Kent State sticks around in loss at Tennessee
Flashes strong defensive effort keeps things close
By Don Knotts | @theotherdonknotts | September 15, 2024, 12:41am EDT
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Saturday September 14th 7:45 PM ET
Location: Knoxville, TN | Neyland Stadium
1-2 | 3-0
KENT|07|00|00|10|17
TENN|07|07|07|03|24
CRISHON MCCRAY HAULS IN A TD PASS FROM TOMMY ULATOWSKI IN THE 4TH QUARTER
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Knoxville, TN - It was supposed to be a beatdown when Kent State travelled into SEC country to face Tennessee under the lights. However, with the help of a strong defensive effort and an opportune, mostly mistake free offense the Flashes had a chance all the way to the final gun.@Saturday September 14th 7:45 PM ET
Location: Knoxville, TN | Neyland Stadium
1-2 | 3-0
KENT|07|00|00|10|17
TENN|07|07|07|03|24
CRISHON MCCRAY HAULS IN A TD PASS FROM TOMMY ULATOWSKI IN THE 4TH QUARTER
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Tommy Ulatowski threw for 358 yards and a score and kept the turnovers under control, throwing just one interception early on.
The rushing game was effective with Gavin Garcia putting up 76 yards on 14 carries and Ky Thomas adding 28 yards on 8 carries.
Tennessee showed their SEC speed with all three of their touchdowns coming on long passes. Nico Iamaleava connected with Bru McCoy for a 59 yard score in the first quarter. After Kent State tied it back up with a one yard TD run by Garcia the Volunteers scored on a pair of Iamaleava TD passes to Squirrell White, a 64 yarder just before halftime and from 72 yards out late in the third quarter.
Ulatowski connected with Chrishon McCray on a 17 yard TD early in the fourth quarter and each team added a field goal after that.
"You know in our position from where we were at last year we absolutely feel good about this game." Kent State head coach Kenni Burns said after the game.
Iamaleava threw for 213 yards and three scores while Dylan Sampson picked up 132 on the ground.
The Tennessee pass rush was a big problem for Kent State with them racking up a total of eight sacks. James Pearce Jr led the way with 4.5.
Kent State will travel to face Penn State next week.
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Additional Media
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Scoring
1Q TENN McCoy 59 Yd pass from Iamaleava (Turbyville kick)
1Q KENT Garcia 1 Yd run (Glass kick)
2Q TENN White 64 Yd pass from Iamaleava (Turbyville kick)
3Q TENN White 72 Yd pass from Iamaleava (Turbyville kick)
4Q KENT McCoy 17 Yd pass from Ulatowski (Glass kick)
4Q TENN Turbyville 45 Yd FG
4Q KENT Glass 44 Yd FG
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Key Statistics
Kent State
Passing - T. Ulatowski 28/37 358Yds 1TD 1Int
Rushing - G. Garcia 14Car 76Yds 1TD, K. Thomas 8Car 28Yds
Receiving - I. Batton 6Rec 128Yds, C. McCray 6Rec 80Yds 1TD, H. Junker 5Rec 60Yds
Tackles - D. Branch 9, A. Campbell Jr 8
Sacks - N/A
Takeaways - N/A
Kicking - Andrew Glass 1/3FG 2/2XP
Tennessee
Passing - N. Iamaleava 6/8 213Yds 3TD
Rushing - D. Sampson 24Car 132Yds, N. Iamaleava 8Car 33Yds
Receiving - S. White 2Rec 137Yds 2TD, B. McCoy 2Rec 64Yds 1TD, D. Sampson 2Rec 12Yds
Tackles - A. Carter 13, K. Pili 13
Sacks - J. Pearce Jr 4.5, D. Bailey 1.5, C. Herring 1.0, C. Charles 0.5, B. Carter 0.5
Takeaways - K. Pili 1Int
Kicking - J. Turbyville 1/1FG 3/3XP
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