KENT, Ohio – Kent State watched its first home game of the 2016 season slip away in a fourth overtime when North Carolina A&T third-string quarterback Oluwafemi Bamiro lofted a 15-yard touchdown pass to Denzel Keys to complete a 39-36 upset of the Golden Flashes on Saturday at Dix Stadium.
The final play was set up by . . .
The final play was set up by . . .
. . . the fourth pass interference penalty against the Flashes after the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
The first flag set up a 2-yard Tarik Cohen touchdown run for North Carolina A&T that sent the game into overtime.
The first flag set up a 2-yard Tarik Cohen touchdown run for North Carolina A&T that sent the game into overtime.
"It was a tough loss," said Kent State head coach Paul Haynes. "We had our chances but we didn't play very well, especially on the defensive side of the ball. We had chances to make plays and didn't. Bad fundamentals are on a lot of it. We have to regroup."
The penalties and other mistakes on defense allowed the Aggies to convert a string of key third-and-long situations late in regulation and in the extra sessions.
"John Wooden said it best. How do you handle criticism and how do you handle praise?" Haynes asked. "Everyone praised us for playing well at Penn State and we still got our (butts) kicked. Then…we come out here and let a team we should beat hang around. We have to learn how to handle praise."
Kent State led 10-0 at halftime behind a Shane Hynes 20-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 27-yard touchdown pass from freshman Mylik Mitchell to senior tight end Brice Facklerin the second.
After the Aggies battled back to tie with, Fackler put the Flashes back on top at 17-10 by staying with a ball that was tipped twice by North Carolina A&T defenders in the end zone and making a lunging grab.
"I was just Johnny on the spot," said Fackler, whose two touchdowns were the second and third of his career. "I was going to tackle their guy. I thought he had already picked it…I saw (the football) there and I grabbed it. I was just lucky."
Mitchell finished his first start at quarterback for KSU with 182 yards on 17-for-32 passing. Fellow freshman Justin Rankin led the Flashes' rushing attack with 37 yards on 13 carries, including a 10-yard touchdown run in the second overtime.
Kent State was out-gained 407-to-275 as Cohen rushed for 133 yards on 24 carries and added another 125 yards on nine carries to lead the Aggies in both categories.
The Flashes host Monmouth at 3:30 p.m. on Varsity "K" Hall of Fame Day Sept. 17.
The penalties and other mistakes on defense allowed the Aggies to convert a string of key third-and-long situations late in regulation and in the extra sessions.
"John Wooden said it best. How do you handle criticism and how do you handle praise?" Haynes asked. "Everyone praised us for playing well at Penn State and we still got our (butts) kicked. Then…we come out here and let a team we should beat hang around. We have to learn how to handle praise."
Kent State led 10-0 at halftime behind a Shane Hynes 20-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 27-yard touchdown pass from freshman Mylik Mitchell to senior tight end Brice Facklerin the second.
After the Aggies battled back to tie with, Fackler put the Flashes back on top at 17-10 by staying with a ball that was tipped twice by North Carolina A&T defenders in the end zone and making a lunging grab.
"I was just Johnny on the spot," said Fackler, whose two touchdowns were the second and third of his career. "I was going to tackle their guy. I thought he had already picked it…I saw (the football) there and I grabbed it. I was just lucky."
Mitchell finished his first start at quarterback for KSU with 182 yards on 17-for-32 passing. Fellow freshman Justin Rankin led the Flashes' rushing attack with 37 yards on 13 carries, including a 10-yard touchdown run in the second overtime.
Kent State was out-gained 407-to-275 as Cohen rushed for 133 yards on 24 carries and added another 125 yards on nine carries to lead the Aggies in both categories.
The Flashes host Monmouth at 3:30 p.m. on Varsity "K" Hall of Fame Day Sept. 17.
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