The Kent State football team came out swinging in Tuesday’s match again rival Akron, scoring three plays into the game to go up 7-0. But then, the team was outscored 38-3 over the next 39 minutes.

Ultimately, the Flashes lost 38-17 at Dix Stadium, falling to 0-11 (0-7) while the Zips moved to 3-8 (2-5).

The losing streak is now extended to 20 games, with each loss coming by an average of 26.05 points per game.

“I’m disappointed for our seniors. I love those guys, I appreciate everything they’ve done for Kent State. I thought they fought their tails off and tried to do all they could to get us a win in that football game,” coach Kenni Burns said. “I will always be grateful to them. I’m sorry we couldn’t get it done for them today.”

The Flashes had the first possession of the game and made the most of it, as junior quarterback Tommy Ulatowksi found graduate student receiver Luke Floriea down the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown 89 seconds into the game.

“We knew there were a couple things that gave them coverage problems, and we knew we could cut Luke free with a switch route. We ran a switch route, and we were able to execute it and start the game off the right way,” Burns said.

After his first completion went for a touchdown, Ulatowski was 11-of-19 the rest of the game, with 149 yards, a touchdown and an interception, both coming late.

“I thought we didn’t get Tommy in a good rhythm today. That starts with me as a head coach and us as playcallers, and then these guys have to go out there, they have to execute at a better level than we did today,” Burns said.

In his final game in Dix Stadium, Floriea was the team’s leading receiver with 103 yards on three receptions and the early touchdown.

Redshirt sophomore receiver Chrishon McCray also had just three receptions, but he made them count, racking up 93 yards and a touchdown, as well.

Senior running back Ky Thomas was Kent State’s leading rusher for the sixth game in a row, totaling 52 yards on 13 carries for an average of four yards per rush. Thomas now has 540 yards on the season, crossing the 500-yard mark for the second time in his career.

If he rushes for at least 50 yards against Buffalo next week, he will be the first Flash to rush for 50 or more yards in seven consecutive games since Dri Archer in 2012.

If Thomas leads the team in rushing yards next week, he will be the first player to lead Kent State in rushing yards in seven consecutive games since Julian Edelman in 2008.

The Flashes’ offense struggled heavily with penalties, especially on the offensive line. The team racked up 97 yards on 13 penalties.

“We had uncharacteristic penalties today. I talked to the team about, ‘Emotions are going to run high. You’ve got to still be able to execute, do your line assignment and play football,’” Burns said. “We didn’t do a good job of that today. We had way too many penalties, and we’re not a good offense behind the sticks. We’re not.” 

The short-handed Kent State defense was unable to hold Akron to under 400 yards, giving up 527, and extending the streak of allowing 400 or more yards to 12 games.

The Zips crossed the 400-yard mark halfway through the third quarter and scored at least 10 points in each of the first three quarters. 

Akron’s production leaders showed up, as fifth-year senior running back Jordon Simmons had 113 yards on 11 carries while sophomore receiver Adrian Norton had 107 yards on five receptions.

The defense has been depleted due to injuries all season long, and the game against Akron was no exception.

“C.J. Young gave a great effort in there (at linebacker) today, but he’s a safety. He played linebacker most of the game today. Khalib Johns went out there, played a couple drives, but he kept going down. He’s playing with one shoulder right now. Nylan Brown played one drive before the ankle was too swollen to go, and he was on crutches on the sideline,” Burns said. “We have some guys doing a great job of filling in, but that’s not their normal position, and they’re trying their best.”

Kent State will close out the season 7 p.m. Tuesday at Buffalo (6-4, 4-2), as the team looks to avoid being the 18th FBS program to go 0-12 or worse (Army went 0-13 in 2003). 

“We have to find a way to finish strong and get the last one for those guys,” Burns said.

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