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Kentucky St. 17, Franklin Pierce 14

RINDGE — The Franklin Pierce football team fell just short in its matchup with the Kentucky State Thorobreds, 17-14, after Thorobreds kicker Leland Gantz drove a game-winning 41-yard field goal through the uprights to secure the HBCU school’s first victory over Franklin Pierce and in the state of New Hampshire.

BOX SCORE

Score: Franklin Pierce 14, Kentucky State 17
Records: Franklin Pierce 3-4 (2-2 NE10), Kentucky State 6-2 (5-1 SIAC)
Location: Sodexo Field, Franklin Pierce University, Rindge, NH
Date: October 17, 2025

HOW IT HAPPENED 

  • The Thorobreds opened the scoring with a 13-yard rushing touchdown by Kentucky State quarterback Denim Johnson, putting the Thorobreds ahead 7-0. Johnson was a dual-threat quarterback from the start, throwing for 189 yards and running for 20 yards on the ground. Kentucky State would hold the lead through the end of the first quarter.
  • The Ravens would strike in the second quarter. After a crucial first down conversion by sophomore Dylan Smith (Farmingville, NY), Ravens running back Reimello Hyde (Nashua, NH) controlled the offensive drive, capping it off with a four-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. Kentucky State did not take long to respond as on the ensuing drive, Chad Elzy scored a 10-yard rushing touchdown to give the Thorobreds a 14-7 lead going into half time.
  • The Ravens answered in the third quarter on a crucial fourth-down play. Junior quarterback Kevin Leal (Cambridge, MA) delivered a 28-yard strike to Smith, who scored his first collegiate touchdown and tied the game at 14-14.
  • Both teams would have strong defensive showings throughout the whole game, but particularly in the fourth quarter. The game remained 14-14 late into the fourth quarter when a late turnover on downs by the Ravens offense, and a 33-yard reception by Kentucky State’s Darius Cyprian to put the Thorobreds in field goal range, created the opportunity for Kentucky State to kick a game-winning field goal in the final ten seconds of the game. That is when Gantz hit the game-winner from 41 yards out to secure a 17-14 win.
  • It was a close game between the two teams, but the Ravens were helped out by the Thorobreds’ eight penalties for 80 yards. However, they were not able to capitalize on some of the opportunities they were given. The Ravens also gave the ball away twice, with an interception and a fumble lost.

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