Kent State prepares to take on the Broncos in western Michigan

football
Oct 24, 2024 11:39:00 am

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kent State Golden Flashes football team continues Mid-American Conference play this Saturday on the road against the Western Michigan Broncos at 3:30 p.m.

This will be the first meeting of the #KentGRIT era between Kent State and Western Michigan. Head coach Kenni Burnswho was the Broncos' running backs coach during the fairytale 2016 season, will face his former team for the first time after former WMU head coach PJ Fleck left for the same position in Minnesota.

Kent State is 20-36-1 all-time against Western Michigan. This will be the third straight meeting held at Waldo Stadium and the first meeting between the schools since the MAC implemented its new pod scheduling system. Kent State last won on September 12, 2013 in Kalamazoo, 32-14.

The Golden Flash offensive has since exploded Tommy Ulatowski took over the QB1 position to start MAC play and averaged 24.7 points and 362.3 yards per game in three contests against conference opponents. He set a new career high in pass yards in each of his first two starts: 345 against Eastern Michigan on September 28 and then 394 against Ball State on October 12. Ulatowski accounted for four touchdowns in both games.

Wide receiver Chrishon McCray was the target of choice in those games as he scored five touchdowns and totaled more than 400 yards while also setting new career highs in both games. He was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week after the Ball State game. The redshirt sophomore caught eight passes for 213 yards and three scores against the Cardinals. This was the seventh-best single-game performance in Flashes history.

Additionally running back Ky Thomas played his best game in a Kent State uniform after a 121-yard performance last week at Bowling Green.

Following this Saturday, Kent State will begin preparations for the midweek MACtion game. The Flashes next play at home in Ohio on Wednesday, November 6th at 7:00 p.m