Two 100-yard rushers lift Kent State
kentstatesports.com
BUFFALO, N.Y.
Dri Archer and Trayion Durham proved just how devastating their combination of speed and power can be in Mid-American Conference play as Kent State opened its league schedule with a 23-7 road win over the University at Buffalo on Wednesday night.
For the first time since 2008, the Golden Flashes (2-1) had two runners eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark in the same game. Four years after Julian Edelman and Eugene Jarvis did it in Kent State’s last visit to Buffalo, Archer raced through the Bulls’ defense for 127 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries while Durham bulled his way to 112 yards on 23 attempts.
Archer opened the scoring for the third time in three games, reaching the end zone from nine yards out on an end-around with 12:18 to play in the second quarter. He found the corner courtesy of a block delivered by tight end Kyle Payton.
Even true freshman running back Julian Durden got into the act, adding some insurance with a two-yard touchdown run in the closing minute.
In all, Kent State rolled up 239 yards on the ground while averaging 4.5 yards on 53 attempts. But even those numbers weren’t quite good enough for coach Darrell Hazell.
When told that Archer and Durham both ran for 100 yards, Hazell said, “It sure didn’t feel like that. I’m glad they did, but for me it didn’t feel like we were gashing them the way we should have gashed them.”
If not for a Hail Mary, 46-yard touchdown pass from Cardinal Mooney product Alex Zordich to Alex Neutz on the final play of the second quarter, Kent State’s defense would have pitched a shutout. That desperation throw and one other heave from midfield at the end of regulation offered Buffalo its only true scoring opportunities of the night.
With Zordich struggling to just 92 yards on 4-of-22 passing and only 30 more yards on the ground, Buffalo’s offense found little punch after star running back Branden Oliver left the game with an arm injury early in the third quarter. Oliver finished with 77 yards on 16 carries.
Four turnovers — two interceptions by Darius Polk, another pick by Poland product Luke Wollet, and a fumble forced by Roosevelt Nix and recovered by Sidney Saulter — helped Kent State offset a string of frustrating penalties and two dropped interceptions. Those miscues helped Buffalo keep the game close most of the way.
“It was like going to the dentist on a Wednesday night,” said Hazell. “Like pulling some teeth at times. Sometimes it got frustrating, but I knew the guys were trying.”