KENT, Ohio (Interstat) — Dru DeShields threw four touchdown passes and the Kent State Golden Flashes’ defense delivered a dominant performance, overwhelming the Massachusetts Minutemen 42-6 on Saturday afternoon at Dix Stadium.

The victory marked the first of the season for Kent State, which improved its record to 1-4. Massachusetts, meanwhile, remained winless, falling to 0-5.

DeShields, a quarterback from Beloit, Ohio, was efficient, completing 10 of 18 passes for 148 yards. His scoring strikes went to four different receivers, showcasing a balanced aerial attack. He connected with Sebastian Brown on a 36-yard pass and Dashawn Martin on a 25-yard pass in the first half, then found Terik Mulder from 10 yards out and Ardell Banks from 34 yards in a decisive third-quarter surge.

The Golden Flashes’ offense was complemented by a strong ground game, led by Gavin Garcia, who rushed for 71 yards on 11 carries. Jordan Nubin added a 25-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to cap the scoring for the home team.

While the Kent State offense found its rhythm, the defense was the story of the game. The unit held the Minutemen to just two field goals and consistently harassed Massachusetts quarterback AJ Hairston. The Golden Flashes registered multiple sacks, with CJ Young, Mason Maddox, Jamond Mathis, and a combination of Jaire Rawlison and Darian Blachewicz all bringing down Hairston.

Young, a safety from Strongsville, Ohio, led all defenders with eight tackles and a sack. The secondary was also disruptive, with Joel Boamah and Clinton Robinson each hauling in interceptions to halt Massachusetts drives.

The game began promisingly for Kent State, as they took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on the touchdown passes from DeShields to Brown and Martin. Massachusetts managed to get on the board in the second quarter with a 39-yard field goal from Derek Morris, making the score 14-3.

Just before halftime, the Minutemen mounted a drive deep into Kent State territory, but the Golden Flashes’ defense held firm, forcing Massachusetts to settle for another Morris field goal, this time from 33 yards as time expired in the half, sending the teams to the locker room with Kent State leading 14-6.

Any hope of a Massachusetts comeback was extinguished in the third quarter as Kent State exploded for 21 points. The onslaught started with DeShields’ 10-yard touchdown pass to Mulder. Shortly after, following a Boamah interception, DeShields found Banks for the 34-yard score. Nubin’s 25-yard run minutes later put the game completely out of reach at 35-6.

For Massachusetts, Hairston, from Pompano Beach, Florida, completed 26 of 48 passes for 227 yards but was unable to guide the offense into the end zone. He faced constant pressure and was sacked four times. Reece Adkins was a bright spot in the passing game, catching two passes for 54 yards.

The Minutemen’s defense was led by linebacker Timmy Hinspeter, who recorded 10 tackles and two quarterback hurries.

The lopsided result defied pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a much closer final score of 38-25 in favor of Kent State, and its ELO system gave the Golden Flashes a 63.3 percent probability to win. Massachusetts had even been installed as a slight 1.5-point favorite. The combined point total of 48 also fell well under the over/under line of 50.5.

Kent State looks to build on its first victory when it travels to face Toledo next Saturday. Massachusetts will attempt to secure its first win of the season when it returns home to host Buffalo.