Ken State dominated the ground game, including two big runs late in the fourth quarter with the score tied 28-28. On a pivotal third down, sophomore Woody Barrett scrambled 34 yards to the left side. On the very next play, junior Jo-El Shaw darted 18 yards for his third touchdown of the game.
In his first career start, Shaw got to work in a hurry. After runs of 13 and 19 yards in the first two series, he caught a swing pass from Barrett and took it 24 yards to the end zone for his first score. Shaw finished with a career-high 128 rushing yards.
A pair of Bowling Green field goals late in the first and early in the second period cut the lead to 7-6. The Falcons then took advantage of a 10-yard punt and a short field to grab a 13-7 advantage on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Jarret Doege to Dorian Hendrix.
Late in the half, KSU forced a three-and-out to give its offense an opportunity with 1:21 left. Facing a 3rd-and-5 with 23 seconds remaining, Barrett called his own number and went 10 yards up the middle to give the Flashes the lead back (14-13) heading into halftime.
After a missed Falcon field goal attempt to start the third, the Flashes put together a solid drive that looked like it would end in a field goal attempt. However, holder Dustin Crum faked a pitch to his left and ran right 10 yards for a first down. On the very next play Shaw went over the right side for a seven-yard touchdown.
The Falcons tied the game early in the fourth with a touchdown and successful two-point conversion. However, Kent State responded in a hurry with a six-play, 75-yard drive, ending in a two-yard TD pass from Barrett to Antwan Dixon.
The Falcons knotted the score again (28-28) with 5:34 to play. A fumble recovery gave Bowling Green the ball on Kent State’s 26-yard line and a fourth down conversion set up a 12-yard touchdown pass from Doege to Noah Massey.
Bowling Green’s final drive was slowed by a pair of sacks from junior defensive lineman Theo Majette.
Kent State will be back in action Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Buffalo, concluding its stretch of five straight MAC East opponents.
Bowling Green takes on Central Michigan Nov. 10 in the first of two straight road games.
NOTES:
➤➤ Defensively, the Flashes were led by linebacker Dalton Hicks, who made a career-high 14 tackles in just his second start of the season
➤➤ Falcons senior defensive end Brandon Harris led all defenders with 15 hits (9 solo).
➤➤ Barrett has rushed for a touchdown and thrown a touchdown pass in the same game four times this season. He has had a hand in three touchdowns twice this season.
➤➤ Behind 225 total rushing yards, the Flashes improved to 2-0 with 50 or more rushing attempts in a game. Kent State’s 35 points were the most against an FBS opponent since 2016.
(Courtesy of KSU Athletics)