The McAlary Effect

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MAC FOOTBALL KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
Ohio snaps Kent State's streak with late pick
Bobcats hold on for first MAC win
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts | November 7, 2024, 8:12am EDT

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31 | 29
Wednesday November 6th 7:00 PM ET
Location: Kent, Ohio | Dix Stadium
(4-5/1-4)|07|09|06|09|31
(5-4/4-1)|00|10|07|12|29


OHIO'S RAMON PARODIE WAVES GOODBYE TO THE CROWD AFER SECURING THE WIN WITH A PICK
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Kent, OH - Ohio started off the game with a 14 play touchdown drive, culminating in a two yard touchdown run by Rickey Hunt Jr. The touchdown run was Hunt's seventh carry of the drive and foreshadowed what would be the story of the game as he finished with three scores on the day.

Kent State's offense struggled, especially up front as Tommy Ulatowski as sacked twice and hurried many times.

Trailing 16-10 at halftime the Flashes looked to make a comeback in the second half, taking the leak on a six yard Ulatowski touchdown run in the third quarter. Ohio would take the lead back on a 23 yard Parker Navarro to Eamonn Dennis TD pass. They failed to convert a two point attempt and started a streak of failed conversion attempts that plagued both teams through the end of the game.

Kent State would add two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, failing to convert two point attempts on both.

Ohio's Jacob Lewis hit a 41 yard field goal with under a minute to play to make it 31-29 Ohio. Had Kent State made either of those two point attempts or just kicked both extra points the game would have been tied and they could have been content to play for overtime. Instead it was Ulatowski trying to make a play and forcing a pass into coverage only for Ohio's Roman Parodie to pick it off and seal the win for Ohio.

Additional Media





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Scoring
1Q OHIO Rickey Hunt Jr 2 Yd run (Jacob Lewis kick)
2Q OHIO Rickey Hunt Jr 38 Yd run (missed kick)
2Q KENT Andrew Glass 53 Yd FG
2Q KENT Gavin Garcia 1 Yd run (Andrew Glass kick)
2Q OHIO Jacob Lewis 44 Yd FG
3Q KENT Tommy Ulatowski 6 Yd run (Andrew Glass kick)
3Q OHIO Eamonn Dennis 23 Yd pass from Parker Navarro (two point failed)
4Q KENT Ky Thomas 7 Yd run (two point failed)
4Q OHIO Rickey Hunt Jr 4 Yd run (two point failed)
4Q KENT Isaiah Batton 23 Yd pass from Tommy Ulatowski (two point failed)
4Q OHIO Jacob Lewis 31 Yd FG
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Key Statistics

Passing - T. Ulatowski 23/36 224Yds 1TD 1Int
Rushing - G. Garcia 13Car 89Yds 1TD, K. Thomas 8Car 16Yds 1TD, T. Ulatowski 5Car -2Yds 1TD
Receiving - I. Batton 5Rec 49Yds 1TD, H. Junker 5Rec 48Yds, C. McCray 2Rec 46Yds
Tackles - M. Folk 11, K. Johns 11
Sacks - M. Carroll 1.0, O. Billotte 1.0, S. Daley 0.5, K. Johns 0.5
Takeaways - D. Branch 1Int
Kicking - A. Glass 1/1FG, 2/2XP


Passing - P. Navarro 19/30 243Yds 1TD 1Int
Rushing - R. Hunt Jr 21Car 123Yds 3TD, N. McCormick 10Car 33Yds
Receiving - C. Hendricks 7Rec 98Yds, R. Harris II 5Rec 54Yds, M. Williams 2Rec 38Yds, E. Dennis 1Rec 24Yds 1TD
Tackles - A. Brawley 12, B. Leake 10, J. Proche 10
Sacks - K. Schmitz 1.0, J. Proche 1.0
Takeaways - R. Parodie 1Int, J. Proche 1FF, J. Thomeson 1FR
Kicking - J. Lewis 2/3FG, 1/2XP
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[djp73]

MAC FOOTBALL
MAC Football Results
Scores, Players of the Week and other news and notes from around the conference
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts |November 10, 2024, 9:27am EDT

MAC Scores
Miami-OH 35, Ball State 25
Bowling Green 23, Central Michigan 13
Ohio 31, Kent State 29
Western Michigan 14, Northern Illinois 10

MAC Players of the Week
KENT CB Dallas Branch 8Tkl, 1Int
OHIO HB Rickey Hunt Jr 123Yds 3TD

MAC Standings
7-2|5-0
5-4|4-1
5-4|4-1
5-4|4-1
5-4|4-1
4-5|2-3
3-6|2-3
2-7|1-4
2-7|1-4
5-4|1-4
3-6|1-4
4-5|1-4

MAC Leaders
Toledo QB Tucker Gleason 2,785Yds 27TD
Western Michigan RB Jalen Buckley 863Yds 6TD
Toledo WR Junior Vandeross III 1,040Yds 10TD
Kent State CB Dallas Branch and Eastern Michigan LB Luke Murphy 70 Tackles
Western Michigan DE Tyson Lee 9.5Sck
Four players tied with 3 Int

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MAC FOOTBALL KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
Coaches Corner
Offensive Coordinator Jordan McAlary
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts | November 10, 2024, 11:11am EDT

Each week in the days following Kent State's game I will spend a few moments chatting with members of the coaching staff. I'll share some key points in this column.

This morning I spoke with offensive coordinator Jordan McAlary following Kent State's close loss to Ohio

First conference loss, close game at home. How do you process that and move on from it?
Well fortunately we have a full week to get ready for Miami, even with the Wednesday game. So you take the normal time to look at tape and make some adjustments then you have to move on. You can't let one opponent beat you twice.

What do you mean by that?
Just that you can't let a loss linger and effect your prep for the next game and contribute to another loss.

Looked like you guys were chasing points at the end going for two a couple times and failing. What's the thought process there?
Well, ultimately I don't make those calls but the thought was to push the lead to three instead of two and it didn't work. Then you get to the end of the game and those points you gave up chasing more cost you but you've got to make those calls and live with them and not dwell on them. As far as the results you know we missed a blocking assignment and Tommy just chucked it to try to make something happen on the first one and then the second one just a good defensive play by them so. We process and move on.

Can you give us a player of the week?
Gavin Garcia. Played through some pain and had a real high yards per for us. Probably would have liked to get him more touches the way he was playing.

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MAC FOOTBALL KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State Game Preview
Miami of Ohio
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts | November 11, 2024, 3:13pm EDT

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5-4(4-1) | 5-4(4-1)
Wednesday November 13th 7:30 PM ET
Location: Oxford, OH | Yager Stadium
2023 Record: 11-3
2023 Result: L 3-23
Series: 16-45
Head Coach (Record/@School): Chuck Martin (56-62/56-62)
Team Leaders:
QB Brett Gabbert 2,334Yds 24TD 4Int
RB Kenny Tracy 389Yds 0TD
WR Andre Johnson 825Yds 9TD
LB Ty Wise 52Tkl
DE Corey Suttle 2.5Sck
FS Silas Walters, CB TJ Rush and CB William Hardrick 1Int

Injuries
Kent State: LB Luke Fulton, DT Seth Nelson
Miami-OH: CB TJ Rush

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MAC FOOTBALL KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
Glass' last second field goal secures win for Kent State
Flashes go for win with under a minute to play
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts | November 14, 2024, 9:16am EDT

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38 | 35
Wednesday November 13th 7:30 PM ET
Location: Oxford, OH | Yager Stadium
(6-4/5-1)|03|14|11|10|38
(5-5/4-2)|07|14|00|14|35


LUKE FLORIA HEADS TO THE ENDZONE FOR A 66 YARD SCORE LATE IN THE GAME
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Oxford, OH - With 1:43 left in the game Kent State trailed 28-35 and faced a fourth and ten at their own 34 yard line. Tommy Ulatowski took the shotgun snap, stepped up slightly in the pocket and delivered a pass just as he was hit by a Miami defensive linesman. The ball lacked grace but found it's target, a wide open Luke Floriea at the Miami 40 yard line. Floriea sprinted to the endzone and Andrew Glass tied the game with the point after.

Miami's Brett Gabbert, who had already tossed five touchdown passes in the game, led out the Miami offense looking to put the game away. After a quick first down via an 11 yard completion to Kenny Tracy the Redhawks soon found themselves facing a third and 12. Gabbert's pass was knocked down by a diving Naim Muhammad and they were forced to punt.

"Conventional wisdom is maybe you play it safe and head for overtime." Kent State head coach Kenni Burns said. "We felt like our offense was hot and we didn't like the prospect of an overtime shootout against their offense."

Kent State decided to play for the win. After a pair of incompletions Ulatowski found Isaiah Batton, who had caught a pair of touchdown passes earlier in the game, for a gain of 30 yards on a seam route, setting the Flashes up on the Redhawks' 42 yard line. After another incomplete pass Ulatowski found Gavin Garcia in the flat and he scampered for 14 yards down to the 28 yard line. After a pair of short runs by Garcia and Ky Thomas it was Andrew Glass splitting the uprights from 43 yards out to secure the win.

Additional Media





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Scoring
1Q M-OH Andre Johnson 3 Yd pass from Brett Gabbert (Dominic Dzioban kick)
1Q KENT Andrew Glass 29 Yd FG
2Q M-OH Javon Tracy 6 Yd pass from Brett Gabbert (Dominic Dzioban kick)
2Q KENT Tommy Ulatowski 8 Yd run (Andrew Glass kick)
2Q M-OH Andre Johnson 11 Yd pass from Brett Gabbert (Dominic Dzioban kick)
2Q KENT Isaiah Batton 11 Yd pass from Tommy Ulatowski (Andrew Glass kick)
3Q KENT Andrew Glass 33 Yd FG
3Q KENT Isaiah Batton 8 Yd pass from Tommy Ulatowski (2pt)
4Q M-OH Javon Tracy 73 Yd pass from Brett Gabbert (Dominic Dzioban kick)
4Q M-OH Javon Tracy 13 Yd pass from Brett Gabbert (Dominic Dzioban kick)
4Q KENT Luke Floriea 66 Yd pass from Tommy Ulatowski (Andrew Glass kick)
4Q KENT Andrew Glass 42 Yd FG
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Key Statistics

Passing - T. Ulatowski 25/51 347Yds 3TD 0Int
Rushing - G. Garcia 21Car 99Yds, K. Thomas 4Car 24Yds, T. Ulatowski 3Car 2Yds 1TD
Receiving - I. Batton 8Rec 135Yds 2TD, L. Floriea 2Rec 75Yds 1TD, G. Garcia 5Rec 61Yds
Tackles - D. Branch 8, E. Watkins 7
Sacks - A. Campbell Jr 1.0
Takeaways - J. Dotson 1Int, N. Muhammad 1Int, C. Young 1FF
Kicking - A. Glass 3/3FG, 3/3XP


Passing - B. Gabbert 16/26 275Yds 5TD 2Int
Rushing - K. Tracy 26Car 86Yds, B. Gabbert 5Car 15Yds
Receiving - J. Tracy 5Rec 127Yds 3TD, A. Johnson 5Rec 74Yds 2TD
Tackles - T. Wise 16, J. Williams 10
Sacks - N. Washington 1.0
Takeaways - N/A
Kicking - D. Dzioban 5/5XP
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[djp73]

MAC FOOTBALL
MAC Football Results
Scores, Players of the Week and other news and notes from around the conference
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts |November 17, 2024, 9:27am EDT

MAC Scores
Bowling Green 21, Western Michigan 16
Toledo 16, Central Michigan 14
Ball State 20, Buffalo 17
Eastern Michigan 28, Ohio 21
Kent State 38, Miami-OH 35
Akron 30, Northern Illinois 20

MAC Players of the Week
EMU SS Quentavius Scandrett 12Tkl, 2Int
M-OH WR Javon Tracy 5Rec 127Yds 3TD

MAC Standings
8-2|6-0
6-4|5-1
6-4|5-1
5-5|4-2
5-5|4-2
3-7|2-4
3-7|2-4
3-7|2-4
4-6|2-4
6-4|2-4
3-7|1-5
4-6|1-5

MAC Leaders
Toledo QB Tucker Gleason 2,979Yds 28TD
Kent State HB Gavin Garcia 939Yds 8TD
Toledo WR Junior Vandeross III 1,082Yds 10TD
Eastern Michigan LB Luke Murphy 81Tkl
Western Michigan DE Tyson Lee 9.5Sck
Northern Illinois LB Jaden Dolphin 4Int

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MAC FOOTBALL KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
Coaches Corner
Offensive Coordinator Jordan McAlary
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts | November 17, 2024, 11:11am EDT

Each week in the days following Kent State's game I will spend a few moments chatting with members of the coaching staff. I'll share some key points in this column.

This morning I spoke with offensive coordinator Jordan McAlary following Kent State's road win over Miami.

Big conference road win over Miami. What was the thought process behind being aggressive and trying to get into scoring range at the end of the game?
That's a potent offense and their guy had thrown five touchdowns against us already. We got the stop and felt like that was our best opportunity to win the game. We didn't feel like an overtime situation against their offense was in our best interest.

Tommy Ulatowski was under 50% passing but made some really big plays. What do you focus on in that situation?
Well a number of those incompletions this week were throwing the ball away, keeping us out of bad situations when the pass rush was closing in. No turnovers so that's big. Like you said he made some huge plays for us and no doubt we're not in the win column this week without those plays.

A bit of a short week leading up to a big game against Akron on Tuesday night. Any changes to the preparation process?
Yeah with one less day your have to truncate a few things. We're pretty late in the season so you know you dial back the full pads stuff and focus on the film and the fundamentals a bit more. Lot's of history and pride on the line for the guys in this one. They came back on us last year and there's been a lot of talk about it already.

Can you give us a player of the week?
Tommy Ulatowski. Made plays, kept us out of trouble.

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MAC FOOTBALL KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State Game Preview
Akron
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts | November 17, 2024, 5:13pm EDT

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6-4(5-1) | 6-4(5-1)
Tuesday November 19th 7:00
Location: Kent, Ohio | Dix Stadium
2023 Record: 2-10
2023 Result: L 27-31
Series: 15-21
Head Coach (Record/@School): Joe Moorhead (4-20/18-32)
Team Leaders:
QB Ben Finley 2,462Yds 19TD 12Int
RB Chares Kellom 247Yds 3TD
WR Phaizon Wilson 861Yds 5TD
CB Devonte Golden-Nelson 54Tkl
OLB Shammond Cooper 7.0Sck
Several players tied with 1Int

Injuries
Kent State: LB Luke Fulton
Akron: WR Bobby Golden, WR Phaizon Wilson, LG Colin Lyons

[The JZA]

Somebody going home 6-5 (5-2). Get the job done

[djp73]

Somebody going home 6-5 (5-2). Get the job done

Winner is in the catbird seat to get into the championship game