Kent State University
1-1 , 0-0
Wofford College
2-1 , 1-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wofford | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Kent St. | 7 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 36 |
22-Point 4th Quarter Lifts Flashes to Victory, 1-0 at Home
9/12/2026 4:10:00 PM | Football
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State Golden Flashes erased a fourth quarter deficit, outscoring Wofford 22-0 in the fourth quarter to claim their home opener 36-15 Saturday afternoon at Dix Stadium. Kent State improved to 1-1 on the season while Wofford fell to 2-1.
The Golden Flashes struck first, capping a nine-play, 83-yard opening drive with a Dru DeShields 12-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. But the second quarter brought a turbulent swing of fortune. Wofford answered with a field goal, then took the lead on a Gerald Modest Jr. 10-yard scoring run, followed moments later by a safety when a bad snap rolled into the Kent State end zone and was kicked out of bounds by punter Jake Stoeckel. The pivotal play of the afternoon came in between those two Wofford scores: with just under two minutes left in the second quarter, linebacker Rafael Terrero Jr. picked off an Ethan Drumm pass and returned it 63 yards to the house to briefly put Kent State back in front 14-12. With 12 seconds remaining in the half, Wofford's Sam Spence drilled a 50-yard field goal to send the Golden Flashes to the locker room trailing 15-14.
The third quarter produced no points for either team, though Kent State drove 65 yards on 12 plays before a 43-yard Sean Leonard field goal attempt fell short. Wofford could not sustain drives of their own, going 0-for-12 on third downs throughout the afternoon.
When the fourth quarter arrived, Kent State took over. A six-play, 85-yard drive ended with Jakorion Caffey punching in a 5-yard score, with DeShields hitting Wayne Harris on a two-point conversion pass to push the lead to 22-15. DeShields then capped a seven-play, 68-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown scramble at the 8:27 mark. DeShields completed the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown strike to Harris with just over four minutes remaining, putting the game out of reach at 36-15.
DeShields finished with 248 passing yards and a touchdown on 16-of-25 attempts to go along with 74 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. Da'Realyst Clark was DeShields' favorite target, hauling in five receptions for 90 yards while adding 59 kickoff return yards for 149 all-purpose yards on the day. Harris contributed three catches for 78 yards and the receiving touchdown. Mason King continued his strong early-season form with 68 rushing yards on nine carries, while Caffey added 23 yards and a score.
On defense, linebacker Rocco Nicholl led the way with six tackles and a sack, while Hayden Dawahare contributed five tackles and two tackles for loss. Jaihien Roy harassed Wofford quarterbacks all afternoon, posting a sack, four quarterback hurries, and an interception.
Game of Firsts
Jakorion Caffey scored his first career touchdown. Rafael Terrero Jr. and Jaihien Roy recorded their first career interceptions. Terrero Jr.'s pick six was his first career touchdown. DeShields had his first career two rushing touchdown game with a career high 74 rushing yards. Josue Cordoba, Derrick Jackson III, and Hayden Dawahare recorded their first career sack today.
UP NEXT: Kent State travels to Columbus next Saturday to face No. 1 Ohio State at noon.
Game Highlights
DeShields with the first touchdown in Dix Stadium this season!
KSU - 7
WOF - 0
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?? https://t.co/Bt38xmil6s#GoFlashes?? | #HAB1TS pic.twitter.com/WKHz0PeWib— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 12, 2026
Josue Cordoba with the sack!!
KSU - 7
WOF - 0
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?? https://t.co/qJqq30pxVi
?? https://t.co/Bt38xmil6s#GoFlashes?? | #HAB1TS pic.twitter.com/2gbh1sBP1d— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 12, 2026
Rafael Terrero Jr. to the crib with the pick six!!
KSU - 14
WOF - 12
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?? https://t.co/qJqq30pxVi
?? https://t.co/Bt38xmil6s#GoFlashes?? | #HAB1TS pic.twitter.com/lIHIvMQyK0— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 12, 2026
Jaihien Roy with the int.
KSU - 14
WOF - 15
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?? https://t.co/qJqq30pxVi
?? https://t.co/Bt38xmil6s#GoFlashes?? | #HAB1TS pic.twitter.com/7RdcPmMdDH— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 12, 2026
Jaihien Roy gets into the backfield!
KSU - 14
WOF - 15
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?? https://t.co/qJqq30pxVi
?? https://t.co/Bt38xmil6s#GoFlashes?? | #HAB1TS pic.twitter.com/swiywc4Ol2— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 12, 2026
Jakorion Caffey scores his 1st career TD, followed by a successful 2pt conversion catch by Wayne Harris.
KSU - 22
WOF - 15
?? https://t.co/0sLwaMibd3
?? https://t.co/qJqq30pxVi
?? https://t.co/Bt38xmil6s#GoFlashes?? | #HAB1TS pic.twitter.com/U4C4Hu53XC— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 12, 2026
Derrick Jackson III with the sack!
KSU - 22
WOF - 15
?? https://t.co/0sLwaMibd3
?? https://t.co/qJqq30pxVi
?? https://t.co/Bt38xmil6s#GoFlashes?? | #HAB1TS pic.twitter.com/ZaVso75vXS— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 12, 2026
Dru DeShields finds the endzone again!!
KSU - 29
WOF - 15
?? https://t.co/0sLwaMibd3
?? https://t.co/qJqq30pxVi
?? https://t.co/Bt38xmil6s#GoFlashes?? | #HAB1TS pic.twitter.com/D3V6lP0kQd— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 12, 2026
OH MY, Wayne Harris!
KSU - 36
WOF - 15
?? https://t.co/0sLwaMibd3
?? https://t.co/qJqq30pxVi
?? https://t.co/Bt38xmil6s#GoFlashes?? | #HAB1TS pic.twitter.com/6QFjkKXqXo— Kent State Football (@KentStFootball) September 12, 2026
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
WOF 0, KSU 7
KSU - DeShields,Dru 12 yd run (Leonard,Sean kick), 9 plays, 83 yards, TOP 04:32
WOF 3, KSU 7
WOF - Spence,Sam 28 yd field goal 6 plays, 14 yards, TOP 01:30
WOF 10, KSU 7
WOF - Modest Jr.,Gerald 10 yd run (Spence,Sam kick), 5 plays, 36 yards, TOP 01:56
WOF 12, KSU 7
WOF - 0 yd safety
WOF 12, KSU 14
KSU - Terrero Jr.,Rafael 63 yd interception (Leonard,Sean kick)
WOF 15, KSU 14
WOF - Spence,Sam 50 yd field goal 7 plays, 44 yards, TOP 01:50
WOF 15, KSU 22
KSU - Caffey,Jakorion 5 yd run (Harris,Wayne pass), 6 plays, 85 yards, TOP 02:39
WOF 15, KSU 29
KSU - DeShields,Dru 20 yd run (Leonard,Sean kick), 7 plays, 68 yards, TOP 04:15
WOF 15, KSU 36
KSU - Harris,Wayne 10 yd pass from DeShields,Dru (Leonard,Sean kick) 5 plays, 57 yards, TOP 02:57
