Flashes Looking to Learn From Loss at Penn State

Saturday, September 15

University Park, PA

12:00 p.m.

Kent State University

1-2

Penn State

3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Kent State

Penn State

Flashes Looking to Learn From Loss at Penn State

9/15/2018 4:34:00 PM | Football

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 11 Penn State continued its trend of putting up points in bunches with a 63-10 home victory Saturday over Kent State. The Golden Flashes remained competitive for the better part of two quarters at Beaver Stadium, before the Nittany Lions began to pull away.

"There were some moments where we did some good things, but obviously not nearly enough against the caliber of opponent we played," Head Coach Sean Lewis said. "We need to get to the tape, review the mistakes and learn from it. And it'll be a good step in our growth and development as a FlashFAST family."

Penn State opened up the scoring when a roughing the kicker penalty negated a punt and set up a 40-touchdown pass from Trace McSorley to DeAndre Thompkins. The Flashes committed three, 15-yard penalties in the opening half.

Kent State responded on its opening drive when junior Mike Carrigan caught a 47-yard strike from Woody Barrett to tie the game at 7-7. Carrigan sprinted down the left sideline for his second touchdown of the year and fifth of his career. Barrett now has a TD toss in each of his three games.

Following the Carrigan touchdown, redshirt freshman Colt McFadden recovered his own on-side kick, but the Flashes were held to a three-and-out.

"We knew it was a game where we had to take some chances," Lewis said of the on-side kick. "The guys had life. They were playing well. We just couldn't capitalize on that opportunity. And missed opportunity was kind of the story of the game. When we got something rolling, we had a self-inflicted wound."

McSorley gave the Nittany Lions the lead back with a one-yard touchdown plunge. He struck again to close out the first quarter with a two-yard score on a fourth-and-goal.

Sophomore Elvis Hines showed off quick instincts and put the Flashes in prime scoring territory, with an interception off the hands of a Penn State receiver. Soon after, freshman Matthew Trickett cut the lead to 21-10 with a 24-yard field goal. Trickett is now 3-for-3 on field goal attempts this season.

Late in the half, McFadden made a touchdown-saving tackle on a 52-yard kickoff return, but the Nittany Lions scored just 23 seconds later to head into halftime with a 28-10 lead.

Penn State's momentum continued throughout the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns on the ground and one through the air.

The Flashes' defense forced a pair of fumbles, but both rolled into the arms of a Nittany Lion. Junior Dalton Hicks led the defense with a career-high 12 tackles.

Kent State's opening score was the program's first offensive touchdown in its last five trips to Beaver Stadium.

Barrett completed 20 passes for 176 yards with no interceptions. Antwan Dixon led Flashes with five catches. He was among eight receivers with a grab on Saturday.

The Flashes will close out non-conference play Saturday, Sept. 22 at Ole Miss.