Flashes Fly Past Bulls in Prime Time Thriller

Saturday, October 9

Kent, Ohio

7:00 PM

Kent State University

3-3 , 2-0

University at Buffalo

2-4 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Buffalo

Kent St.

Flashes Fly Past Bulls in Prime Time Thriller

10/10/2021 12:19:00 AM | Football

Box Score

KENT, Ohio – The Kent State Golden Flashes (3-3, 2-0 MAC) answered Buffalo's comeback with one of their own and took down the Bulls (2-4, 0-2 MAC) under the lights at Dix Stadium, 48-38.

Dustin Crum jolted the Flashes out in front early, steamrolling a defender on his way to a 10-yard touchdown run on the game's first possession. He ran for 72 yards on the evening and finished with two rushing touchdowns.

The All-MAC quarterback also got it done through the air, throwing for a career-high 407 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the prime-time matchup with 479 total yards and five scores. Crum is the first Kent State quarterback to throw for five touchdowns since Jose Davis against UCF in 1997.

Crum's favorite target of the night was Dante Cephas. The duo connected a whopping 13 times for 186 yards and three scores – all career-highs for the sophomore wide receiver. Cephas became the first Kent State wide receiver to record three touchdowns in a game since Isaiah McKoy in 2019 against Ball State.

The Golden Flashes dominated the first half, outscoring Buffalo 31-10 in the first two quarters and taking a three-score lead into the locker room. The Bulls fought back in the third quarter, scoring four touchdowns in the period to jump out to a 38-34 lead.

But that is when Crum and Cephas turned it up a notch, hooking up for two fourth quarter touchdowns including what would be the game winner and the game clinching scores.

The Flashes totaled 633 yards in the win, including 226 on the ground. Marquez Cooper led the rushing attack with 112 yards while adding a score.

Defensively, four different Golden Flashes recorded 10+ tackles. Mandela Lawrence-Burke and A.J. Musolino paced the team with 13 total tackles a piece, while Zayin West recorded 12 total tackles and Dean Clark added 10. Matt Harmon had two of the biggest play of the night, recording a sack and an interception on back-to-back plays late in the fourth, ending a Buffalo drive just outside the Kent State red zone. Keith Sherald Jr. put the exclamation point on the victory with an interception on the final play of the game.

Kent State sits atop the Mid-American Conference East division with an undefeated conference record. The Golden Flashes will travel to Western Michigan next Saturday to take on the Broncos on ESPNU at 3:30 p.m. ET.