Football Closes 2016 Season with 31-21 Loss to Huskies

Friday, November 25

12:00 p.m.

Kent State University

3-9 , 2-6

Northern Illinois University

5-7 , 5-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Illinois

Kent State

Football Closes 2016 Season with 31-21 Loss to Huskies

11/25/2016 4:03:00 PM | Football

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – Northern Illinois posted 17 unanswered points over a stretch of just over seven minutes of the second half to turn what had been a tie game late in the third quarter into a 31-21 Kent State loss in Saturday's season finale at Dix Stadium.

The Golden Flashes deadlocked the game at 14-14 with 4:14 on the third-quarter clock when George Bollas saw a flag fly on the sideline, realized he had a free play with a penalty coming on the Huskies, and took a shot deep down the field. Senior Ernest Calhoun, playing in his final game at Kent State, pulled in the catch the 15-yard line, sidestepped a defender, and walked the tightrope on the sideline to stay in bounds as he found the end zone for a 57-yard score.

Kent State also tied the game in the second quarter when Bollas raced 85 yards for a touchdown. The Flashes' longest play from scrimmage in 2016 made the score 7-7 with 9:03 to play before halftime.

"We fought. We stayed into it. We kept grinding it out," said Kent State head coach Paul Haynes. "They are a good football team, a strong football team, a power football team, and they made some plays."

Christian Hagan started the string of 17 consecutive points for Northern Illinois with 1:03 to play in the third on a 34-yard field goal. Joel Bouagnon then put the game out of reach with a 9 yard touchdown run at the 14:34 mark of the fourth quarter and a 2-yard dive to the end zone almost five minutes later.

Kent State added a late touchdown when Bollas found senior tight end Brice Fackler for a 10-yard touchdown with 2:05 to play. The leaping Fackler beat five converging NIU defenders for the jump ball in the end zone.

Safety Kevin Bourne became just the fourth player in Division I this season to record more than 20 tackles in a game, finishing with 21, while senior Kent State teammate Nick Cuthbert recorded 19 tackles – his third consecutive game with 18 or more.

Bollas finished with 203 yards on 14-of-35 passing, including two touchdowns and two interceptions. He added another 87 rushing yards on nine carries. Justin Rankin finished with 61 yards on 12 runs, helping Kent State gain 188 yards on the ground in 29 attempts. Calhoun was the Flashes' top pass catcher with 77 yards on three catches.

Including Calhoun, Fackler, and Cuthbert, Saturday was the final game for 16 seniors who were honored prior to kickoff.

"I'm proud of the senior class," said Haynes. "We didn't finish the way we wanted for them, but I love their fight. I love their grit. I love all of the things they meant to this program and this university."

After the game, the seniors were thanked by their teammates in the Kent State locker room.

"No matter what the record was, we are a family of brothers," said Cuthbert. "We have a bond that will last beyond this season."

Kent State finished the 2016 campaign at 3-9 overall and 2-6 in Mid-American Conference play.

Postgame Notes
Senior linebacker Nick Cuthbert made 19 tackles, giving him 56 tackles in his last three games.
Senior receiver Ernest Calhoun made a touchdown catch of over 50 yards for the second straight game. He closed out his career with 81 catches for 896 yards and eight touchdowns.
Freshman cornerback Jamal Parker made his third career interception in two games.
Senior guard Wayne Scott made his 40^th consecutive start. Tackle Reno Reda made his 39^th career start.
Senior tight end Brice Fackler caught his third touchdown pass of the season and matched a career-long 31-yard reception.
Senior linebacker Elcee Refuge recorded his fourth fumble recovery of the season. He had a hand in five turnovers this season.
Sophomore George Bollas recorded his second career rushing touchdown. His 85-yard rush was Kent State's longest offensive play of the season. He also threw his third and fourth career touchdown passes. Bollas threw for a career-high 203 yards.
Senior Terence Waugh made his team-leading 14^th and 15^th tackles for loss. Waugh closed out his four seasons fifth in career sacks at Kent State with 20.5.
Junior safety Kevin Bourne made a career-high 21 tackles, giving him 35 tackles in his last two games. He became the fourth player in the FBS this season to reach 20 tackles in a game.
Senior Charles Chandler made his first two receptions of the season.
Senior Colin Reardon closed out his career ranked fourth in career completions (496), fourth in career TD passes (33) and fifth in career passing yards (5,327).
Sophomore Jim Jones made a career-high 11 tackles.

Postgame Quotes

Paul Haynes
I'm proud of the senior class. (We) didn't finish it the way that we wanted to with them. (I) love their fight, love their grit. I'm proud of these guys for what they did for this program and this university.

Being in good shape going into the fourth quarter
We fight for as long as we can fight. They're a good football team, they're a power football team.

All I can do is go grind it out day-to-day and make these kids better young men. That's what the program is about.

Biggest take away from this year
The way that we prepare. Anybody that thinks Kent State football is not a long process, is crazy. It's been 94 years and 26 winning seasons, so it's not going to happen overnight. It's going to take some time. The next phase is learning how to win and that's what we have to do.

Quarterback next season
We're in a unique situation, if we keep these guys healthy, we can have depth at quarterback.

Talking about Bollas
George played well. He's been ready every week. Today we needed him and he came in played well.

Senior Linebacker Nick Cuthbert
On last three weeks with tackles
Coaches are putting me in good positions to make tackles and make plays

On being out there for last game
Fun. I have nothing to look back on. I had a good run. I did everything I could and I'm happy with what happened. I wouldn't change a thing.

Defensive effort
Everyone knew it was the last game and we were trying to leave it all out on the field and just do our jobs.

Postgame locker room energy
No matter the record we were still family, brothers we have bonds that are going to last a lot longer than the season. Everyone respects friends and loves one another.