Kent State defeated Eastern Michigan 28-6 on Saturday at Rynearson Stadium behind freshman quarterback Spencer Keith’s three touchdowns.
Keith had two passing and one rushing touchdown. He accounted for 212 of his team’s 347 yards total offense.
Things quickly went sour for EMU (0-6, 0-3 Mid-American Conference) as Johnny Sears fumbled on the opening kickoff return.
Kent State (3-4, 2-1) capitalized on the mistake with Spencer’s first touchdown – a 2-yard pass to tight end John Simpson.
Eastern answered on its next drive when Joe Carithers connected on a 30-yard field goal to make it 7-3.
Midway through the first quarter Keith lobbed a 48-yard fade for his second score to Tyshon Goode to increase KSU’s lead to 14-3.
EMU’s next points came on another kick by Carithers near the end of the first quarter to make it 14-6.
In arguably the biggest offensive series of the game for Eastern, it had first-and-goal on KSU’s 1-yard line and couldn’t convert after four consecutive rushing attempts.
“I just told the team, ‘Guys when we have first-and-goal from the 2, and we’re going for it we should be able to make 2 yards,” EMU coach Ron English said.
When asked why he decided to go for it on fourth down rather than attempt a field goal, English was very candid.
“We don’t have anything to lose right now,” he said. “So we need to create an attitude and mindset, and that’s what we’re going to do here.
“When you really have a good team, you’re not going to turn down 7 points. You feel like you should score from the 2, and we just have to develop that.”
The second half was dominated by Kent State. The score stood at 14-6 for much of the third quarter until Keith rushed for a 1-yard score to make it 21-6.
With 8:40 remaining, KSU ran a trick play in which receiver Leneric Muldrow threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Pressley that all but put the game away.
EMU postgame news conference
KSU postgame news conference
Videos courtesy of EMU Athletic Media Relations.
