The Abilene Ruff Riders have signed a new quarterback, Robert Kent.

Kent comes from Jackson State in Jackson, Mississippi where he set school records in passing yards and total offense. He started at Jackson ever since his freshman year while also helping the team rebuild their program. In 45 games, he completed 825 of 1539 passes (53.6%) for 11,797 yards, 104 touchdowns and 58 interceptions, averaging 262.16 yards per game. His 11,797 yards passing rank fourth in NCAA Division 1-AA history. He joins just three other athletes in Division 1-AA annals to throw for over 100 touchdowns in a career.

Kent runs a 4.87 in the 40-yard dash, a 1.7 in the 10-yard dash, a 4.25 in the 20-yard shuttle, and a 7.71 in the three-cone drill. He also has a 26.5-inch vertical jump, a 9'2" broad jump, a 33 5/8-inch arm length, 8 7/8-inch hands, and he is also right-handed.

Kent attended Gentry High in Indianola, Mississippi where he earned All-State honors as a senior. He threw for 2883 yards and 30 touchdowns in his final season and also lettered in track, basketball and tennis.

After college, Kent attended the Tennessee Titans training camp. Kent started his indoor professional football career for the Alabama Steeldogs but after only three games, was traded to the Lubbock Renegades where he gave the renegades their true identity. Given the nickname "Superman", no one questioned the name because of the way he performed on the field. After his season with the Renegades, Kent was signed by the Toronto Argonauts.

The Abilene Ruff Riders have a home game this Saturday, April 24 at 7pm. You can buy tickets at the Ruff Riders office at 2249 S. Treadaway or at the box office. For more ticket information you contact our office at 325-677-7277.

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Abilene Ruff Riders wide receiver Desmond Sanders (80) gets shoved into the wall just short of the goal line by Corpus Christi defensive back Ruben Flowers (1) during the second quarter of the Ruff Riders' game against Corpus Christi on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Taylor County Coliseum.

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Abilene Ruff Riders running back Carlos Alsup (12) shoves off Corpus Christi defensive lineman Joe Small (6) for a touchdown during the second quarter of the Ruff Riders' game against Corpus Christi on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Taylor County Coliseum.

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Abilene Ruff Riders head coach Rodney Blackshear does a dance after a Ruff Riders touchdown during the second quarter of the Ruff Riders' game against Corpus Christi on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Taylor County Coliseum.

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Abilene Ruff Riders' defensive lineman Vincent Rhoades (19) celebrates after picking off a pass in the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter of the Ruff Riders' game against Corpus Christi on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Taylor County Coliseum.

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Abilene Ruff Riders' Jason Berryman (45) pulls down Corpus Christi kick returner Justin Hardman (22) during the first quarter of the Ruff Riders' game against Corpus Christi on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Taylor County Coliseum.

Rodney Blackshear couldn’t have been happier with his debut at the Abilene Ruff Riders head coach.

Not only did the Ruff Riders finally pick up their first win the season, but they scored more points than they had in a game all season.

Bart Gloyd threw for three touchdowns and ran for another Saturday night as the Ruff Riders beat the Corpus Christi Hammerheads 48-31 in an Indoor Football League game at Taylor County Coliseum.

“Oh man, this is a great feeling,” Blackshear said. “We wanted to get the guys morale up, which we did. You could see it on the field. The guys had enthusiasm throughout the game, and we finished. I think we have a good team, but we just haven’t been finishing games.”

Blackshear replaced Gerald Dockery has head coach earlier in the week after the Riders opened the season 0-5.

Gloyd threw for 118 yards and one interception. Two of his three TD passes were to Robert Gill.

The Riders’ 48 points equalled the second highest total since the franchise relocated to Abilene. The team beat Corpus 48-37 last season.

Abilene had four red-zone trips in the final quarter and did not score.

“We finally got one,” Gloyd said. “The offense started gelling, and the defense played real well. It was just an overall good game.”

The Ruff Riders’ defense provided the big spark in the first quarter. Defensive lineman Vincent Rhodes scored two touchdowns to spark Abilene to a 19-9 lead after the first quarter.

“That was big,” Gloyd said. “It got our offense rolling and makes us settle down.”

With the Riders up 6-0, Zach East blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt by Rusty Garrett. Rhodes recovered the ball in the end zone to give the Riders a 12-0 lead with 4:43 left in the quarter.

On the Hammerheads’ ensuing possession, Rhodes picked off a pass and returned it four yards for a touchdown. Nich Pertuit’s PAT made it 19-3 with 3:27 remaining in the quarter.

Corpus Christi (2-5) answered with an 11-yard touchdown run by Justin Hardman to make it 19-9 less than two minutes before the end of the quarter.

Earlier in the quarter, Garrett booted a 29-yard field goal, but Riders’ quarterback Gloyd threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Gill.

The teams exchanged a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter as the Riders led 33-23 at halftime — just four points shy of the most points they’ve scored in a game this season.

Carlos Alsup ran six yards for a touchdown, and Gloyd scored from a yard out for the Riders.

Redford Borel ran seven yards for a touchdown, and Ruben Flowers added a six-yard run for the Hammerheads.

Corpus Christi had a chance to get another touchdown just before the half, when Gloyd was sacked at his own 2 on a fourth-and-10 play. But the defense rose to the occasion, keeping the Hammerheads out of the end zone on four plays.

It took the Riders only two plays to score after taking the opening possession of the second half. Gloyd threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Juan Reese. It appeared the ball would be picked off, but the ball sailed through a defender’s hands at about the Corpus 20 — and right to Reese who ran the rest of the way for the score.

The Riders made it 48-23 as Gloyd threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Gill on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Alsup ran for the two-point conversion.

Corpus avoided the shutout in the second half. Quarterback John De Los Santos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Hussey with 9:13 to play — one play after the Hammerheads recovered a Riders fumble. De Los Santos threw a pass to Sedale Threatt on the two-point conversion, making it a 17-point game.