Kent State and Ball State engaged in the type of game most people were expecting Saturday. High scoring, back and forth, a one possession game with a lot of twists and turns. And again, the Flashes lose. In a game Ball State tried to give away, they escape with their first MAC win, after losing their first two league games by 3 points each.
For the Flashes, the crown jewel of the program continues to be the work of Chrishon McCray. McCray finished with 8 catches for 213 yards and 3 TD’s, including a one handed catch and another catch and run that will make the highlight shows.
Luke Floriea finished with six catches for 130 yards and a TD. Tommy Ulatowski threw for a career high 394 yards, and was sacked seven times as the Flashes have had to commit themselves to the aerial game.
That’s because Kent State still can’t run the ball. The team has not eclipsed 100 yards in a game this season and is near the bottom in the country in most rushing categories.
“We’ve committed to the pass game quite a bit,” Kenni Burns said after the game. “There are some opportunities to run the ball a little more, but we also have to quit playing catch up.”
Ah yes, catch up. The “fight” of the team was talked about a lot after the game. And credit to the fight of everyone involved. From down 27-7 to cutting it to 37-35 with onside kicks and a passing game that nearly brought the Flashes all the way back.
I do appreciate the fight. But what I would appreciate more is a team doing their work earlier in the game, playing better in the guts of the game, so you don’t need to fight back, and instead close out a game.
“Losing is never acceptable,” Burns said. “This program is so past moral victories, but they fought until the end. We have to learn to close those games.”
Moral victories? How about a victory, of any kind. Saturday was highly winnable. A 1-4 Ball State team at home. Now its 0-2 in the league with both losses coming at home. The schedule gets tougher now.
Was it appropriate for the fan base to think the Flashes could and should win this game? I think so. It is hard to get buy in without results. From anybody, players, fans, administrators.
On a day when Northeast Ohio sports fans had their attention diverted to other things, the Flashes fell to 1-17 the last two years, and have lost 15 in a row.
I was up late and watched the conclusion of the rival Zips fall to Western Michigan in a weather delayed game that ended near midnight. The Zips have only won a handful of games the last several years, one of which was last year against the Flashes.
At least Kent State football was fun, cool and competitive in the FlashFast era. I hope GRIT becomes successful one day. I just want to win a game.
November 19 the Flashes and Zips get to play each other. Hopefully the Flashes aren’t seeking their first win in that game.