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Kent State (2-2,1-0 MAC) ended a two game losing streak without the services of star running back Eugene Jarvis, who is out for the remainder of the season with a kidney injury.

“I am really proud of our football team tonight,” head coach Doug Martin said after the game. “That was as good a team win as I think I have ever been around. We had no turnovers tonight, especially on a night like tonight with the rain.”

With the win, Kent State defeated the Redhawks for the first time in consecutive seasons since a three-game skein from 1986-88. In addition, Kent State also won a Mid-American Conference opener for the first time since 2006 when defeated theRedhawks 16-14 at home.

Miami (0-4, 0-2 MAC) went down to defeat for the ninth consecutive time and 13th in their last 14 games dating back to last season.

“We did a real nice job moving the ball tonight. We moved the ball real well between the 20’s. But we have to do a better job protecting the football,” Redhawks head coach Mike Haywood said afterwards.

Redshirt freshman Zac Dysert made his first collegiate start Saturday night and was simply spectacular on a rainy evening. The Ada, Ohio native connected on 31-of-52 passes for 337 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball 17 times for 107yards.

“I thought Zac did some real good things out there tonight” Haywood said. “He got all the receivers involved in the game. (He also) did a real good job of scrambling when he had to”
 
“He’s a good quarterback…. He gives them an element to their offense they did not have with Raudabaugh there,” Martin said.

The Redhawks opened scoring  after a Kent State punt went just five yards. Starting at the Miami 36, Dysert moved the Redhawks to the Kent State eight, where the drive stalled and placekicker Trevor Cook kicked a 19-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

Miami’s first lead since November 11, 2008 against Ball State, however, ended in just fourteen seconds. The ensuing kickoff was fielded by junior Anthony Bowman, who returned it 92 yards for a touchdown, giving Kent State a 6-3 lead as freshman place kicker Freddy Cortez missed the extra point.

One of the key plays in the game came on the next possession. Miami took the kickoff and moved the ball from their own 33 to the Golden Flashes 10. When on first down, running back Thomas Merriweather apparently fumbled. Kent State linebacker Cobrani Mixon recovered the ball. The ruling on the field indicated Merriweather was down, but a replay official looked at the play and overturned the ruling, giving the Golden Flashes possession at the five.

“He was fighting for extra yards. Actually, Kevin Hogan stripped it, and I just fell on the ball” Mixon said

The reversal proved to be costly. As the first quarter became the second, Kent State went 95 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Georgio Morgan, getting the start after missing last Saturday’s game against Iowa State with an ankle injury, guided a drive that included two big plays. One was a 27-yard run by sophomore Jacquise Terry. The other was turned in by freshman running back Dri Archer, who finished the drive by navigating the final 28 yards into the end zone. Terry, who started the season at wide receiver, but was moved to running back with the injury to Jarvis, had 103 yards on 15 carries.

Kent State extended the lead to 19-3 on a pair Cortez field goals. The First was set up when fifth-year senior Derek McBryde blocked Chris DeCesare’s punt. The Golden Flashes recovered at the Miami 16 but failed to move the ball. Cortez then connected from 37 yards for his first field goal as a collegian.

The second field goal came after Kent State held Miami on a fourth-and-one from their own 49. The hosts advanced the ball to the Redhawk 25, and Cortez kicked a 42-yarder.

Before the end of the first half, Miami moved the ball and got into the Kent State end zone. On the drive following Cortez’ second field goal with 2:28 remaining in the first half, the Redhawks moved 78 yards in 12 plays with Dysert finding junior wide receiver Jamal Rogers from nine yards out to make the score 19-10, Kent State, at halftime.

In the first 30 minutes, Miami outgained Kent State 274-146 and seemed to have the momentum as the second half started. “It (the scoring drive) gave us an opportunity to be positive and motivated at halftime” Haywood said.

In the third quarter, Miami continued to move the ball against the Kent State defense with very little to show for it. Dysert threw an interception to end the RedHawks second drive, and the Golden Flashes defense again stopped the Redhawks on a fourth down to end Miami’s third possession at the KSU 44.

Things quickly went from bad to worse for Miami as it took the Kent State offense just one play to score a touchdown. Freshman QB Spencer Keith came in at quarterback and found fifth-year senior wide receiver Jameson Konz down the sideline for a 56-yard score that boosted Kent State’s lead to 26-10.

“We prepared for both quarterbacks,” defensive back Jordan Gafford said. “We saw both on film and what they can do.”

Miami responded on the ensuing possession. Taking possession on its own 19, it took 11 plays to cover 81 yards, culminating with Merriweather scoring the touchdown from one yard out. The Redhawks elected to go for two, but failed and trailed 26-16 going into the fourth quarter.

After a Kent State punt, the Redhawks moved from their own 11 to the Kent State 44. It was fourth and 11 when Dysert hitwide receiver Armond Robinson over the middle for 19 yards, but a hit from defensive back Dan Hartman caused a fumble, which Josh Pleasant recovered for the Golden Flashes.

On Miami’s next possession, the RedHawks moved the ball from their own 26 to the Kent State 19 before the Golden Flashes defense stiffened. Haywood decided to go for the field goal with 5:45 remaining and Trevor Cook connected from 43-yards out to narrow the deficit to seven points at 26-19.

Kent State ended any Miami hopes for victory following the kickoff. Terry carried the ball on seven consecutive plays, with the biggest being a 35-yard scamper that moved the ball to the Miami 12.

“Our offensive line really controlled the line of scrimmage on that last drive and Jacquise made some great runs, and that is a great way to finish a game” Martin said.

The Golden Flashes made it to the Miami seven, but a ten-yard loss on third down moved the ball back to the 17 where Cortez made his third field goal - this one from 34-yards away to make the final score 29-19.

Defensive back Brian Lainhart  intercepted Dysert on Miami’s final offensive play to secure the victory.

“We talked to our players about all these conference games being one-game MAC Championship games and that was our mindset tonight” Martin said.

Kent State completes its non-conference schedule next Saturday when it travels to Baylor, while Miami plays its first “Yager Stadium” home game when it hosts arch-rival and nationally ranked Cincinnati.

NOTES:
- The game was the 57th meeting between the two teams, with Miami still holding a 44-13 advantage…It was Kent State’s first win over Miami at Dix Stadium since 2001.

-  The last time Miami had over 500 yards in offense was 2007 at Minnesota (557 yards)

-  Jacquise Terry had his first 100 yard rushing game..

- Brian Lainhart intercepted his fourth pass of the season and has 10 interceptions in his last 11 games dating back to last season.

-  The last time Miami had over 500 yards in offense was 2007 at Minnesota (557 yards)

- The field goal in the first quarter was Miami’s first points in the opening frame since November 4,2008 at Buffalo

- Dysert was Miami’s first 100-yard rusher since Andre Bratton vs. Ohio (Nov. 28, 2008)

- Dysert’s performance was the first 300-yard game for Miami since Dan Raudabaugh vs. Charleston Southern (305 on September 13, 2008)