The Eagles post 50 points for the first time since 2021 to improve to 1-0 in MAC play.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles and Kent State Golden Flashes experience different paths in non-conference play. Eastern Michigan generated three victories to tie for the MAC’s best overall record through four weeks. Meanwhile Kent State was the only team in the conference to remain winless, dropping a contest to St. Francis (PA) of the FCS before suffering back-to-back shutouts at the hands of Tennessee and Penn State.
But those results were wiped clean as the new season of MAC play commenced at Dix Stadium on Saturday. Yet, Eastern Michigan’s victorious lifestyle sustained while Kent State’s struggles sustained as the Eagles emerged in a 52-33 shootout.
Eastern Michigan won in wire-to-wire fashion, never trailing for a single second en route to its first 50-point performance since 2021. Through five games, Kent State still hasn’t led once this season, but Saturday was a sign of progress as the Golden Flashes were tied in the second half for the first time in 2024.
Eastern Michigan kicked things off with an Elijah Jackson-Anderson touchdown on its opening series and Kent State matched later in the first quarter. The Eagles continued to play one step ahead, as Luke Murphy picked off the Golden Flashes in the second quarter and running back Delbert Mimms III raced to the house on a 27-yard touchdown the following play. Kent State once again answered on a 43-yard touchdown pass to Luke Floriea with 5:11 in the second quarter.
The pattern sustained for one more call and response as Jackson-Anderson notched his second touchdown in the waning moments of the second quarter to provide the Eagles a 21-14 halftime lead. But Kent State wasted no time after the break in knotting the score at 21 apiece. Once again, explosive passing proved to be the Golden Flashes’ best offense as Tommy Ulatowski connected with Chrishon McCray for a 65-yard touchdown on a post.
It wasn’t McCray’s only big play of the day as the reigning First Team All-MAC selection accumulated 188 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions. In the fourth quarter, Ulatowski launched a 68-yard bomb to McCray to rewrite the offense’s longest touchdown of the season.
However, that second McCray touchdown didn’t faze Eastern Michigan as the Eagles produced 24 unanswered points in the second half. Chris Creighton’s team caught fire toward the end third quarter, scoring 17 points in the final 7:30 of the period. All three of those scoring drives were powered by Kent State fumbles. Eastern Michigan commandingly won the turnover battle 4-0 on the afternoon, and all four turnovers resulted in points for the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan gained a significant upper-hand on Kent State in the run game as well. Mimms accrued 145 rushing yards and two touchdowns as his team collectively posted 273 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the 19-point win. Meanwhile the shorthanded Golden Flashes picked up just 77 rushing yards on 33 attempts with Ayden Harris taking over No. 1 back duties in a 63-yard showing.
Kent State’s shorthanded status extended beyond the running back room. It impacted the whole team as the Golden Flashes listed 17 absences on the MAC availability report released pregame. Last week at Penn State, Kent State lost two quarterbacks to season-ending injuries as Devin Kargman underwent hip surgery and JD Sherrod tore his ACL. That left Ulatowski as the only available non-true freshman quarterback on the roster, yet he shined in his first start of 2024. Ulatowski delivered three 40+ yard touchdown strikes in a 345-yard showing — the most passing yards by a Kent State quarterback since Oct. 1, 2022.
Entering the contest, Kent State was held scoreless in consecutive games but the Golden Flashes maturely responded with 33 points for its most versus FBS competition in the Kenni Burns era. However, the defensive woes persisted as the Golden Flashes’ last-ranked scoring defense allowed 52 points or greater for the fourth time against four FBS teams this season. Eastern Michigan produced 486 yards in the win, and the Eagles gained plenty of additional yardage in the penalty department as Kent State drew 12 flags for 101 yards.
Kent State (0-5, 0-1 MAC) remains one of two winless teams in the country, sharing the unwanted designation with UTEP. The Golden Flashes remain on the hunt for their first FBS and first MAC win under Burns, but Saturday showed significant signs of progress, outside of the turnover battle. Kent State marinates in the 0-5 record for two weeks as the Golden Flashes are on a bye before their next kickoff on Oct. 12 against Ball State.
Eastern Michigan (4-1, 1-0 MAC) is the only 4-win team in the MAC after a hot start. The Eagles are 4-1 for the second time in the Chris Creighton era, which was also accomplished in 2016. Despite the success of Creighton’s tenure, there is still one box to check — qualifying for a MAC Championship Game. Eastern Michigan continues its trek toward that goal on Oct. 12, facing Miami (OH) at The Factory after a bye week.