Homecoming capped by a second-half comeback for a 17-14 win over Miami

Saturday, October 14

Kent, Ohio

3:30 p.m.

Kent State University

2-5 , 1-2

Miami University

2-5 , 1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Miami

Kent State

Homecoming capped by a second-half comeback for a 17-14 win over Miami

10/14/2017 7:31:00 PM | Football

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – A pair of third-quarter touchdown passes by George Bollas and second-half shutout by the Kent State defense highlighted a second-half comeback as the Golden Flashes edged Miami for a 17-14 win on Homecoming at Dix Stadium.

"I love this team's resilience. I love their perseverance," said Kent State head coach Paul Haynes. "This was a big weekend for us with homecoming, and we had 20-some former captains come and talk to our guys at our annual captain's breakfast this morning."

Trailing 14-3 going into the break, Haynes challenged his players by reaching back to the morning's speeches.

"We brought up the things those captains talked about, the pride and passion that goes with wearing this blue and gold," said Haynes. "We were going to see what kind of fight this team had…Because this hasn't happened in the last four years, down 14-3 and coming back to beat a good and experienced football team."

The Flashes trimmed the deficit to three points on a Bollas' 4-yard scoring throw to Justin Rankin with 8:43 to play in the third quarter. Bollas and Mike Carrigan then combined to give Kent State the lead for good with 37 seconds to play in the third as Carrigan pulled in a short throw and sprinted 84 yards to the end zone.

"That was designed," said Bollas, who completed 9-of-14 for 154 yards. "That was my first read if it was open, and it was. We talk about getting the ball into the hands of a guy who can make a play. It was a little 5-yard throw, and he took it the distance. That's working together as a team."

Earlier in the game, Carrigan turned a broken play on a reverse into a 61-yard run that set up a 23-yard Shane Hynes field goal that broke a scoreless tie with 12:07 to play in the second quarter.

Kent State's front four on defense recorded all three of their sacks as the Flashes protected the three-point lead during the fourth quarter. The game with Nick Faulkner and Theo Eboigbe combining to drop Miami quarterback Billy Bahl as the Dix Stadium clock ticked down to zero.

"It's huge any time you can get natural, four-man pressure, and you don't have to bring five or six guys," said Haynes. "Last year (with 1:34 to play in an 18-14 loss at Miami), we rolled out pressure and their running back ran (55 yards) for a touchdown."

Miami took its 14-3 lead into the half behind a pair of Bahl touchdown passes in the second quarter – a 13-yarder to James Gardner at 8:34 and a 2-yarder to Ryan Smith with just 33 seconds to play before the break.

The RedHawks didn't enjoy the same success finishing drives in the second half. The fourth quarter included a missed 20-yard field goal, a dropped pass in the end zone, and a mishandled screen pass with an open sideline on a snap from the KSU 41-yard line with 4:25 to play.

Kent State, meanwhile, benefited from some key plays that Haynes said "are the kind that won't show up in the box score."

A beautiful peel-back block by running back Justin Rankin freed Bollas for a 5-yard run that moved the chains on third-and-four with 2:15 to play, forcing Miami to use its final two timeouts. Rankin and tight end Chalfonte Butler also delivered blocks to spring Carrigan for his 84-yard touchdown.

"Those are the big plays that let us get the touchdowns and some of those long drives," said Bollas.

The Kent State offense out-rushed Miami 167-to-161. Bahl completed just 12-of-29 passes for 174 yards while throwing a pair of first-half interceptions. Kent State's defense was led by Manny Lawrence-Burke's 11 tackles and interceptions by Elvis Hynes and Jamal Parker.

The Flashes travel to Ohio University next week before returning home to face Bowling Green at 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Postgame Notes
Sophomore Mike Carrigan's 84-yard touchdown catch was Kent State's longest offensive play of the season. Carrigan's 61-yard rush was the Flashes' longest carry of the season. He finished with a career-high 101 yards receiving.

Freshman cornerback Elvis Hines made his first career interception.

Sophomore Jamal Parker made his first interception of the season and fourth of his career.

Junior Shane Hynes made his the 28^th field goal of his career, placing him alone in fifth among program leaders.

During Kent State's third quarter scoring drive, sophomore Justin Rankin made three catches on third downs, including his second touchdown grab of the season.

Junior George Bollas threw his first and second touchdown passes of the season and fifth and sixth TDs of his career.

Senior Jon Cunningham made a career-high seven tackles.

Sophomore Manny Lawrence-Burke matched a career-high of 11 tackles

Junior Connor Shinsky got his first start of the season at right guard.

Kent State's 90-yard drive leading to its opening field goal was its longest of the season. The Flashes' drive to start the third quarter lasted 6:17, their longest in duration this season.

The Flashes scored 14 third-quarter points. In its first six games, Kent State had only scored two points in the third quarter. It was the first time Kent State overcame a double-digit halftime deficit since last season at Central Michigan.

The home team has now won five straight in the Kent State-Miami series. The last four games of the series have been decided by seven or less points.

The Flashes have won five of their last eight homecoming games.

KSU's defense has combined for seven sacks in its last two games. The Flashes had only four sacks in their first four games.