Kent State University
2-3 , 1-0
Miami University
1-4 , 0-1
Flashes hold on for 20-14 Homecoming win over Miami
10/3/2015 7:34:00 PM | Football
KENT, Ohio – Juantez McRae's leaping interception in traffic ended Miami's hope for a fourth-quarter comeback and secured a 20-14 homecoming victory for Kent State in Saturday's Mid-American Conference opener at Dix Stadium.
Miami trailed 20-0 with less than six minutes to play before climbing back into the game on a 1-yard touchdown run by Alonzo Smith with 5:36 to play and a 2-yard scoring throw from Drew Kummer to Nate Becker with 3:15 remaining. After forcing a quick three-and-out, the RedHawks' bid for an improbably come-from-behind win finally ended when KSU linebacker James Alexander hit Kummer as he released a dangerous throw over the middle. McRae picked off the pass at the Golden Flashes' 8-yard line with just 1:02 on the clock.
"Once I saw him throw the ball, I thought anything can happen," said McRae, a true freshman who has won playing time in a deep Kent State secondary. "I saw our defensive line put pressure on the quarterback, and he just threw it up. I went for it. I just had to get it."
The late rally seemed improbable for the simple fact that Miami's defense did next to nothing for more than 50 minutes. The first 12 RedHawks drives prior to their first score ended in eight punts, a turnover on downs and three interceptions.
"It was a good job by our guys to keep fighting and a good job of finishing the game at the end," said KSU head coach Paul Haynes, whose team improved to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in MAC play. "We have to get more of an instinct to close it out early…but Miami did a good job of fighting. We are making progress. We did a lot of things better than we did last week.
"You always like to get that first MAC win and it's always good to win on homecoming."
Kent State's offense popped a few big plays in the early going before what Haynes dubbed "a sloppy finish" opened the door for Miami to get back into the game..
Kent State built its 20-0 lead behind a pair of electrifying plays in the open field – the first provided by another true freshman.
Antwan Dixon took a second-quarter reverse and outraced the RedHawks defense 75 yards down the KSU sideline for the freshman's third touchdown in just three home games wearing a Golden Flashes uniform.
Dixon said, "I saw nobody in front of me except for big Reno (Reda)" after turning the corner.
Kent State's left tackle sprinted in front of the play and provided Dixon with an escort all the way to the goal line.
Dixon added a team high six catches for 63 yards as quarterback Colin Reardon completed 12-of-21 passes for 136 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.
"We did a lot of short stuff (due to weather) and tried to see if we could take it the distance once we got into the open field," said Dixon.
Ernest Calhoun did just that, using a quick cutback and a sudden burst of speed to turn a 14-yard catch over the middle of the field into a 44-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The touchdowns followed first quarter field goals of 38 and 28 yards by Shane Hynes as the Flashes grabbed a 6-0 lead on the game's first two possessions.
Miami's only threat deep in Kent State territory during the game's first 50 minutes was turned away by cornerback Demetrius Monday's fifth interception of the season and second pick of the day – a leaping grab near the KSU 10-yard line.
Elcee Refuge added the third of four interceptions by Kummer (19-of-48, 315 yards), ending a Miami drive near midfield early in the fourth quarter.
Miami (1-4, 0-1) out-gained Kent State 416-to-350 after the Flashes held a 283-to-207-yard advantage through three quarters. All of Miami's fourth-quarter yardage came through the air after Kummer struggled to complete 7-of-21 passes for 106 yards in the first 45 minutes.
Kent State eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark for the second consecutive week. Freshman Raekwon Davis ran for 49 yards on 8 carries and had a 50-yard run that set up the second Hynes field goal.
"We talk about getting better every game, and we did a lot of things better today than we did last week," said Haynes.
Kent State goes on the road next week to face Toledo in a 3 p.m. start at the Glass Bowl.
Postgame Press Conference
Postgame Notes
- Freshman Antwan Dixon has scored touchdowns in all three home games and is now the Flashes' scoring leader. One week after going 47 yards for a touchdown on a reverse against Marshall, Dixon went 75 yards on a reverse for a touchdown against Miami, the Flashes' longest run of the season. Against Delaware State, he scored a 20-yard touchdown after catching a screen pass.
- Redshirt freshman Raekwon James had a 51-yard rush in the first quarter, it was the Flashes longest run of the season until the second quarter, when Dixon went 75 yards on a reverse
- Junior Colin Reardon became the fifth Kent State quarterback to reach 5,000 career yards passing. Reardon also passed Julian Edelman for fifth place in career passing yards. Reardon connected on his 32nd career touchdown pass, which ranks fourth among KSU career leaders.
- Sophomore Demetrius Monday had his second two-interception game of the season and upped his team-leading total to five picks on the year. Monday has six interceptions in his last six games played, dating back to the 2014 season finale against Akron.
- Junior Ernest Calhoun has touchdown catches in each of his last two games.
- Junior Elcee Refuge and freshman Juantez McRae each made their first career interceptions.
- Senior Anthony Melchiori had a season-long 67-yard punt. He's had boots of 58 or more yards in four straight games. Four of his eight punts were inside the 20.
- After going 2-for-2 Saturday, redshirt freshman Shane Hynes has made his last four field goals.
- The Flashes have won back-to-back homecoming games for the first time since 1985-86. The last Kent State head coach to win back-to-back homecomings was Don James (1972-73)
- In its last three games, Kent State is plus-8 in turnover margin.
- The Flashes have won three of their last four home games.
- Since the beginning of 2012, Kent State is 17-1 when leading at halftime and 16-3 when outrushing an opponent.
- The Flashes' defense has totaled 41 tackles for loss in its last four games.
- Kent State has rushed for over 180 yards in all three home games.
Team Stats
MIAMI 0, KENT 3
KENT - HYNES, Shane 38 yd field goal 11 plays, 50 yards, TOP 4:15
MIAMI 0, KENT 6
KENT - HYNES, Shane 28 yd field goal 6 plays, 55 yards, TOP 2:43
MIAMI 0, KENT 13
KENT - DIXON, Antwan 75 yd run (HYNES, Shane kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:15
MIAMI 0, KENT 20
KENT - CALHOUN, Ernest 44 yd pass from REARDON, Colin (HYNES, Shane kick) 1 plays, 44 yards, TOP 0:12
MIAMI 7, KENT 20
MIAMI - SMITH, Alonzo 1 yd run (PATTERSON, K. kick), 10 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:57
MIAMI 14, KENT 20
MIAMI - BECKER, Nate 2 yd pass from KUMMER, Drew (PATTERSON, K. kick) 9 plays, 35 yards, TOP 1:26
