Kent State University
0-1
Arizona State
1-0
Golden Flashes Drop Season Opener to Sun Devils
8/30/2019 1:17:00 AM | Football
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Kent State football team fell to Arizona State in their first trip out west since 1996. The Sun Devils secured a 30-7 victory on Thursday night inside Sun Devil Stadium.
Kent State's Qwuantrezz Knight posted a career-high 10 tackles, while Akeam Peters recorded a career-high eight tackles and a forced fumble. Theo Majette tied a career high with 2.0 sacks.
The Golden Flashes started slow on offense, as the Sun Devils forced five first-half fumbles and held Kent State scoreless at the break.
Arizona State got on the board first after a 42-yard strike on third down put the Sun Devils in field goal range. A third-down sack by Majette forced a 35-yard field goal. Later in opening quarter, Jo-El Shaw fumbled, and the Sun Devils recovered in Kent territory. Five plays later, Jayden Daniels found Eno Benjamin for an eight-yard touchdown.
The Flashes stopped what looked to be a promising Arizona State drive when Akeam Peters forced a fumble on Benjamin and Kesean Gamble recovered at the Kent State 27-yard line. The Kent State offense could not get going, and Arizona State took a 10-0 lead into the halftime locker room.
 The Sun Devils came out on fire in the second half, marching the ball down the field and capping off a 9-play, 70-yard drive with a one-yard Jayden Daniels rushing touchdown.
After 10 more points by the Sun Devils, Woody Barrett hooked up with Isaiah McKoy for a 21-yard touchdown strike to bring the score to 27-7 Arizona State.
Arizona State drilled a 40-yard field goal to extend its lead to 30-7. Benjamin finished with 102 yards on the ground as well as 32 receiving yards and a touchdown. Daniels finished 15-for-24 with 284 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Aiyuk led the Sun Devils with four receptions, 140 yards and a touchdown.Â
The Golden Flashes will be back in action next Saturday, Sept. 7 against Kennesaw State. Follow along with the Flashes this season Kent State football on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
KENTST 0, ASU 3
ASU - Zendejas,C. 35 yd field goal 7 plays, 41 yards, TOP 3:04
KENTST 0, ASU 10
ASU - Benjamin,Eno 8 yd pass from Daniels,Jayden (Zendejas,C. kick) 5 plays, 34 yards, TOP 2:19
KENTST 0, ASU 17
ASU - Daniels,Jayden 1 yd run (Zendejas,C. kick), 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:41
KENTST 0, ASU 20
ASU - Zendejas,C. 31 yd field goal 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 0:53
KENTST 0, ASU 27
ASU - Aiyuk,Brandon 77 yd pass from Daniels,Jayden (Zendejas,C. kick) 5 plays, 86 yards, TOP 2:36
KENTST 7, ASU 27
KENTST - MCKOY, Isaiah 21 yd pass from BARRETT, Woody (TRICKETT, M. kick) 8 plays, 69 yards, TOP 2:58
KENTST 7, ASU 30
ASU - Zendejas,C. 40 yd field goal 9 plays, 53 yards, TOP 4:26
