In its 44-6 win against the winless UMass Minutemen, the Kent State football team won its first conference game since 2022. The Flashes will have another opportunity to break an even older drought on the road against the Toledo Rockets.
“The guys executed the plan the coaches laid out for them all week,” said coach Mark Carney. “Their reward was a really great result and [they were] able to celebrate that win and energize some people around campus.”
Should KSU beat Toledo, it would mark the first time that the Flashes have won back-to-back games against Mid-American Conference opponents since the 2021 season. The Flashes hold a record of 2-4 (1-1), marking their first multi-win campaign in over three years, while Toledo sits at 3-3 (1-2) following a heartbreaking 28-23 loss against Bowling Green.
In that game, the Rockets led by as much as 13 heading into halftime. However, the Falcons staged a comeback and eventually took a lead with six minutes remaining in the game on a rushing touchdown from junior running back Chris McMillian.
“I think they play extremely well together,” Carney said. “Our guys are excited for the challenge and looking forward to getting after it.”
The Flashes dominated every facet of the game against UMass, forcing multiple turnovers and holding the Minutemen to just two field goals on the defensive side of the ball, while redshirt sophomore quarterback Dru DeShields valiantly led the KSU offense to a five-touchdown performance.
The Flashes running back room came to life against UMass, as redshirt senior Jordan Nubin and redshirt junior Gavin Garcia combined for 154 rushing yards on 26 combined carries. Overall, KSU rushers amassed a total of 176 rushing yards on the day, the most of any game this season.
DeShields put up four touchdowns on the day, all through the air and to different individual pass catchers. In three starts this season, DeShields holds a record of 2-1 whilst throwing touchdowns to five different receivers.
“Credit to him, he’s kept his head down and continued to work,” Carney said of sophomore wide receiver Da’Shawn Martin, who caught his second touchdown of the season against UMass. “It is crazy to me that Wayne Harris hasn’t scored a touchdown yet, but four different receivers caught touchdowns this week.”
KSU’s defensive unit, led by coordinator Cherokee Valeria, had by far its best performance of 2025 against UMass. On Saturday, five different players split up four sacks amongst themselves, the most in a single game this season.
“That was one of our focus points going into the UMass game, to put pressure on early downs,” Carney said. “[Valeria] has done a great job in the weekly third down pressure plan.”
Redshirt sophomore defensive back CJ Young, who also recorded a sack, led the Flashes in total tackles with eight. Young, who emerged as a bright spot on defense last year during a disappointing season, is in the midst of a breakout year in 2025 with a team leading 37 tackles and two turnovers in just six games.
Two Flashes picked off a pair of passes for interceptions against UMass, with redshirt sophomore corner back Joel Boamah and redshirt freshman safety Clinton Robinson both taking home their first interceptions of the season.
Special teams have also played a huge factor for KSU this season, as junior wide receiver Da’Realyst Clark has fielded a kickoff for a touchdown in both wins this season. Senior kicker Will Hryszko has performed well in six games this season, converting on all 16 PAT attempts.
Ohio State fans will recognize Toledo senior running back Chip Trayanum, the leading rusher for the Rockets this season with 601 yards and seven rushing touchdowns on just over 100 carries. In the loss against Bowling Green, Trayanum carried the Rockets offense, charging for 139 rushing yards and one score.
Senior quarterback Tucker Gleason, who has been playing college football for the last five years and transferred from Georgia Tech to Toledo in 2021, has performed decently for the Rockets this season. Gleason, boasting a QBR of 142.75, has thrown for eight touchdowns to four interceptions and has completed roughly 63% of his passes for 1189 yards.
Even at home in the Glass Bowl, Saturday’s contest could potentially serve as a trap game for the slumping Rockets against a surging KSU team. Despite being 1-2 in its last three games, Toledo will welcome the Flashes as 26.5 point favorites per BetMGM Sportsbook.
If DeShields can keep the Flashes offense competitive against Toledo’s defense while Young and other defenders can hold the Rockets under 25 points, KSU may find itself in the win column for the second consecutive week. Should Clark and the special teams unit break off for another big play, the game would become even more interesting, as the Flashes have won both times the team took a kick for a touchdown.
However, KSU will have to prepare for a dynamic backfield featuring a blue chip prospect in Trayanum, who has ran for over 100 yards in three games this season. Defending the run has been a problem for the Flashes this season, as opposing teams have averaged 210 rushing yards per game.
“It is another great challenge for us,” Carney said. “Adversity brings this group close together and it has all year.”
Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X.
