Flashes celebrate Homecoming with A 39-17 win over Army

Saturday, October 18

Kent, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Kent State University

1-6

Army

2-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Army

Kent State

Photo by: David Dermer

Flashes celebrate Homecoming with A 39-17 win over Army

10/18/2014 8:01:00 PM | Football

Box Score

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KENT, Ohio – Colin Reardon tossed three touchdown passes and ran for another score as Kent State notched its first victory of the season with a 39-17 Homecoming win over Army on Saturday at Dix Stadium.

"We finally got over the hump to get a win," said Kent State head coach Paul Haynes, whose team improved to 1-6. "I'm so proud of these guys after all they have been through. With all of the ups and downs, and more ups than downs, they kept on fighting."

Reardon finished with a career-high 360 yards on 27-for-40 passing, including touchdown throws of 10 yards to Casey Pierce in the second quarter, 8 yards to Chris Humphrey in the third quarter, and 5 yards to Pierce again in the fourth quarter. The sophomore quarterback then sealed the win on a 7-yard run with 3:57 to play.

The 360 yards established a career high for Reardon by almost 100 yards, surpassing the 264 he totaled at Ohio University in last year's season finale. His three touchdowns are also a new career record.

All of those numbers arrived after an inauspicious start that saw Reardon throw an interception on the game's very first play from scrimmage.

"He got it out of the way, and then he played great the rest of the way," said Haynes.

Reardon said he was "going for the big shot on the first play."

"When it wasn't there, I honestly thought I had thrown it out of bounds," he continued. "I looked to the sideline and realized there was no whistle. I didn't even know what happened. You have to shake it off. Mistakes happen.

"After that, everything was clicking. The offensive line blocked great. The running backs helped with the blocking and ran hard when it was their turn. The wide receivers ran great routes. It feels really good that we are starting to understand how an offense is supposed to run."

Four different Kent State receivers caught five or more passes led by freshman James Brooks with seven grabs for 108 yards. Fellow freshman Kris White had five grabs for 64 yards while Humphrey and PIerce also pulled in five catches.

Anthony Melchiori added a perfect 4-for-4 day with two field goals in each half. His kicks of 27 yards late in the first quarter and 29 yards early in the second quarter gave Kent State a 6-3 lead.

After Army reached the end zone for the first time on a Raymond Maples 2-yard run with 7:56 before halftime, Reardon answered by giving the Flashes a 13-10 advantage going into halftime with a play-action strike over the middle to Pierce in the end zone.

The Flashes never relinquished the lead thanks in large part to a defense that played bend-but-don't-break while surrendering 295 rushing yards to the Army triple-option.

"Our goal was 190," said Haynes. "We didn't reach that, but we knew they were going to gain a lot of yards rushing the football. We just had to stay patient and stay poised."

The embodiment of that mantra was walk-on sophomore Nick Cuthbert, who led all tacklers with 16 starts, including 12 solos, while making his first career start at strong safety. The Georgia Tech transfer practiced every day against a similar option look two years ago. That experience with the Yellow Jackets paid off.

"You have to take advantage of every opportunity you get," said Cuthbert. "Luckily we have so much depth. Everyone prepares like they will start, and whatever happens, they will go out and do their best … (Playing against) this kind of offense is all about eye control, pad level, knowing assignments. If everyone does their (jobs), you should be able to defend every option they have."

As a fellow former walk-on safety at Kent State, Haynes was particularly proud of Cuthbert.

"Nick earned the chance," said Haynes. "He played on every special team and every play on defense. He is what Kent State-blue collar is all about."

Kent State took a critical two-possession lead at 26-17 on Melchiori's 32-yard field goal with 12:12 remaining. That forced Army (2-5) to try to come back through the air, and passing is not the strength of the Black Knights' offense.

Army's quarterbacks completed just 5-of-15 passes, and when Angel Santiago was intercepted by Kent State cornerback Malcolm Pannell with 5:17 to play, the Flashes knew they were on the verge of their first win.

The final Reardon touchdown run capped a perfect day in the red zone as Kent State scored on all eight visits.

"It was big to get the win on Homecoming in front of our alumni and former players," said Haynes. "We had our Captains Breakfast today. The former captains talked about the pride they have in this place and the pride of putting on the Kent State uniform. I'm one of them."

Kent State returns to action next week with an Oct. 25 trip to Miami University.

"Hopefully this win was a step forward," said Haynes. "We still have to get better at a lot of things. But our guys can feel good about their preparation and keep moving forward."

Postgame Notes

Sophomores Nick Cuthbert and Kerrick Rhone became the 15^th and 16^th different Kent State player (9 offense, 6 defense) to get his first career start this season.

Cuthbert led both sides with 16 tackles and 12 solo stops.

Sophomore quarterback Colin Reardon threw for career-highs of 360 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 42 yards and a touchdown. Reardon's previous high for passing was 264 yards. It was Kent State's first 300-yard passing game since 2009.

Reardon is now in sole possession of sixth place in career completions (331) at Kent State and moved into seventh place in career passing yards (3,544). He is now tied for seventh in career TD passes with 21.

Kent State's 13-play, 84-yard scoring drive in the first half was its longest drive of the season.

Junior Anthony Melchiori made a career-high four field goals (4-for-4) and his only punt went 61 yards.

The Flashes led at halftime for the first time this season.

Kent State's offensive line did not allow a sack for the second straight game. The Flashes had 40 and 41 passing attempts resepectively.

Senior Chris Humphrey moved into eighth place in career receptions at Kent State with 106.

Freshman Miles Hibbler had a career-long 17-yard run.

Senior tight end Casey Pierce had a career-high two touchdown catches. He has 11 grabs in his last two games.

Sophomore James Brooks had career-highs of seven catches and 108 yards.

Redshirt freshman Kris White made a career-high five catches.

The Flashes' defense had a season-high 6.0 tackles for loss.

Kent State's 39 points were a season-high.

Freshman James Alexander saw his first career action at linebacker.

Army's offense went 0-for-4 on fourth down conversion attempts

Saturday was the first time since 2012, Kent State won despite being outgained on the ground (Also against Army)

Postgame Quotes

Head Coach Paul Haynes

Finally got over the hump to get a win and I'm so proud of these guys for all that we've been through this year, all the ups and downs, but they kept on fighting. They prepare like crazy and it's finally paid off and I'm so happy for them. Army, it's an honor to play them and I give them the utmost respect. I'm so proud of our team to stick with it and get the win.

We felt going in that we could take advantage throwing the football. After Colin's first one, he got it out of the way and played great the rest of the game. We felt that we could take advantage of some of the things they do and the guy stepped up and they executed.

It is big that it's homecoming, in front of the alumni and former players. We had our Captain's Breakfast this morning and those guys kind of talked to these guys talked to them about the pride of this place and putting on that uniform and me being one of them and that's what make this so much more special, is sitting here with the first win and it being homecoming.

It was a whole effort, but it was a taking advantage of what they were given.

He came from this style of offense, transferring from Georgia Tech. He's earned it. He's a great special teams player for us, he's on every special team, plus also played every play on defense. And that's what the Kent State blue collar is all about. Proud of him, sitting next to another walk on just like me.

Hopefully this is a step forward. Still got to get better at a lot of things, but hopefully it's a step forward that the guys can feel good about, feel good about our preparation and move forward.

Safety Nick Cuthbert

You have to take advantage of every opportunity you get. Luckily we have so much depth on defense and the secondary, we feel like everyone prepares as if they're going to start the game.

We know our goal, we all feel the same way. We're all going to fight no matter what.

Quarterback Colin Reardon

We were going for a big shot on the first play. Things are going to happen, you're going to make mistakes. You just have to move on , my teammates talked to me and got my head back to where it's supposed to be. After that everything started clicking for us. The O line blocked great, running backs helped with the blocking and ran hard when they got the ball. Everything was finally how it was supposed to be.

Army coach Jeff Monken

"It's hard to win when you don't make plays."

"I thought the guys played hard, they didn't quit, we just couldn't put anything together and score. You got to be able to run the ball and block people. We had too many negative plays."

"On defense we have to be able to get off blocks and make tackles, on offense we got to be able to sustain blocks. It doesn't matter what offense or defense you run, you have to block, tackle and take care of the ball, play fundamental football, and play the game aggressively and we did none of the above successfully."