Kent State has now played seven games and has a poor 1-6 (0-3) record, with their only win coming against subdivision Central Connecticut State in September.
The first play of their game Saturday against the Eastern Michigan Eagles was indicative of how the season has gone. Coach Kenni Burns called an onside kick to open the game; however, the call backfired hugely as the Eagles took it in for a touchdown on the game’s opening play.
The first-half offense was no good for the Flashes. They had four punts, a turnover on downs, a fumble, and a short drive that ended the half.
The defense held up well in the first half, only giving up a touchdown late in the second quarter.
After turning it over on downs to start the second half, the Flashes gave up another touchdown to put themselves down 21-0.
The two teams exchanged punts, and then Kent State finally got on the board when quarterback Tommy Ulatowski found wide receiver Luke Floriea for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Each team would score a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Eastern Michigan got the win to improve to 4-3 (2-1). They are tied for second in the MAC West with Central Michigan (4-3, 2-1) and Northern Illinois (3-4, 2-1).
Kent State dropped their fourth straight game and has looked flat all season. They have only scored ten touchdowns in seven games.
Watching the offense has been frustrating, partially due to the play of the players but partially due to the play calling that doesn’t often set the players up for success.
Quarterback Mike Alaimo has looked unsettled throughout the season, and as a result, the play-calling has to be on the conservative side. The play calling can be overly conservative, though, including run plays and very short throws on second and third and longs.
Alaimo has just two passing touchdowns on the year and four interceptions to go with a completion percentage of 57.4 and a QBR of 27.9.
Ulatowski played a significant amount of the game and recorded 169 yards on 12 of 28 passing, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
The Flashes defense has done what it can do. They’ve had a few bad performances, but they were all against teams that are just flat-out better than them.
Against the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Kent State defense surrendered just 21 points. However, it’s hard to win that game when the offense only puts up a couple of field goals and throws a pick-six as well.
In conference play, the defense is giving up 31 points per game – the second most, which isn’t great, but it’s difficult to give up a small amount of points when the offense is setting up the opponents with short fields off of turnovers and failed fourth down conversions.
Kent State would have to somehow win their last five games to become bowl eligible.
The season can still have some form of success if the Flashes can beat the University of Akron (1-6, 0-3) Nov. 1 to keep the Wagon Wheel in Kent.
KSU has won four consecutive games against the Zips.
Demetri Manousos is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
