MAC FOOTBALL KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES PITT PANTHERS
Kent State keeps it interesting in Pittsburgh
Turnovers the difference in one score loss
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts | August 31, 2024, 4:27pm EDT
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23 | 31
Saturday August 31st, 2024 Noon
Location: Pittsburgh, PA | Heinz Field
0-1 | 1-0
KENT|00|10|03|10|23
PITT|10|07|07|07|31
KENT STATE'S GAVIN GARCIA LEAVES A PITT DEFENDER GRASPING AT AIR
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Pittsburgh, PA - We'll try not to get too carried away after just one game but this certainly doesn't look like the Kent State team we saw last year. The Golden Flashes hung with Pitt for four quarters and ultimately had a chance to tie the game with less than a minute to play if they had been able to convert a hail mary.
Pitt started off the game with a field goal to cap their first possession. Kent State went right to work, driving nearly to midfield before Tommy Ulatowski was picked off by Pitt's Jordan Bass while trying to connect with tight end Hayden Junker over the middle. Pitt cashed in on the turnover with Eli Holstein finding Konata Mumpfield for a six yardtouchdown.
After a missed 33 yard field goal attempt by Kent State's Andrew Glass the Flashes defense forced a three and out by Pitt, giving the offense possession at the Pitt 32. A few plays later Ky Thomas put Kent State on the board for the first time with a tough one yard touchdown run.
Following another Pitt punt Kent State was driving once again with Ulatowski connecting with Luke Floria for a gain of 35 yards to set them up at the Pitt eight yard line. Disaster struck on the next play when Ulatowski was sacked on a screen attempt and Pitt's Nate Temple scooped up the ball and went all the way to the endzone to put the Panthers on top 17-7.
Kent State cut the lead to seven with a 47 yard field goal from Glass before halftime, they added three more points on their first possession after halftime with Glass connecting from 29 yards out this time.
Another Ulatowski pick set the Panthers up for a short Holstein to Desmond Reid TD pass.
Just a few plays later the Flashes coughed it up again with Gavin Garcia putting on the ground.
The Kent State defense held and Pitt led 24-13 going into the fourth quarter.
After a third down sack Pitt punted once again, leading to a 35 yard field goal by Glass. 24-16 Pitt.
Pitt extended their lead once again when Holstein connected with Daejon Reynolds for a 70 yard pass and catch touchdown.
With 2:17 left to play Garcia cut the lead to 23-31 with a short TD run that was set up by a Ulatowski to Garcia pass for 32 yards and then a Ulatowski scramble for 18 yards down inside the one yard line.
After forcing Pitt to punt again Kent State's hail mary attempt was batted down and Pitt held on to secure a 31-23 win.
"Great effort!" Kent State head coach Kenni Burns said after the game. "The guys played their butts off and we did make some mistakes but I saw heads held high after them and we went back out there and got after it. Having a chance that late against a big school on the road in a big stadium is a far cry from where we were last year so we're all pretty proud of the effort. We'll learn from our mistakes and move forward."
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Additional Media
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Scoring
1Q PITT Ben Sauls 42 Yd FG
1Q PITT Konata Mumpfield 6 Yd pass from Eli Holstein (Ben Sauls kick)
2Q KENT Ky Thomas 1 Yd run (Andrew Glass kick)
2Q PITT Nate Temple 76 fum ret (Ben Sauls kick)
2Q KENT Andrew Glass 47 Yd FG
3Q KENT Andrew Glass 28 Yd FG
3Q PITT Desmond Reid 1 Yd pass from Eli Holstein (Ben Sauls kick)
4Q KENT Andrew Glass 34 Yd FG
4Q PITT Daejon Reynolds 70 Yd pass from Eli Holstein (Ben Sauls kick)
4Q KENT Gavin Garcia 1 Yd run (Andrew Glass kick)
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Key Statistics
Passing - Tommy Ulatowski 27/43 362Yds 0TD 2Int
Rushing - Gavin Garcia 19Car 85Yds 1TD 1Fum, Ky Thomas 3Car 14Yds 1TD
Receiving - Chrishon McCray 4Rec 74Yds, Isaiah Batton 3Rec 66Yds, Sebastian Brown 3Rec 58Yds, Luke Floriea 3Rec 55Yds, Gavin Garcia 6Rec 47Yds
Tackles - Dallas Branch 9, Luke Fulton 7
Sacks - Stephen Daley 2.0
Takeaways - N/A
Kicking - Andrew Glass 3/4FG 2/2XP
Passing - Eli Holstein 14/18 136Yds 3TD
Rushing - Rodney Hammond Jr 8Car 71Yds, Desmond Reid 10Car 46Yds, Daejon Reynolds 3Car 31Yds
Receiving - Daejon Reynolds 5Rec 95Yds 1TD, Konata Mumpfield 2Rec 15Yds 1TD, Gavin Bartholomew 2Rec 14Yds, Desmond Reid 3Rec 7Yds 1TD
Tackles - Brandon George 13, Javon McIntyre 10
Sacks - Nate Matlack 2.0, Nahki Johnson 1.5, Francie Brewu 1.0, David Ojiegbe 0.5
Takeaways - Jordan Bass 1Int, Phillip O'Brien Jr 1Int, Nate Temple 1FR(TD), Donovan McMillon 1FR
Kicking - Ben Sauls 1/1FG 4/4XP
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