SportbasketballNCAA Basketball
Dru DeShields throws 5 TD passes, Kent State beats Akron 42-35 in OT
In a Mid-American Conference thriller that felt less like a typical Tuesday night affair and more like a season-defining epic, redshirt freshman quarterback Dru DeShields authored a performance for the Kent State annals, dissecting the Akron Zips defense with the surgical precision of a seasoned veteran to the tune of five touchdown passes to five different receivers in a heart-stopping 42-35 overtime victory. The final dagger, a perfectly threaded 25-yard strike to Ardell Banks on the very first play of the extra period, was a masterclass in clutch execution, a play that will be replayed on highlight reels in Northeast Ohio for years to come.But to focus solely on that final pass is to miss the tapestry of a game that saw DeShields, who finished an efficient 17-of-25 for 317 yards, operate like a young Tom Brady in his command of the offense, spreading the wealth with a maturity that belied his class status. His night began with an explosive 89-yard connection with Da’Realyst Clark, a play that instantly shifted field position and momentum, and continued with scoring tosses of 43 yards to Cade Wolford, 7 yards to Terik Mulder, and a 27-yarder to DaShawn Martin that seemingly put the Golden Flashes in the driver's seat with a 35-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.Yet, the narrative was far from over, as Akron's Ben Finley, in a gutsy display of his own, mounted a heroic comeback, finishing the night with a staggering 424 yards and three touchdowns on 32-of-59 passing. The Zips' resurgence was a lesson in resilience, chipping away at the deficit with a 12-yard Finley-to-Marcel Williams touchdown, a Matthew Schramm field goal, and then capitalizing on a critical fumble recovery by Ronald Hull to tie the game with just over two minutes remaining on a 13-yard touchdown pass to Israel Polk and a subsequent 2-point conversion.The statistical showdown was a fantasy football owner's dream; while DeShields showcased elite efficiency and distribution, Finley and his primary target, Williams, who hauled in 14 receptions for 206 yards and two scores, put up volume numbers that would make any Air Raid offense proud, with Jordan Gant adding 96 hard-fought rushing yards. Ultimately, the game was decided by a single failed conversion, a fourth-and-4 in overtime where Finley's pass to Connor Cravaack fell harmlessly to the turf, sealing a monumental win for Kent State (4-6, 3-3 MAC) and a crushing, character-building loss for Akron (4-7, 3-4). This contest, a microcosm of the MAC's signature brand of unpredictable, high-octane football, wasn't just about bowl eligibility or conference standings; it was a showcase of two young quarterbacks announcing their arrival on the collegiate stage, a back-and-forth battle that underscores why college football, even on a Tuesday night in November, remains the most compelling theater in sports.
#featured
#Kent State
#Akron
#Dru DeShields
#college football
#MAC
#overtime
#touchdown passes
