9/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Golden Flashes were able to withstand numerous miscues and make a game of it by converting 50% (10-of-20) of their third down situations. Rutgers, which let a big halftime lead slip away a week ago in a 35-24 loss to Division I-AA New Hampshire, aided the Kent State comeback by committing nine penalties of its own.
The loss overshadowed a career night by senior wide receiver Darrell Dowery, Jr. (Washington, D.C./Dunbar H.S.), who caught a personal best 14 passes, one shy of the Kent State single game record, for 145 yards, including 10 receptions in the first half alone.
Taking advantage of Kent State miscues, Rutgers struck first. With Kent State punting from its one yard line, an errant snap rolled under the legs of punter Josh Brazen (Ada, Ohio/Ada) and out of the endzone for a safety. The ensuing free kick set up Rutgers with a short field and the Scarlet Knights took full advantage of it, going 46 yards in five plays. Ryan Hart's 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Clark Harris gave Rutgers a 9-0 lead with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter.
The first quarter deficit could have been much worse. After Darrell Dowrey fumbled a punt, Rutgers took over at Kent State's 18 yard line. But sophomore defensive back Usama Young (Largo, Md./Largo) picked of Hart on the very next play at the two yard line and returned the ball to the 24-yard line, averting further damage. However, a personal foul penalty on the return and a quarter back sack put the ball at the one, resulting in the errant punt snap and subsequent safety.
The Flashes punting woes continued less than a minute into the second quarter. Once again punting from his own end zone, Brazen was hit by Orlando Kane while picking up a low snap. The ball popped into the air and into the waiting arms of Corey Barnes for a Rutgers' touchdown and a 16-0 lead.
Kent State got on the board with a 16-yard pass from Joshua Cribbs (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) to sophomore receiver Najah Pruden (Burlington, N.J./Burlington City), capping a 14-play, 77-yard drive with 10 minutes left in the half. Earlier in the drive, Cribbs hit Dowery near the sideline on third-and-22 to keep the drive alive. Cribbs then scored on a nine-yard scramble a few plays later, but the score was nullified by a holding penalty. A week after committing just four penalties against Liberty, the Golden Flashes were guilty of 12 infractions for 108 yards, including five in the first quarter alone.
Hart marched Rutgers right down the field, completing all of his passes on the drive, including a five-yard toss to Brian Leonard- in which the running back hurdled KSU defender Jack Williams- for the score. The 80-yard drive took nine plays and 4:09 off the clock to put the Scarlet Knights up 23-7 at halftime.
The teams traded turnovers to start the second half. Fifth-year senior safety Abram Elam (Riviera Beach, Fla./Cardinal Newman, Palm Beach C.C.) picked off his first pass in a Golden Flash uniform and set Kent State up with good field position. However, the Flashes would give the ball right back two plays later when Cribbs and Alston mishandled an exchange and Rutgers' J'vonne Parker fell on the loose ball at the 12.
After a Rutgers' punt, Kent State went 71 yards in 10 plays with redshirt freshman Rasheed McClaude (Dale City, Va./Gar-Field H.S.) scoring from two-yards out. Junior placekicker Travis Mayle's (Ravenna, Ohio/Crestwood) extra point cut the deficit to 23-14 with 6:42 left in the third quarter.
The score remained that way until Jeremy Ito's 24-yard field goal put Rutgers up 12, 26-14, with 13:05 left. However, Kent State wouldn't go away.
This time Cribbs did it with his legs, taking a quarterback draw 18 yards and accelerating through the defensive secondary for the score and getting the Flashes within five, 26-21, with just under nine minutes remaining.
Aided by a pair of personal foul penalties, Rutgers went 70 yards on their next drive, before Ito's 22-yard field goal made the score 29-21 with under six minutes left.
The Golden Flashes came within an eye lash of tying the game. On fourth down from the Rutgers 14 yard line, Cribbs intended pass to Pruden in the back of the endzone sailed high, ending the threat.
The Flashes had one last drive after forcing Rutgers to punt, but Cribbs was picked off at midfield by Joe Porter to seal it for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers pressured Cribbs all night, sacking the Kent State passer six times. Despite the constant pursuit, Cribbs completed a career-high 29-of-47 passes for 311 yards and a score. In addition to Dowery, Pruden hauled in three passes for 63 yards, including the touchdown.
Hart finished 19-of-30 with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Rutgers. Lenaord caught eight passes for 70 yards while Harris caught six for 108. Justin Hairston led the rushing attack with 57 yards on 14 carries. Rutgers rushed for 98 yards as a team, compared to only 16 net yards for Kent State.
