by Down one to the undefeated Wofford Terriers heading into halftime, the Kent State football team was facing questions.
Why were they struggling to move the ball through the air, just as they did against South Carolina? Down against the Terriers, who’ve already opened the season with two wins, was head coach Mark Carney’s squad in danger of losing to an FCS team for the second time in three seasons?
After regulation, however, there was only one question: was there ever any doubt that the Flashes would win? Win they did, by a final score of 36-15.
“Obviously great to win and celebrate with a locker room that didn’t get to experience that last week,” Carney said. “Excited to get the bounceback against a really good Wofford team.”
It started rough in the third quarter, after redshirt junior quarterback Dru DeShields traded interceptions, his second of the game, with Wofford quarterback Ethan Drumm throwing his second.
After that, DeShields darted to the blue tent, and redshirt freshman Nolan Good came in. Good put the Flashes in field goal range, but redshirt freshman Sean Leonard kicked it straight into the right upright.
With inclement weather and injuries pinning the Flashes against the wall, they broke through.
DeShields came back in the game, bearing his trademark skull cap. The Flashes’ signal caller led the home team down the field, and redshirt sophomore running back Jakorion Caffey ran in the touchdown.
“We feel like we have three really good backs that can be really good in this offense,” Carney said. “Still figuring out who has the hot hand..I thought all three of those guys were productive today.”
Along with DeShields, who led the Flashes with 74 yards on 10 carries, Caffey, freshman Brandon White and graduate student Mason King combined for 195 ground yards.
On the very next drive, DeShields was triumphant once more. Off his arm, the Flashes went down the field on an eight-play, 85-yard scoring drive that was capped off by sophomore Wayne Harris.
Back-to-back touchdown drives, DeShields’ second rush and Harris’ second reception, put Saturday’s contest out of reach.
After getting thrashed last week, Kent State’s defense was electric against the Wofford. Sacking Wofford’s two quarterbacks for a total of five sacks, along with two interceptions and fourth-down stops, the Flashes defense was Golden.
Another huge development from Saturday’s game was the emergence of senior special teams ace Da’Realyst Clark as a receiver.
Clark wasn’t a huge factor as a receiver in 2025, but against Wofford, he lit them up. Catching five balls for 90 yards and picking up 59 return yards, the fan favorite was a major factor in the victory.
“It was awesome,” DeShields said of the connection with Clark. “He[Clark] really challenged himself in the offseason; we challenged him. I feel like he’s done an amazing job.”
The Beloit, Ohio native finished with 248 passing yards, with 16 completions on 25 attempts.
Sporting a lei in honor of Hawaii-born defensive coordinator Cherokee Valeria, Carney was ecstatic in the post-game press conference.
“He [Valeria] had some family in; we’ve got some West Coast ties on our staff,” Carney said. “He had one pregame; he was like, ‘Don’t worry, yours is coming’. I’m hanging on to this one.”
The Flashes will enjoy this one, but what lies ahead of them is a huge challenge. After returning to the friendly confines of Dix Stadium, they’ll be heading down to Columbus, Ohio.
Win is a win! Go Flashes