FRANKFORT, Ky. — Cam Tucker caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from
Denim Johnson on fourth down with 6:29 remaining, and Kentucky State's defense delivered a game-sealing stand to secure a 21-17 win over Saginaw Valley State on Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
The win improved Kentucky State to 3-1 overall while maintaining its 2-0 record in SIAC play.
Just seconds into the Cardinals' opening drive, Saginaw Valley completed a 63-yard pass, but its scoring opportunity ended when
Lawrence McConnell forced a fumble that Ke'Ron Blankumsee recovered at the Kentucky State 5-yard line.
The Cardinals took the lead on a 58-yard punt return for a touchdown, making it 7-0 with 12:28 remaining in the first quarter.
Kentucky State answered when Johnson connected with
Darius Cyprian for a 46-yard completion, placing the Thorobreds at the Saginaw Valley 34-yard line. On the same drive, Johnson completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Tucker on third-and-9.
Leland Gantz converted the extra point to tie the game 7-7 with 9:24 remaining in the first quarter.
In the final moments of the first quarter, Gantz flipped the field with a 72-yard punt that pinned Saginaw Valley at its 1-yard line. On the Cardinals' ensuing possession,
Lensley Dieujuste intercepted a pass with 14:48 remaining in the second quarter and returned it 17 yards to the Cardinals' 31. The Thorobreds' scoring opportunity ended when a 26-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.
Late in the second quarter, another Thorobreds scoring drive came to an end when
Juan Gainous fumbled at the Cardinals' 6-yard line.
The Kentucky State defense continued to stifle Saginaw Valley, forcing the Cardinals to miss a 31-yard field goal as time expired to keep the game tied 7-7 at halftime.
On the Thorobreds' opening drive of the third quarter, Johnson scored on a 6-yard rush to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive and give Kentucky State a 14-7 lead with 11:38 remaining.
With 2:45 remaining in the third quarter, Saginaw Valley tied the game 14-14 on a 12-yard touchdown pass.
On the first play of Saginaw Valley's next possession, Blankumsee intercepted a pass at the Cardinals' 48-yard line. Saginaw Valley responded by intercepting Kentucky State in the end zone, resulting in a touchback.
Saginaw Valley took a 17-14 lead on a 31-yard field goal with 9:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Facing fourth-and-8 at the Cardinals' 35-yard line, Johnson found Tucker for a 35-yard touchdown, giving the Thorobreds a 21-17 lead with 6:29 remaining.
The Thorobreds' defense stepped up in the final moments as
Kendrick Curry forced a fourth-and-long with a 5-yard sack.
Frank Walker followed with an 8-yard sack on fourth down to help Kentucky State secure the 21-17 victory.
Kentucky State finished with 384 yards of total offense, averaging 6.1 yards per play. The Thorobreds passed for 291 yards, with Gainous contributing 91 yards on 4-of-6 passing. Tucker led the receiving corps with a game-high 122 yards on six catches and accounted for both of Kentucky State's receiving touchdowns.
Johnson completed 12 of 27 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns while adding 26 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Kentucky State forced three turnovers and registered four sacks totaling 35 yards in losses. Blankumsee and Dieujuste each recorded an interception, while Blankumsee also recovered a fumble.
Curry led the defense with seven tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.
Jordan Diggins added a 15-yard sack, while Mike Jones and Walker also reached the quarterback. McConnell recorded six tackles and forced a fumble.
Gantz averaged 48.8 yards on five punts, including a 72-yard punt that pinned Saginaw Valley at its 1-yard line late in the first quarter. He also converted all three extra-point attempts.
The Thorobreds travel to Albany, Georgia, to meet SIAC foe Albany State on Sept. 26. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
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