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Kent State (1-0) won their season opener for the third time in the last four years and ninth time in the last ten at home as the Flashes amassed 412 yards of total offense and 41 points. It was the most in a season opener since 2003 at Akron (41-38) and the most in a home opener since 1959 against Baldwin-Wallace 46-12.

“We scored in a variety of ways tonight,” KSU Head Coach Doug Martin said after the game. “Our red zone offense was a great positive for us. The special teams were excellent. But the main thing is we have more explosive players on offense..”

Sophomore quarterback Spencer Keith completed 24-of-35 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns, matching a career high. Wide Receiver Sam Kirkland collected nine of those passes for 126 yards and a score.

“It’s a great feeling to have guys like that who can make plays and can take a lot of pressure off me,” Keith said.

Murray State (0-1), under new head coach Chris Hatcher, managed just 193 yards of total offense as the Racers dropped their season opener for the first time since 2007 at Louisville.

“I thought our guys fought all the way to the end, and  we never gave up,” Hatcher said after the game.  “I think Coach Martin has an excellent ball club. They are a much a better team than the one I saw on tape last year.”

KSU started strong on a warm, humid evening. It began with the defense holding Murray State of the Ohio Valley Conference to three plays and a punt. The KSU offense took possession on its own 44-yard line and six plays later scored when senior running back Eugene Jarvis broke two tackles and found the end zone.

Jarvis saw his first game action since missing almost the entire 2009 season with a lacerated kidney suffered in the loss at Boston College. The native of Pittsburgh, who was granted a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA over the winter, led all rushers in the game with 45 yards on 11 carries and the touchdown.

“I thought Eugene looked great.” Martin said. “He had a nice touchdown run. He is back to his old self, and he is only going to get better.”

After the Golden Flashes defense and held the MSU again three-and-out – this time in the shadow of their own goal line, Kent State took over on the MSU 37 and moved to the 12. When the drive stalled, sophomore placekicker Freddy Cortez connected on a 29 yard field goal to make the score 10-0.

After the kickoff, Murray State went to the no-huddle, hurry-up offense, and it paid off with the visitor’s only touchdown of the evening. The Racers went 76 yards in just eight plays, with senior quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt finding wide receiver Arthur Brackett on a 41 yard touchdown for the score on fourth down and one.

After Ehrhardt drew the KSU defense offside, he found Brackett, a redshirt freshman, open down the right side line.  Brackett pulled in the pass and tightroped into the end zone for the score that made it 10-7.

“That is the way we like to play for the majority of the game” Hatcher said. “We were not able to get a first down on our first two possessions, but then we gained some confidence.”

Kent State had an emphatic response to the touchdown with one of its own as the Flashes put together a seven play, 77-yard drive. Keith culminated the march by finding Kirkland in the seam of the MSU zone, and he scoring from 16-yards out to make the score 17-7.

On the first possession of the second quarter, Kent State was driving in Murray State territory when Keith threw a cross-field pass to the sideline that was intercepted by junior cornerback Nathan Brinkley, who returned the ball 40 yards to the Kent State 31 yard line.

However, the Racers were forced to settle for a 47-yard Kiernan Cullen field goal after they could not move the ball on three plays. The seven-point deficit was the closest Murray State would get for the remainder of the game.

Kent State managed to put one more touchdown on the board before halftime. Starting on their own 28-yard line with 2:14 remaining in the half, the Flashes put together a five-play, 61-yard scoring drive.

The big play was a third down and 10 from the Murray State 43. Keith connected with running back Jacquise Terry down the left sideline, and the sophomore broke a couple of tackles along the way to put the home team 24-10 after the PAT.

Kent State  wasted little time in administering a knockout blow after intermission. Senior returner Anthony Bowman Jr. took the opening kick at his own eight-yard line. After picking up a couple of key blocks on the left sideline, he moved into the middle,eluded kicker Cullen and finished the 92-yard journey to make the score 31-10.

The Golden Flashes added a 37-yard field goal later in the quarter and ended scoring in the fourth stanza as Keith and the first team offense, on their final possession of the game, went 80 yards in 12 plays for a TD. It was Terry’s second touchdown catch of the night - this one from six yards away.

After its second quarter field goal,. Murray State did not have a sustained drive until the start of the fourth quarter when the Racers returned to the no-huddle and threw on almost every down. MSU moved the ball from its own 44 yard line to the Kent State six. However, senior safety Brian Lainhart hit on backup quarterback Marshyl Rothman, scrambling on the play, resulted in a fumble. Senior nose tackle Quinton Rainey recovered the loose ball in the end zone.

“We just could not run the ball tonight,” Hatcher said. “We had some breakdowns early. But when you get that one dimensional, it makes it very difficult to move the ball.”

Kent State now hits the road for three consecutive road games, beginning next Saturday at Boston College. Murray State returns home to southeast Kentucky for their home, and OVC opener, against Southeast Missouri State.

GAME BALLS

OFFENSE: SPENCER KEITH-KENT STATE. The sophomore quarterback from Little Rock, Arkansas threw for 275 yards, completing 24-of-35 passes with three touchdowns (matching a career best) and one interception He also had a 17-yard run on a quarterback draw during the second touchdown drive in the first quarter.

DEFENSE: BRIAN LAINHART-KENT STATE. The senior from Cincinnati led the defense with nine tackles on the evening (five solo). He also had a forced fumble in the fourth quarter and took a fake punt in third quarter for 19 yards on a drive that resulted in a field goal.

SPECIAL TEAMS: FREDDY CORTEZ & ANTHONY BOWMAN JR.-KENT STATE. Cortez connected on two field goals (29 & 37 yards) and has now made 12 of his last 13 FG attempts dating back to last season. Bowman collected his second career kick return for a touchdown with a 92-yarder to begin the second half extending the Golden Flashes lead to 31-10.

NOTES: The game was the first ever between the two schools…Kent State is 2-1 lifetime against the Ohio Valley Conference (1-0 vs Murray State, 1-0 vs Southeast Missouri State, 0-1 vs Eastern Kentucky)…The 412 yards of total offense by KSU was the most since last November 7th at Akron (415)…The 41 points scored were the most by KSU since November 12,2008 vs Temple (41-38)…Kent State is 36-45-7 in season openers (20-9-4 at home)…KSU has won their last 10 games against FCS opposition (last lost 2000 vs Youngstown State)…Murray State head coach Chris Hatcher suffers his first loss as a head coach (10-0 coming into the game at Valdosta State & Georgia Southern)…MSU is 5-8-1 lifetime against MAC competition. The Racers are 47-35-4 in season openers. In a twist from tradition, Kent State honored its 16 seniors before the game rather than the final home game of the season.