KENT, OHIO- Welcome to the first edition of the Kent State Football Flashback as we take a look at standout performances each week across Kent State football history.
This week, we travel back to week one of the 1928 season where Kent State took on Kenyon.
1928 marked the ninth season for the Golden Flashes and fans had circled the 1928 season after three seasons of steady improvement under head coach Merle E. Wagoner. The season opener did not disappoint. The Flashes got THREE defensive touchdowns from Willard "Ol'" Fisher and the squad posted a then school-record 25 points in a 25-6 triumph. It was a record that stood for a mere four weeks until the Flashes blanked Cedarville, 26-0.
Fisher's defensive charge started early in the first quarter as he scooped up a fumble and took it 45 yards for the game's first score. Fisher would strike again later in the opening quarter, recovering a punt blocked by former Kent Roosevelt standout Ted Sapp in the Kenyon end zone. Kent State took a 12-0 lead into the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Flashes broke it open in the final stanza. Kent State capped off a 75-yard drive with a bit of trickery. Captain Jake Searl hauled in a 25-yard halfback pass to make it 18-0 Golden Flashes. Fisher put an exclamation point on his afternoon and answered a Kenyon score with his third of the game. This time coming on a 50-yard pick six to close the scoring.
Kent State would finish the 1928 season with a 4-2-2 record, its best season to date in its then-brief history. The Golden Flashes rolled up wins over Kenyon, Cedarville, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and ties vs Defiance (0-0) and Bowling Green (6-6).
Join us next week as we take a look back at the 1977 season and the September 12th matchup against Illinois State.
