Holley earns weekly award for the second time

Henry Palattella

Two games into his quarterbacking career and junior Nick Holley is already rewriting the Kent State record books.

Holley was named Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row, becoming the first player to win such an honor since Larry Poole in 1973.

Holley rushed for 224 yards and four touchdowns in the Flashes’ 44-20 blowout win against the University at Buffalo over the weekend. He became the first Flash to rush for 200 yards in a game since Dri Archer in 2012, and the first Flash to score four touchdowns in a game since Eugene Jarvis in 2008.

Archer rushed for 2,342 yards in four years at Kent State, and was subsequently drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Holley made his debut behind center two weeks ago against The University of Akron, when he threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown in Kent State’s 31-27 loss.

Kent State coach Paul Haynes made the decision to play Holley as quarterback after original freshman and redshirt freshman quarterbacks Justin Agner and Mylik Mitchell both suffered season-ending injuries.

Holley has also been named the College Sports Madness MAC Offensive Player of the Week. He is currently a nominee for the American Sports Net’s FBS Player of the Week, the Allstate Sugar Bowl Quarterback of the Week, and the HERO Sports FBS Offensive Player of the Week. Senior safety Nate Holley — Nick’s identical twin — was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week after the Flashes season-opening game against Penn State University.

Holley will look to continue his offense dominance when the Flashes travel to Oxford this weekend to take on Miami (OH) University. Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Henry Palattella is a sports reporter, contact him at [email protected].