Kent State (1-1) head football coach, Paul Haynes, lived up to last weekend’s statement that fifth year senior April Goss would see the field this season.

Goss kicked an extra point to put the Flashes up 29-6 in the second quarter of what would turn into a 45-13 blowout win over Delaware State (0-2.) 

“I’m not going to lie I was kind of nervous,” Goss said. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

Goss is the only female football player in the NCAA and just the second female in FBS history to record a point.

“She deserves it,” Haynes said. “She’s the first person out there (at practice) and she’s the last person leaving. It wasn’t just because she’s a female, it’s because she deserves it.”

Her teammates were equally excited to see Goss take the field. The special teams unit carried her off the field as if she had just kicked a game winning field goal.

“That was awesome to be picked up,” Goss said. “It felt like Rudy.”

After suffering a huge loss last weekend to Illinois, Kent State responded in the blowout win over the Hornets.

“Any time you can bounce back and there’s a lot of things that you can put on tape and you can see how you can play then it’s helpful,” Haynes said. “We knew we didn’t play to our potential, we didn’t play very well (last year.)”

The Flashes held the Hornets to a program record negative 33 total yards, forced three fumbles and did not allow a single third down conversion.

“These guys did a good of controlling the line of scrimmage,” Haynes said. “A lot of things that we’ll look on film and we’ll like defensively.”

Senior defensive lineman Nate Terhune scored his first career defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery that he took for five yards in the first quarter.

“Defensive wise we were able to play well overall,” Terhune said. “It was great celebrating with each other after those (big) plays.”

Terhune also ran for 44 yards of a fake punt. This gives the senior three career rushing attempts in three different seasons. They have gone for 31, 41 and 61 (touchdown) yards.

Redshirt junior quarterback Colin Reardon, went 11-for-16 for 142 yards and three touchdowns, while fifth year senior running back Trayion Durham added 15 carries for 77 yards and one touchdown.

Sophomore linebacker Ryan Seibert recorded Kent State’s first blocked punt since 2011.

Junior running back Jamaal Jackson recorded 14 carries for 23 yards for Delaware State.

Kent State has won three of its last four home games.

The Flashes will travel to Minneapolis next Saturday to take on Minnesota (1-1). Kick off is at noon.

Stephen Means is a sports reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].