Kent State football's direction under coach reinforced with redemption vs. Akron | Opinion
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The Kent State University football team found itself choking until it received the Heimlich maneuver from the culture of accountability coach Mark Carney is building.
Carney isn’t perfect and neither are his players, but they have faith in each other.
It’s what allowed them to regroup after blowing an 18-point fourth-quarter lead against Akron and dominate overtime en route to a 42-35 victory in the Wagon Wheel rivalry game on Nov. 11 at InfoCision Stadium.
Kent State quarterback Dru DeShields throws game-winning touchdown pass to KSU wide receiver Ardell Banks
Despite its fourth-quarter collapse, Kent State didn’t enter overtime with its tail tucked between its legs. It came out swinging and scored on the first play — the game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dru DeShields to wide receiver Ardell Banks, who walked a virtual tightrope for a short distance along KSU’s sideline to stay inbounds and reach the end zone.
Then KSU’s defense denied UA to seal the win.
On fourth-and-4 at the 19-yard line, Akron quarterback Ben Finley threw incomplete over the middle on a pass intended for tight end Conner Cravaack while safety Kent State safety Derrick Jackson III applied coverage.
In one fell swoop, Kent State (4-6, 3-3 in the Mid-American Conference) beat Akron (4-7, 3-4) for the first time since Oct. 22, 2022, and prevailed on the road for the first time since Nov. 26, 2022.
Kent State had just collapsed in the final minutes of regulation. The 35-17 cushion it earned when DeShields threw a 27-yard TD pass to wide receiver Da’Shawn Martin with 14:04 left in the fourth quarter had vanished.
KSU aided an Akron TD drive with roughing the passer and defensive pass interference penalties and then allowed the Zips to recover the ensuing onside kick with 10:53 left in regulation. Akron settled for a field goal after a Kent State goal-line stand, but DeShields lost a fumble on the next possession with 5:09 remaining. Zips quarterback Ben Finley threw a 13-yard TD pass to wide receiver Israel Polk and then caught a 2-point pass from wide receiver Marcel Williams on a trick play.
Akron Zips football team rallied from 18-point deficit in fourth quarter to force overtime vs. Wagon Wheel rival Kent State
With 1:59 left, Akron tied the score 35-35. The momentum had completely shifted to the home team.
The situation appeared to be dire for Kent State, especially on the heels of a gut-wrenching loss last week at Ball State.
But then overtime happened.
“Winners bounce back, right?” Carney said. “No matter how often or how they get knocked down, they stay in the fight. They get back up.”
Kent State football entered its game vs. the Akron Zips on the heels of a tough loss to Ball State
Carney had to peel himself off the canvas after his team’s 17-13 loss to Ball State on Nov. 5.
A bold decision to go for it instead of punting on fourth-and-1 at the Kent State 41 while ahead 13-10 with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter backfired in Muncie, Indiana. A turnover on downs gave Ball State a short field, and the game-winning TD drive ensued.
Kent State still had a chance because it got the ball back at its 39 with 1:47 left and all three timeouts remaining. KSU marched to Ball State’s 47.
With 48 seconds left and facing second-and-10, DeShields flipped a shovel pass to wide receiver Wayne Harris for a 9-yard gain. Instead of using a timeout when the play ended to preserve precious time and allow his offense to collect itself, Carney let the clock run.
Roughly 20 seconds ticked away before DeShields threw incomplete on third-and-1 at Ball State’s 38. On fourth-and-1, another incomplete pass dashed Kent State’s hopes with 14 seconds left.
Carney had two timeouts at his disposal when Ball State took over on downs and entered victory formation.
Kent State buys into football coach Mark Carney’s genuine style
The next morning, Carney held a news conference and conceded he goofed.
“That’s on me,” Carney, 45, said then. “I’m learning. I’m very much a work in progress here, as the rest of our locker room is, and hopefully we all are. Mistake on my part. Got to get better and learn from that and grow from that.
“There’s a lot that you practice that goes into those moments. I think the biggest thing for me as I grow and continue to become a better head coach, is where am I standing in relation to officials, in relation to how I need to see the game from an offensive perspective or defensive perspective? [I have a] critical eye for myself, and I’m going to continue to get better.”
DeShields views the transparency from his head coach as a defining characteristic of KSU’s program.
“You always own up to your mistakes and be a man,” said DeShields, who went 17-of-25 passing for 317 yards and five touchdowns against Akron.
Players respect authenticity.
Born in Cleveland and raised in Lakewood, Carney is in his first season as a head coach. Kent State’s turnaround after going a combined 1-23 the past two seasons compelled the university to remove the interim tag it attached to Carney’s name in April. KSU signed him Oct. 30 to a contract through the 2029 season.
If Kent State were to participate in an FBS bowl game under Carney, his contract would automatically extend through the 2030 season, and with two regular-season games left, KSU could become bowl eligible with wins Nov. 19 against Central Michigan and Nov. 28 at Northern Illinois.
Whether Kent State can go from winless last year to a bowl this season remains to be seen, yet the Golden Flashes have shown they’re willing to keep pushing for the improbable scenario.
Carney’s leadership is a massive reason.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent State football fosters accountability, fights under Mark Carney
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