A Heartbreaker in Muncie
10/12/2013 7:25:00โฏPM | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. โย Injuries and a goal-line stand by Ball State led to heartbreak for Kent State in a 27-24 loss on Saturday at Scheumann Stadium.
Kent State led 21-20 and had a chance to build more momentum after a Darius Polk interception return to the Ball State 1-yard line with just over seven minutes to play. But when three dives for the goal line came up short, the Golden Flashes were forced to settle for a 21-yard Brad Miller field goal and a precarious four-point lead.
That lead was eclipsed when Keith Wenning's 7-yard touchdown pass to Willie Snead on fourth down with just 1:29 to play lifted the Cardinals to the win. Just three minutes earlier, Kent State's defense had forced a turnover on downs when another Wenning-to-Snead throw for the end zone on fourth down from the 10 was lobbed out of bounds.ย
"It's a tough loss because you are right there against a very good football team on the road," said Kent State football coach Paul Haynes. "A couple of plays here and there and it is a different outcome. This is learning experience for a lot of the guys in our locker room and we just have to come back and keep grinding."
The Flashes' hopes of driving for a game-tying field goal or a game-winning touchdown in the closing minute were made all the more difficult by a string of injuries. Kicker Anthony Melchiori was lost to an apparent hamstring injury early in the day, and starting quarterback Colin Reardon limped off the field late in the fourth quarter after injuring his lower leg after handing off to running back Trayion Durham.
A heroic effort by Reardon before the injury helped Kent State get into position to spoil homecoming in Muncie. The freshman completed 19-of-24 passes for 166 yards and touchdown passes of 14 yards to Dri Archer in the third quarter and 28 yards to Humphrey in the fourth quarter. His throw back across his body to Humphrey with 9:22 to play gave Kent State its 21-20 lead. Reardon also ran for a career-high 71 yards on nine attempts.
"It's never good to lose your starting quarterback," said Humphrey, who caught a career-high nine passes for 106 yards. "You build a chemistry and he has been adapting really well as a (redshirt) freshman. I know he will work his tail off to get back to play next week or whenever he can get back โฆ He knows the offense really well and that really hurt."
Kent State took the early lead at 7-0 on a 10-yard, second-effort run by Anthony Meray with 5:19 to play in the first quarter.ย
The Flashes' defense held the Cardinals scoreless until just 1:46 remained in the first half when Wenning found Snead for a game-tying, 39-yard touchdown. Even after touchdown passes by Wenning of 2 yards to Jordan Williams and 25 yards to Jamill Smith in the third quarter and the game-winner to Snead, the Kent State's defense held the No. 2 offense in the Mid-American Conference 17 points below its season average.
Wenning completed 23-of-46 passes for 305 yards, but he was also intercepted by both Polk and fellow Kent State defensive back Keenan Stalls. Prior to Saturday, the Cardinals' quarterback had thrown just three interceptions in his first six games.
"We knew that Ball State is a great offense, so we tried to rise to the challenge in practice," said senior defensive end Mark Fackler, who tipped three Wenning passes at the line, including one that led to the Polk interception. "The coaches pushed us like crazy this week. The guys prepared โฆ but it just wasn't close enough. I liked our improvement, but we have to keep getting better and better."
Kent State matched the high-powered Ball State offense with 23 first downs while getting out-gained by a slim 423-to-407-yard margin. The Flashes' also led in time of possession 36:52-to-23:08 with a ball-control attack that managed to keep the ball out of Wenning's hands for much of the day.
"We had a lot of injuries, and we've been that way all year," said Haynes. "But the one thing we've talked about all year is we will make no excuses. We won't use that as an excuse. We will keep preparing. It's tough because our guys fight and prepare so hard. It just isn't getting the job done. But it will come. We will stick together because this is a tight-knit group.
"Our defense played tough. They played physical, which is what we expect. That's a high-powered offense and we made plays when we had to. We just didn't at the end on fourth down. That's the tough part of it. You play so well for so long and one play takes the wind out of the sail. We just have to continue to build on the things we did well and keep grinding."
Kent State (2-5, 1-3) takes a break from Mid-American Conference play next week with a trip to play South Alabama.
Ball State improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in MAC play.
Postgame Notes
Junior Chris Humphrey had career-highs of nine catches and 106 receiving yards. ย Humphrey also made his third touchdown catch of the season.ย
Redshirt freshman Colin Reardon completed his first nine passes of the game.ย Reardon ran for a career-high 71 yards.ย He threw for two touchdowns in a game for the fifth time this season.
Junior Casey Pierce made a career-high four catches.
Sophomore Keenan Stalls made his first career interception on a pass that was tipped by Matt Dellinger.
Junior Anthony Meray scored his first rushing touchdown since the fourth game of 2011.
Sophomore Jordan Italiano forced a fumble at the goal line recovered by Dylan Farrington. It was the first time this season, the defense forced and recovered a fumble.
Sophomore Nate Terhune appeared Saturday, just four weeks after breaking his ankle.
Redshirt freshman Brice Fackler had his first career carry, going 34 yards on a fake punt.
Junior Andrew Horning had his first career punt in the second quarter, sending it 42 yards.ย He later booted a 47-yarder.
Redshirt freshman Brad Miller made his first career appearance, making two extra points and a field goal.ย He also had his first career kickoff.
Senior Darius Polk made his first interception of the season on a ball tipped by Mark Fackler.ย It was Polk's fourth career interception.
Senior Andrew Christopher deflected a missed extra point in the third quarter.
Senior Dri Archer scored his 33rd career touchdown and fourth of the season.
Kent State suffered its first loss of the season when outgaining an opponent on the ground (223-118).
Ball State was held to 2-for-5 in on redzone chances Saturday after converting 94 percent of its rezone chances going into the game.
The KSU defense has forced at least two turnovers in three straight games, including a season-high three turnovers at Ball State.
The Flashes' 407 yards of total offense was their second highest output of the season.
