed

Dominique Sherrer

Brandon Slater

Eastern Michigan Athletics