Archer posted three touchdowns and an opportunistic defense piled up six takeaways in 41-21 victory for Golden Flashes.
The night of Thursday, Aug. 30, shone brightly for Kent State as football season kicked off at Dix Stadium in front of a spirited crowd of 15,161.
Fireworks entertained the fans of the Blue & Gold following the game, the 1972 Mid-American Conference championship team was honored at halftime for an inspiring title run that took place 40 years ago and the current cast of Golden Flashes showed why the 2012 season holds much promise.
Junior running back Dri Archer (Laurel, Fla.) totaled three touchdowns while the defense produced six takeaways to power Kent State past Towson, 41-21.
Archer set the tone for the night by taking the opening kickoff 57 yards to the Towson 43-yard line. Eleven plays later, senior quarterback Spencer Keith (Little Rock, Ark.) put Kent State's first points of the season on the scoreboard by scrambling five yards to pay dirt.
The Kent State defense countered as senior defensive back Norman Wolfe Jr. (Akron, Ohio) forced a fumble on Towson's opening drive that was recovered by senior defensive end Jake Dooley (Mason, Ohio). Archer extended Kent State's lead to two touchdowns by scampering 15 yards into the endzone five plays later.
The Golden Flashes came up with their second takeaway on the ensuing kickoff as sophomore wide receiver Chris Humphrey (Solon, Ohio) forced the fumble and senior safety Leon Green (Monroeville, Pa.) was there to recover. Senior kicker Freddy Cortez (Fort Meade, Fla.) turned the takeaway into points by converting on a 35-yard try two minutes later to cap a 17-point first quarter for Kent State.
Towson landed its first punch of the game when sophomore tailback Terrance West crossed the goal line from eight yards out to cap a 74-yard drive late in the second quarter. Kent State made sure the momentum swing did not last long, though, as Archer rumbled 98 yards into the end zone with the ensuing kickoff.
Towson turned the ball over a fourth time in the first half on a fumbled punt that was recovered by sophomore linebacker Andre Parker (Ruckersville, Va.) at the Towson seven-yard line with 16 seconds to play in the first half. Cortez closed the opening 30 minutes of play by driving a 22-yard field goal through the uprights to give the Flashes a 27-7 lead going into the break.
The Flashes turned another turnover by the Tigers into points as senior linebacker Luke Batton (Macedonia, Ohio) recovered a Towson fumble with 4:01 left to play in the third quarter. Archer scored his third touchdown of the night four plays later on an 18-yard run.
The third quarter closed with Kent State coming up with its second pick and sixth turnover of the night as junior safety Luke Wollet (Poland, Ohio) snatched a pass from Towson senior quarterback Grant Enders at the Kent State 34-yard line. The fourth quarter opened with junior quarterback David Fisher (Oceanside, Calif.) finding freshman wide receiver Josh Boyle (Venice, Fla.) for a 63-yard scoring strike two plays into the first drive of his Kent State career.
Kent State (1-0) takes to the road for its second contest of the 2012 season, squaring off with Kentucky next Saturday (Sept. 8). Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Listen to the contest on 640 WHLO or on the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio Channel. The Golden Flashes will return to Dix Stadium on Sept. 29 to battle Ball State in MAC action at noon.
Fireworks entertained the fans of the Blue & Gold following the game, the 1972 Mid-American Conference championship team was honored at halftime for an inspiring title run that took place 40 years ago and the current cast of Golden Flashes showed why the 2012 season holds much promise.
Junior running back Dri Archer (Laurel, Fla.) totaled three touchdowns while the defense produced six takeaways to power Kent State past Towson, 41-21.
Archer set the tone for the night by taking the opening kickoff 57 yards to the Towson 43-yard line. Eleven plays later, senior quarterback Spencer Keith (Little Rock, Ark.) put Kent State's first points of the season on the scoreboard by scrambling five yards to pay dirt.
The Kent State defense countered as senior defensive back Norman Wolfe Jr. (Akron, Ohio) forced a fumble on Towson's opening drive that was recovered by senior defensive end Jake Dooley (Mason, Ohio). Archer extended Kent State's lead to two touchdowns by scampering 15 yards into the endzone five plays later.
The Golden Flashes came up with their second takeaway on the ensuing kickoff as sophomore wide receiver Chris Humphrey (Solon, Ohio) forced the fumble and senior safety Leon Green (Monroeville, Pa.) was there to recover. Senior kicker Freddy Cortez (Fort Meade, Fla.) turned the takeaway into points by converting on a 35-yard try two minutes later to cap a 17-point first quarter for Kent State.
Towson landed its first punch of the game when sophomore tailback Terrance West crossed the goal line from eight yards out to cap a 74-yard drive late in the second quarter. Kent State made sure the momentum swing did not last long, though, as Archer rumbled 98 yards into the end zone with the ensuing kickoff.
Towson turned the ball over a fourth time in the first half on a fumbled punt that was recovered by sophomore linebacker Andre Parker (Ruckersville, Va.) at the Towson seven-yard line with 16 seconds to play in the first half. Cortez closed the opening 30 minutes of play by driving a 22-yard field goal through the uprights to give the Flashes a 27-7 lead going into the break.
The Flashes turned another turnover by the Tigers into points as senior linebacker Luke Batton (Macedonia, Ohio) recovered a Towson fumble with 4:01 left to play in the third quarter. Archer scored his third touchdown of the night four plays later on an 18-yard run.
The third quarter closed with Kent State coming up with its second pick and sixth turnover of the night as junior safety Luke Wollet (Poland, Ohio) snatched a pass from Towson senior quarterback Grant Enders at the Kent State 34-yard line. The fourth quarter opened with junior quarterback David Fisher (Oceanside, Calif.) finding freshman wide receiver Josh Boyle (Venice, Fla.) for a 63-yard scoring strike two plays into the first drive of his Kent State career.
Kent State (1-0) takes to the road for its second contest of the 2012 season, squaring off with Kentucky next Saturday (Sept. 8). Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Listen to the contest on 640 WHLO or on the 640 WHLO iHeartRadio Channel. The Golden Flashes will return to Dix Stadium on Sept. 29 to battle Ball State in MAC action at noon.
Call the Athletic Ticket Office at 330-672-2244 for ticket information.
Following the Golden Flashes’ victory, those in attendance were treated to a fireworks show. The evening’s pyrotechnics were courtesy of AMETEK, along with the university, the United Way of Portage County and Fairmount Properties, the Cleveland developer responsible for AMETEK’s new corporate office in downtown Kent. AMETEK used the Golden Flashes football game as part of its celebration of its new building, hosting its employees and community members to join the festivities.
Earlier in the day, Congressman Tim Ryan toured the new AMETEK facility and the other redevelopment projects that are part of the $100 million facelift of downtown Kent. 5XÉçÇø President Lester A. Lefton showed Ryan around the new 5XÉçÇø Hotel and Conference Center that is currently under construction. Ryan was very instrumental in helping the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA), the city of Kent and Kent State to secure a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build the Kent Central Gateway Multimodal Facility. This new transportation facility will be located near the 5XÉçÇø Hotel and Conference Center.