Kent State score vs. Sacramento State. Turnovers, missed chances doom Flashes
· Yahoo Sports
Everything seemed to be going Kent State's way, until it wasn't.
Playing for the first time at new Mid-American Conference member Sacramento State on Oct. 30 and fresh off beating Akron in the Wagon Wheel game, the Golden Flashes squandered a chance for a second consecutive conference win by committing five turnovers and completely falling apart late in a 31-10 loss.
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It was the first MAC victory for the Hornets (2-7, 1-5) and kept the Flashes (3-6, 2-3) winless away from Dix Stadium.
After recovering a fumble at the Sacramento State 24-yard line on the second play of the game, Kent State came away empty when quarterback Dru DeShields was stopped on a fourth-and-1 run up the middle on the Hornets 15.
But DeShields (16-of-33 passing, 190 yards) made up for it on the Flashes' next possession. Pinned back on the Kent State 8, he scrambled out of the pocket in the end zone and heaved a pass downfield toward wide receiver Wayne Harris, who caught it around the 50 and then ran the rest of the way for a 92-yard score.
It was Kent State's longest play of the season, a career long for both Harris and DeShields, and put Harris over 1,000 receiving yards for the season.
Sacramento State's Grant Meadors kicked two field goals in the second quarter, and Kent State's Tony Newcomb made a 29-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to put the Flashes in front 10-6 at halftime.
But the second half belonged to the Hornets, who scored the game's final 25 points to win going away despite not taking the lead until Isaiah Ene (19 carries, 107 yards, two TDs) ran for 35-yard touchdown with 2:58 to play in the third quarter. That stretch included a disastrous fourth quarter for the Flashes, who turned the ball over four times, were stopped once on downs and outscored 14-0 in the final 15 minutes.
DeShields was Kent State's leading rusher with 43 yards on 10 carries, and Harris finished with 122 yards on three receptions.
The Golden Flashes have a bye next week before beginning midweek MACtion with a game at Bowling Green on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent State score vs. Sacramento State. Turnovers, missed chances doom Flashes