The Kent State football team was unable to overcome an early 17-0 deficit against the Red Flash of Saint Francis, eventually falling by a score of 23-17 Saturday, pushing KSU’s losing streak to 11 games – the longest in the nation 

“We got what we deserved,” coach Kenni Burns said. “We came out a little bit flat and it showed. We have to respond now.”

Kent State lost its eight-game home opening winning streak with the loss.

The Flashes’ defense allowed 402 yards while only putting up 280 yards themselves. KSU scored more points in week one against Pitt (24) than it did in the loss to Saint Francis.

KSU has not played a Mid-American Conference team yet, but the team is one of three teams with an 0-2 overall record in the MAC.

Recap

After an opening three-and-out, the Saint Francis offense got down the field and were able to jump out to a 3-0 lead on a 50-yard field goal.

A short punt on the following drive gave the Red Flash good starting field position at Kent State’s 41-yard line. Five plays later, Saint Francis scored the game’s first touchdown on a two-yard rush by quarterback Jeff Hoenstine to put the Red Flash up 10-0.

Saint Francis quickly took advantage of the KSU defense by capitalizing on a blown coverage and scored a 64-yard touchdown to put SFU up 17-0 early in the second quarter.

Kent State responded by going 54 yards in 10 plays, which was capped off by a nine-yard pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Crishon McCray to get the Flashes on the board. The Red Flash answered and were able to tack on a field goal to extend their lead to 20-7.

The Flashes’ offense efficiently executed the two-minute offense, going 68 yards in eight plays, taking exactly one minute. The drive was finished by a 23-yard redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Kargman back-shoulder pass to graduate student wide receiver Luke Floriea in the endzone, cutting the lead to 20-14.

After receiving the opening kick of the second half, Saint Francis was able to push its lead to 23-14 on a 46-yard field goal.

A Kargman pass was deflected and intercepted in the endzone late in the fourth quarter to maintain the 23-14 score.

Kent State was able to climb closer with a field goal later in the game, but after an unsuccessful onside kick, the Flashes were forced to watch Saint Francis run the clock out and complete the 23-17 upset.

“I still believe in our football team,” Burns said. “I still think they’re extremely talented. I think this is a great useful moment for these guys to learn about how to handle adversity and respond, but we didn’t play well enough to win.”

Same Struggles

Kargman was not much different from a week ago, throwing for 193 yards this week compared to 181 against Pittsburgh in week one. 

“He’s played okay,” Burns said.“He missed a couple that I’m sure he wants back today. I think he’s learning as he goes too, but I have not been disappointed in how he’s been playing. There were a couple times I wished he’d get rid of the ball. He’s hanging onto it a little too long, but there’s signs, there’s promise there for sure.” 

Backup quarterback junior Tommy Ulatowski, who before the season Burns said would play at times, came in a few times, including in the second quarter touchdown to McCray. 

After giving up 567 yards to the Panthers last week, Burns said he was still confident in his defense. This week, the Flashes surrendered 402 yards to the Red Flash. 

“I’m not going back on that,” Burns said. “They’re a talented group. We have to coach better, they have to play better. In the second half, they showed you what they are, they gave up three points and a lot of punts. They’ve got to do that sooner.”

Burns also said his team was not prepared to start a game, as he found his squad down three possessions in the second quarter for the second time this season. 

“You can say all this stuff, and you can try to do trick things to try to get them to play faster and this and that, but you have to make a choice to come out here and be ready to roll and then play,” Burns said. “Again, I thought pregame they were ready to go, I thought with the opening kickoff we were ready to go, but when things don’t go your way, you have to still respond.”

Playmakers back at it

Floriea led the team with six receptions for 92 yards and one touchdown. He has now pulled in a touchdown in each of the first two games. 

“He’s playing at a high level, he’s competing at a high level,” Burns said. “We have to find ways to keep getting him the ball. I think things are opening up because of what they’re doing to Crishon, but Luke’s taking advantage of it and we have to get him the ball more.”

McCray was able to take in five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. 

Defensively, it was junior defensive end Kameron Olds who was the playmaker. He recorded six tackles, two of which were sacks, and recorded a pass break up.

The Flashes will head south next week to play No. 14 Tennessee on the road Saturday at 7:45 p.m. 

“I told the guys, ‘Every 60 minutes is a new 60 minutes. You have to be confident to know you can beat anyone on any given day because you’re talented enough but also humble enough to know anyone can beat you on any given day if you do not bring it,’” Burns said. 

Demetri Manousos is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].