Box Score Oct. 14, 2017 Box Score
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KENT, Ohio - Miami fell to Kent State Saturday thanks to 14 unanswered points by the host Flashes.
Set to receive the ball to begin the game, the RedHawks got off to a rough start on offense. On the third play from scrimmage, quarterback Billy Bahl, making his first start of the year after taking over for an injured Gus Ragland, threw an interception on a slant pass intended for James Gardner. Kent State's Elvis Hines returned it for 14 yards to the Miami 24-yard line. Bahl's defense stepped up, though, and forced the Golden Flashes to attempt a 41-yard field goal which they would promptly miss.
Miami went three-and-out before handing it back to KSU again. The RedHawk defense again stifled the Flashes' offense, holding them to just 14 yards on a nine-play drive that took 5:12. Kent State punter Derek Adams downed the `Hawks at their own 16-yard line. Miami put together a 48-yard drive that landed them in KSU territory for the first time, but came away with nothing during their 4:09 with the ball. Punter Kyle Kramer downed the Flashes on their own five-yard line with under two minutes left in the first.
Moving into the second quarter with the score knotted at 0-0, the Golden Flashes forced their way 90 yards down the field for the game's first score. The drive found momentum behind a 61-yard reception by KSU receiver Kavious Price. Despite finding themselves with a fresh set of downs deep in Miami territory, Kent State stalled. The Miami defense even gave them five yards on an offside penalty, but KSU could not move the ball more than two yards and were forced to attempt another field goal. Flashes kicker Shane Hynes found redemption for his first-quarter miss by nailing a 23-yarder to put his team up 3-0.
The RedHawk offense decided to get on the board as well, finding pay dirt on the very next drive after a seven-play, 70-yard drive that made it 7-3. Bahl began the drive with a 10-yard out to tight end Ryan Smith. On the next play, running back Alonzo Smith scampered 21 yards into the other half of the field. With the help of a 15-yard facemask penalty, Bahl was put in perfect position to drop a 13-yard back-corner touchdown to receiver James Gardner for the score. Sam Sloman tallied the extra point to complete the go-ahead drive.
Teams rotated drives, none of which lasted more than were more than 20 yards, until Miami got the ball with 1:40 left in the half. The drive followed a similar pattern to the prior scoring one, as a ten-yard completion by Bahl - this time to Luke Mayock - paved the way for a long run. On the run was Kenny Young, whose 27-yard burst landed Miami on the KSU 16-yard line. Bahl was searching for Gardner in the end zone again, though instead of a reception the `Hawks were given the benefit of a pass interference call that put the ball on the two-yard line. Bahl found Ryan Smith on the next play to make it 14-3 going into halftime.
The second half belonged to Kent State, who scored found the end zone twice to take the lead and eventually win the game. Behind the comeback was quarterback George Bollas, who entered for Dustin Crum after the first half.
They got right to it, driving 75 yards after the opening touchback to make it a 14-10 ballgame. Bollas completed two quick passes to begin the half and the Flashes burst into Miami territory on a nine-yard run by Will Matthews. Bollas would eventually drop it in from four yards out for the score. Miami got the ball back poised to make it a two-possession game, but they could not capitalize despite holding the ball for 7:46. Kramer downed KSU inside their 20-yard line for the fifth time of the game - a new personal record. But Bollas followed with an 84-yard touchdown reception to Mike Carrigan to complete a 14-point third quarter.
Kent State stifled the Miami offense in the fourth quarter, holding them to no scores. The RedHawks were given one more chance when they got the ball back on their own 43 with 45 seconds left. Bahl completed a fourth-down pass to Young to keep the drive alive with just two seconds left, but was sacked trying to find space to heave the ball the remaining 41 yards to the end zone.
Miami returns home on Oct. 21 to face Buffalo. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
