Kent State University
2-4 , 1-1
University at Buffalo
1-4 , 0-1
Holley's 4 Touchdowns Leads Flashes to First MAC Win
10/8/2016 7:14:00 PM | Football
AMHERST, N.Y. – Nick Holley ran for 224 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns while helping Kent State roll to a 44-20 win over the University at Buffalo on Saturday at UB Stadium.
Making just his second start at quarterback for the Golden Flashes, Holley delivered a strong hint at what was to come when he raced 65 yards on the game's opening play. The long run set up the game's first points – a 31-yard field goal by Shane Hynes with 12:24 to play in the first quarter.
It didn't take long for Holley to break free again as he raced down the Buffalo sideline for a 67-yard score at the 7:40 mark of the first quarter, extending the Kent State lead to 10-0.
Holley added scoring runs of 3 yards with 29 seconds to play in the third quarter and 2 yards with 8:09 to play in the fourth as the Flashes claimed a wire-to-wire win that improved their record to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in Mid-American Conference play.
The Flashes out-gained Buffalo 430-372 thanks to a 341-to-116-yard advantage on the ground. Their 58 offensive plays averaged 7.4 yards per snap. Will Mathews added 62 yards on five carries and Justin Rankin ran for 58 yards on 13 attempts. Holley also threw for 89 yards on 7-for-13 passing.
Kent State also scored on defense as James Alexander scooped up a fumble forced by Jon Cunningham and ran 15 yards for a touchdown with 3:35 to play in the second quarter that allowed Kent State to take a 20-3 lead into halftime.
Buffalo scored its lone touchdowns – a 1-yard pass from Tyree Jackson to Johnathon Hawkins and a 1-yard run by Jackson – in the fourth quarter.
When the Bulls (1-4, 0-1) offered a brief threat, trimming the lead to 27-13 with 11:36 to play on the Jackson-to-Hawkins touchdown, Kent State answered quickly courtesy of a 66-yard kickoff return by Raekwon James that set the stage for Holley's third touchdown run.
Nate Holley, who began the week as the national leader in solo tackles, led KSU's defense with 13 tackles, including 10 more solos to bring his season total to 57. Nick Cuthbert added 10 tackles, while Jon Cunningham recorded the Flashes' lone sack to go with his forced fumble.
Kent State is on the road again next week, traveling to Oxford, Ohio for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff against Miami University on Oct. 15.
Postgame Notes
Junior Nick Holley became the first Kent State player with four rushing touchdowns in a game since Eugen Jarvis in 2008. Holley had Kent State's two longest runs of the season in the first two series, going 65 yards on the first play and 67 yards on a second possession touchdown. Holley had his second straight 100-yard rushing game.
Holley became the first Kent State player since Dri Archer in 2012 with over 200 yards in a game and the first player since Archer with a pair of carries over 60 yards in the same game.
Senior safety Nate Holley became the 10th player in Kent State's history to reach 400 career tackles and the first to do so since Sean Patterson in 1993.
Senior Najee Murray finished with five pass breakups.
The Flashes 44 points were their most against a MAC opponent since 2013.
Kent State played turnover free for the second straight game.
Sophomore Shane Hynes, who entered the game 10th in the nation in field goals made, connected on all three of his attempts and matched his season-long field goal with a 43-yarder.
Sophomore Raekwon James had a 66-yard kick return in the fourth quarter, the Flashes' longest return of the season.
Freshman Kavious Price had a career-high 36 yards receiving.
Junior linebacker James Alexander scored his first career touchdown and the Flashes' second score of the year on a fumble recovery.
Buffalo was held to 26 yards of offense in the first quarter.
The Flashes have now won the last three series meetings in Buffalo, tying the all-time series 11-11.
Kent State did not allow a touchdown in the first three quarters for the second time this season.
Redshirt freshman Will Matthews had a career-long 51-yard carry.
Freshman Justin Rankin finished with 138 all-purpose yards.
Postgame Quotes
Paul Haynes
Great victory, great team victory, all 3 phases did a very good job. Offensively I don't know when the last time we scored 44 points and rushed the ball like we did. It's always happier when you go out on the road and come out with a victory. This is a big win for us, hopefully this will give us momentum to keep going.
On Nick Holley's (QB) performance
We want to give credit where it's due, it's these guys too, our offensive linemen, you've got to block on the edges, you've got to block in front of him. It's a team effort in front of him, if we can continue to do that we'll have some chances
On the cornerbacks, press coverage, man coverage
We knew they were going to challenge us deep, we play a lot of man coverage, we put those guys on islands. We never get upset at them if they catch a couple balls on them because that's part of the game. We keep after it, and those guys do a good job of challenging themselves to get better
Team Stats
KENT 3, UB 0
KENT - HYNES, Shane 31 yd field goal 5 plays, 68 yards, TOP 2:36
KENT 10, UB 0
KENT - HOLLEY, Nick 67 yd run (HYNES, Shane kick), 3 plays, 84 yards, TOP 1:23
KENT 13, UB 0
KENT - HYNES, Shane 43 yd field goal 8 plays, 39 yards, TOP 3:02
KENT 13, UB 3
UB - MITCHESON, Adam 34 yd field goal 15 plays, 68 yards, TOP 7:21
KENT 20, UB 3
KENT - ALEXANDER, J. 15 yd fumble recovery (HYNES, Shane kick)
KENT 20, UB 6
UB - MITCHESON, Adam 41 yd field goal 8 plays, 41 yards, TOP 3:38
KENT 27, UB 6
KENT - HOLLEY, Nick 3 yd run (HYNES, Shane kick), 12 plays, 71 yards, TOP 5:36
KENT 27, UB 13
UB - HAWKINS, Johnat 1 yd pass from JACKSON, Tyree (MITCHESON, Adam kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:53
KENT 34, UB 13
KENT - HOLLEY, Nick 2 yd run (HYNES, Shane kick), 6 plays, 31 yards, TOP 3:17
KENT 34, UB 20
UB - JACKSON, Tyree 1 yd run (MITCHESON, Adam kick), 8 plays, 79 yards, TOP 1:18
KENT 41, UB 20
KENT - HOLLEY, Nick 43 yd run (HYNES, Shane kick), 2 plays, 48 yards, TOP 0:18
KENT 44, UB 20
KENT - HYNES, Shane 32 yd field goal 5 plays, 54 yards, TOP 2:59
