KENT, OHIO – The Kent State Golden Flashes scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the game and never looked back en route to a 62-20 victory over the Bowling Green Falcons in the Mid-American conference opener for both schools Saturday at Dix Stadium.
The victory by . . .
In addition, it was KSU’s first home win over MAC opposition since October 17, 2017, when it edged Miami 17-14 and first MAC-opening win since beating MU in 2015.
The 62 points scored were the most by the Flashes since 2004 when they totaled 69 against Eastern Michigan
Overall, it was a day of offense for the Golden Flashes as they tallied 750 total yards (375 each running and passing). The hosts had a pair of 100-yard rushers and a 300-yard passer.
Bowling Green suffered its worst loss to KSU, allowing the most points in the 87 game history of the series. The Falcons have now dropped their last two fallen in their last three MAC games dating back to last season.
The home team scored on the opening possession of the contest as the Blue and Gold moved the ball 65 yards in eight plays, with the scoring play being a flea-flicker. The ball was handed to Kavious Price, who found sophomore TE Keenan Orr in the lower left former in the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
After a Falcons punt. The Flashes took possession on their own 39 and marched 61 yards in nine plays for their second touchdown. The key plays in the drive were penalties on BGSU -- a pair of offside infractions that gave KSU a first down.
The drive ended when senior RB Jo El Shaw punched the ball in from one yard out to make it 14-0. Shaw finished the day with 109 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns
Down by two scores, the Falcons found some life as they used just five plays to move 75 yards. The big play was a 50-yard completion from senior QB Darius Wade to fellow senior wideout R.B. Marlow. Wade completed 18-of-25 passes for 161 yards and a pair of interceptions on the day.
Junior RB Andrew Clair finished the drive to give BGSU its first and only touchdown of the game, making the score 14-7.
After the score, it took Kent State just two plays to answer as Crum found senior WR Mike Carrigan on a straight go-route in stride for 53-yards and a 21-7 lead. Carrigan had six receptions for 94 yards and the score.
Crum, in his third consecutive start, had a career day, completing 26-of-31 passes for 310 yards and three scores.
Kent State's next score came with a little help from BGSU as a Wade pass went in and out of the hands of Marlow and into the hands of KSU senior DB Jamal Parker who returned the ball to the Flashes 42.
The turnover led to sophomore PK Matthew Trickett hitting his first of two field goals -- a 25 yarder -- to make the score 24-7 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Trickett hit his second three-pointer, this a 42-yarder, and Crum threw his third touchdown pass of the game -- a 3-yarder to sophomore TE Andrew Dulka.
In the fourth quarter, backup QB junior Grant Loy led the Falcons on a 10-play 75-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard run up them middle. However, the extra point was missed. Loy ended the game with five of eight passes for 45 yards
The Flashes added two fourth quarter scores. First, Shaw smashed it in for his second score from two-yards out. Then, with backup QB Woody Barrett in the game, he found junior WR Keshaunn Abram from 14-yards out . The visitors ended the scoring when Loy threw a touchdown pass to junior RB Bryson Danley.
Defensively, the Flashes were led by fifth-year senior Lawrence Burke with nine total tackles (five solo) and Parker with his pair of interceptions. BGSU's defense was paced by senior LB Brandon Perce, who had 15 totl stops (eight solo).
KSU is back in action nest Saturday when it travels to Wisconsin to tangle with the Badgers of the Big Ten, while Falcons have the week off before heading to Notre Dame and a battle with the Fighting Irish.