FRANKFORT, Ky.  – Thorobreds rush for a season-high of 359 yards, in a dominating 44-28 win over the Shorter Hawks, Thursday night under the lights of Alumni Stadium.
 
The Thorobreds dominated the game, racking up 359 rushing yards while their defense limited the Hawks to 187 total yards. In addition to their strong ground performance, the Thorobreds led with 121 passing yards, holding Shorter to just 108 yards through the air.
 
Jaylen Middleton ended the 2024 season with back-to-back games rushing over 150 yards as he rushed for 179 yards that included a long of 52 yards early in the fourth quarter.
 
Denim Johnson showcased his versatility, rushing for 106 yards with two touchdowns and adding a receiving touchdown. He also led the Thorobreds with 36 receiving yards.
 
Cameron Hinson co-led the Thorobreds with six tackles and logged the game's only interception, returning it 48 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Teammate Trevon Pope also recorded six tackles, sharing the team lead in his final night in the green and gold.
 
The Thorobreds struck first at the 13:31 mark in the opening quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run by Denim Johnson, followed by a successful two-point conversion rush by Jaden Hale to give Kentucky State an early 8-0 lead.
 
Shorter responded quickly with a 38-yard touchdown pass at the 12:10 mark in the first quarter, followed by a fumble recovery in the end zone to take a 14-8 lead with 10:23 remaining.
 
The Thorobreds answered back just moments later, tying the game at 14-14 at the 9:54 mark on a trick play as Dakota Arrington connected with Denim Johnson for a 36-yard touchdown pass.
 
Kentucky State regained the lead at 2:41 in the first quarter with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Johnson, going up 20-14.
 
After a scoreless second quarter, Shorter broke the silence in the third with a 15-yard rushing touchdown. Near the midway point, Arrington responded with a three-yard rush at 5:59, but the Thorobreds failed on the two-point conversion, holding a narrow 26-21 lead.
 
Shorter's final points came on a 29-yard touchdown pass, edging ahead 28-26 as the third quarter closed.
 
The Thorobreds took over in the fourth, beginning with a one-yard touchdown run by Arrington at 12:22. Landon Grover added a 30-yard field goal at the 7:26 mark, and Cameron Hinson sealed the game with a 48-yard pick-six, clinching Kentucky State's 44-28 victory.
 
In his second year as head coach, Felton Huggins Jr. led Kentucky State to its best finish since 2022, closing the season at 5-6 overall and 4-4 in SIAC play.
 
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