A 31-point fourth quarter featured three touchdowns of 40+ yards. MACtion.
When Ball State and Kent State collided for a Mid-American Conference matchup Saturday afternoon, one thing was guaranteed: points.
Ball State entered the matchup second-to-last in the country in scoring defense, allowing 48.2 points per game. Kent State entered the matchup last in the same statistic at 51.4 points surrendered per game. And explosive playmaking from start to finish is exactly how the matchup at Dix Stadium unfolded, as Ball State outlasted Kent State 37-35 in a high-flying thriller.
Both teams eclipsed 400 yards of offense as the Cardinals accumulated 407 while the Golden Flashes managed a season-high 461. The fourth quarter is when the offenses reached peak performance as 31 total points were collected in the final 6:30 of action — with 21 of those points stemming from touchdowns from over 40 yards out.
While the fourth quarter was like a high-intensity tennis match, the whole game wasn’t a back-and-forth affair. Ball State established a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, a 27-7 lead in the early third quarter, and never relinquished that advantage. With the Cardinals staying one step ahead from the 12:14 mark of the first quarter onward, it ensured Kent State remains the only FBS team that hasn’t led for a single second in 2024.
Ball State’s offense was the more balanced of the two units, generating 192 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while firing for 215 yards and another score through the air. Running back Braedon Sloan registered a game-high 76 yards, hitting the 65-yard mark for the fifth time this season in a two-touchdown showing. He initiated the scoring effort, but fellow tailback Vaughn Pemberton concluded it — racing for a 41-yard touchdown with 1:13 remaining to claim a 37-28 advantage.
Even in that final 73 seconds, Kent State tried to spur a comeback and swung with a 57-yard touchdown pass to Chrishon McCray. However, the inability to pounce on the onside kick secured Kent State’s FBS-high 15th consecutive loss. It wasn’t without promise though as the Golden Flashes passing attack proved its ability to strike from anywhere.
In the MAC opener, McCray produced two 60+ yard touchdowns en route to a career-high 188-yard showing. “Big Play McCray” one-upped that performance Saturday, breaking free for 213 yards and three touchdowns in Kent State’s highest-scoring FBS game since 2022. McCray became a human highlight reel, raking in touchdowns from 24, 63, and 57 yards out. He used every attribute in his arsenal on those plays, simply utilizing his speed for a diving catch on one, juking defenders and breaking tackles on another, and hauling in a one-handed catch in stride on the final scoring grab. The MAC’s touchdown receptions leader now has six scoring plays of over 20 yards and four of over 55 in a soon-to-be all-conference season.
McCray’s otherworldly performance almost overshadowed another spectacular individual showing from the Kent State offense. His fellow All-MAC receiver Luke Floriea accrued 130 receiving yards and a touchdown on six catches. The facilitator of it all was Tommy Ulatowski who was making his second start of the season in a banged up quarterback room. Ulatowski fired for a career-high 394 yards and four touchdowns in the defeat, sending eight different completions 20 yards and beyond. It represented the sixth-highest passing total in Kent State history and the third-highest of the 21st century.
Despite Kent State’s tear through the air, Ball State found other ways to have the upper hand. The Cardinals repeatedly partied in the backfield, producing seven sacks in a domination of the trenches. Outside linebacker Brandon Berger led the charge with three individual sacks while inside linebacker Joey Stemler tallied 1.5. Sacks repeatedly inhibited Kent State’s offensive progress which led to a handful of difficult third and fourth down situations. The Golden Flashes finished 5-of-14 on third down and 1-of-3 on fourth down, and also lost the turnover battle 1-0 as Ulatowski threw an interception to freshman cornerback Willizhuan Yates roughly one minute after kickoff.
Kent State (0-6, 0-2 MAC) is one of three winless FBS teams after Week 7, but the Golden Flashes are trending in the right direction. In the two games since facing consecutive shutouts, Kent State is averaging 34 points per game led by the incredible play of McCray. Kent State’s defense also moved in a favorable trajectory, allowing under 50 points against FBS competition for the first time in 2024. The Golden Flashes seek their first MAC victory in year two of the Kenni Burns era next Saturday in the Anniversary Award rivalry with Bowling Green.
Ball State (2-4, 1-2 MAC) picked up its first FBS and first MAC win of the year after falling in a pair of heartbreakers to open conference play. The Cardinals have scored at least 34 points in all three league outings this year as one of the more exciting offenses in the MAC. They’ll take a brief respite from playing conference opponents for a week as a non-conference clash at red-hot Vanderbilt awaits next Saturday.