Kent State's 22-point fourth quarter secures 36-15 win over Wofford
Spirits were dour in the pouring rain at Dix Stadium late, but the Flashes found their mark to steal a win away for the fans.
The Wofford Terriers (2-1) were on cloud nine at the end of the third quarter, dominating the hosting Kent State Golden Flashes (1-1) despite adverse conditions through 45 minutes of game clock.
But as we all know, football games last for 60 minutes (assuming the game isn't played in Ann Arbor, Michigan.)
The Flashes would eventually find their spark, torching the Terriers defense for 22 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes of action to snatch away a 36-15 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Kent State got on the board first, with Dru DeShields deftly running through the middle of the defense for a three-yard rushing score to open up the scoring account at 7-0 on the game's first possession.
Both teams exchanged punts until near the end of the first quarter, when Wofford kicker Sam Spence knocked the ball through from 28 yards out to slim the lead to 7-3 with 3:20 to go in the period.
The second quarter would go to the dogs, as the Terriers scored 12 points to take the lead into the halftime break. Their momentum got started on defense, with Wyatt Ward intercepting a DeShields pass to set up the offense at the Kent State 36 yard line. Gerald Modest Jr. would cash the ball in with a five-yard rushing score to put Wofford up 10-7.
Wofford would take advantage of a Kent State mistake on special teams on the very next possession, as an errant snap on a punt landed outside the endzone, granting the visitors two additional points on a safety.
Kent State would get their lick back three possessions later, as Rafael Terrero Jr. plucked a pass from Ethan Drumm and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown to reclaim a 14-12 lead late in the second quarter.
Sam Spence would knock a 50-yard field goal through at the end of the half to put the Terriers up 15-14 at the break, before the two teams settled in for a full quarter of scoreless football.
The teams would trade interceptions to start, with Wofford then punting the ball back to the Flashes--who would miss a field goal at the end of a six-minute drive to highlight the third period.
The Flashes defense forced another Wofford punt to gift the ball back to the offense, and the Flashes never looked back, with Jakorion Caffey scoring a touchdown and Wayne Harris catching the two-pointer to put Kent State up 22-15 just over a minute into the final period.
Dru DeShields would notch his second rushing touchdown of the day– this time from 20 yards out– and then find Wayne Harris for a passing touchdown on the next two KSU possessions to close the game out.
DeShields was Kent State's leading passer and leading rusher on the night, with three total touchdowns (one passing, two rushing), 248 passing yards and 74 rushing yards.
Da'Realyst Clark led the KSU passcatchers in both receptions (five) and yards (90), while Wayne Harris (three catches, 78 yards) caught the team's lone receiving score and a two-pointer.
The defense had a field day, with seven tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and five sacks– all by different defenders. Rocco Nicholl led the team with six tackles, a TFL and a sack. Jaihien Roy also notched a crucial interception in the third quarter to quell Wofford's momentum.
The Flashes now gear up for a Big Noon Showdown with Ohio State next weekend. The nationally-broadcast contest kicks off on FOX around 12:15 p.m. Eastern time.
