by KALAMAZOO,MI-The Kent State Golden Flashes were dominated by the Western Michigan Broncos on the first leg of a two-week road trip on Saturday, 38-7. The Broncos were just too physically dominant for the Flashes to handle, as redshirt junior quarterback Dru DeShields was sacked three times.
Moving to 2-4(1-2), the Flashes will stay on the road for next week’s game against the South Florida Bulls. As for the Broncos (4-2,2-0) they will stay in the driver’s seat of the Mid-American Conference heading into Mount Pleasant in The Battle for the Victory Cannon.
Knowing the Broncos play an extremely physical and tough brand of football, the Flashes would’ve needed to stand their ground in the trenches. However, another poor showing from KSU’s offensive line led to more penalties and pressure on DeShields.
Western’s physicality was present from the start. The Broncos scored on each of their first two drives, and only needed four plays on the opening possession to take the early lead.
DeShields and his offense, backed by a huge day from sophomore receiver Wayne Harris, were gaining a lot of momentum in response. For a small portion of Saturday’s contest, it looked like the Flashes would compete; but following a third consecutive missed field goal from freshman Sean Leonard, all confidence seemed lost.
Despite the missed field goal and a bizarre 4th-and-18 turnover on downs that followed, DeShields put the Flashes back in the game at the two-minute mark of the second quarter. Trailing 14-0, he found freshman receiver Brendyn Smith for KSU’s first and only touchdown of the day.
In response, redshirt junior quarterback Broc Lowry marched his Broncos right down the field on a nine-play, 73-yard drive capped off by a touchdown from redshirt junior Baylin Brooks.
Down 14 at the half, the Flashes could do nothing to combat the wave of momentum that was behind Western Michigan. The parade of pressure coming off the Broncos’ defensive line and penalties caused by the Golden Flashes’ offensive line kept them out of the game.
Saturday’s contest was very tricky for Carney’s squad, and if they aren’t careful, next weekend’s trip to Tampa Bay could send them down a spiral. Penalties continued to plague them against the Broncos, and the team’s overall confidence in its special teams unit seems murky.
Furthermore, the Flashes were unable to run the football against the Broncos, amassing just under 80 yards yards to Western Michigan’s 210. This marks the second straight game that the Flashes were outgained badly, as the Ohio Bobcats outran KSU 181 to 49.
It was surely an ugly game for the Flashes, but the continuation of an already strong connection between DeShields and Harris was a good sight to see for an offense that needed a bright spot through two poor performances. There are signs of life for this team’s conference title hopes, but the Flashes will need to straighten out their problems on the offensive line to see the dream come true.
