Missed Opportunities Plague Flashes in 24-3 loss at Northern Illinois

Saturday, October 7

DeKalb, IL

3:30 p.m. (2:30 CST)

Kent State University

1-5 , 0-2

Northern Illinois University

3-2 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Kent State

NIU

Missed Opportunities Plague Flashes in 24-3 loss at Northern Illinois

10/7/2017 7:54:00 PM | Football

Box Score

DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois took advantage of Kent State's missed opportunities and turnovers while handing the Golden Flashes a 24-3 loss on Saturday.

A 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was taken off the scoreboard when one official overruled another saying Kent State running back Justin Rankin's knee touched the turf just before he carried the ball over the goal line. Instead of tying the game, the Flashes settled for an 18-yard field goal by Shane Hynes to cut the Huskies' early lead to 7-3.

After recovering a loose ball on the ensuing kickoff, Kent State again found itself with another red zone opportunity. But that chance to take a lead late in the second half ended with an interception just shy of the end zone. The empty possession turned into a 14-point swing as Northern Illinois followed a 45-yard interception return with an eight-play march to its second touchdown – a 25-yard hookup between Marcus Childers and Shane Wimann with 1:01 to play before halftime, allowing the Huskies to take a 14-3 lead into the break.

"We had some opportunities to put some points on the board, and we didn't do it," said Kent State head coach Paul Haynes. "We have to make sure we get that corrected. We are getting opportunities and just nailing ourselves in the foot."

Childers came off the Northern Illinois' bench to throw for three touchdowns. He also led the Huskies with 65 yards on 17 rushing attempts. A fumbled punt by Kent State at the Flashes' 11-yard line early in the third quarter set the stage the last of Childers' scoring throws. His two-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Huff gave Northern a commanding 21-3 lead.

"We haven't been a third-quarter team," said Haynes. "That's when we are giving up some big plays and getting more penalties. We have to look at it and see what we have to do to be better."

Freshman quarterback Dustin Crum accounted for 77 of Kent State's 102 rushing yards yards. He gained 106 yards in 10 true attempts, but lost another 29 while being dropped for five sacks. Crum and George Bollas combined for 29 yards on 6-of-17 passing, but found little time to throw against a Northern defensive line led by Sutton Smith – the Division I leader in tackles for loss, who added to his total with four on Saturday.

Two-time MAC special teams player of the week Derek Adams continued his impressive season by averaging 45.8 yards on nine punts for the Flashes.

The Kent State defense was led by Jim Jones, who recorded 14 tackles and recovered a fourth-quarter fumble. Marques Moore added two sacks while Juantez McRae and Jerrell Foster both turned in interceptions.

"Our No. 1 goal is to not allow one more point than what we score," said Haynes. "We aren't happy with the outcome, but you keep looking at the fight of our guys continuing to get turnovers and not giving up big plays. You have to be pleased with that…But our Achilles has been giving up touchdowns in the red zone, and I don't think we improved in that area today."

The Golden Flashes host Miami University on Oct. 14 during Homecoming at Dix Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Postgame Notes
Despite NIU's 72 plays from scrimmage, the Kent State defense held the Huskies to 266 yards and 15 first downs.

Junior Shane Hynes made his fourth straight field goal attempt and the 27^th of his career, tying for fifth among program leaders.

Senior defensive end Marques Moore recorded his first two sacks of the season. Moore saw his most action of the season Saturday, after missing four games with an injury.

Freshman quarterback Dustin Crum rushed for a career-high 77 yards, including 68 yards on the Flashes' second quarter scoring drive.

Junior linebacker Jim Jones made a career-high 14 tackles.

Sophomore Derek Adams had a career-long 74-yard punt in the fourth quarter.

Senior Jerrell Foster and junior Juantez McRae each made their first interceptions of the season, giving Kent State defensive backs eight picks on the season. Foster has four interceptions in his last 14 games. McRae has an interception in each of his last three seasons.