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With the victory, Army (6-4) becomes bowl eligible for the first time since 1996, when it played in the Independence Bowl. The win also sets up a scenario in which Army, Air Force and Navy could all participate in bowl games in the same year for the first time ever.

It was the Cadets’ fourth road win of the season (the most since 1967) and second victory in three tries against Mid-American Conference opposition during the 2010 campaign.

“We kept finding another way to win,” Army head coach Rick Ellerson said after the game. “That’s the sign of a resourceful football team. We reached a landmark we have been working at for a long time. It was a hard fought game.”

For Kent State (4-6),  it was a second consecutive loss and ended any chance of for KSU's first winning season since 2001. The Flashes turned the ball over four times (a fumble, and three interceptions.), giving them 24 on the season.

“Until our players grasp the ideas of taking care of the football, we will not win football games.” KSU head coach Doug Martin said afterwards. “We outgained Army with possibly our best rushing game of the season. Our receivers were open all day, but you have to take care of the football and that was the difference in the game.”

The Golden Flashes did come into the game a bit banged up as sophomore quarterback Spencer Keith suffered a sprained thumb in last Saturday’s loss to Temple. X-Rays proved to be negative and he did practice during the week, but Martin said he would use all three quarterbacks (Keith, fourth-year junior Georgio Morgan, and sophomore Sal Battles) depending on the down and situation.

The visitors from West Point struck quickly in the first quarter. Gaining possession on their own 43 after a short Matt Rinehart punt, sophomore quarterback Trent Steelman surprised the KSU defense with two quick pass completions gaining 23 yards before using his running attack to finish an 11-play drive. Sophomore running back Jared Hassin went up the middle for a touchdown from 12-yards away to give Army a 7-0 lead.

The Cadets and their triple-option offense gained 233 yards on the ground, with Hassin leading a balanced attack with 75 yards on 23 carries and the touchdown. He came into the game on the strength of four consecutive 100-yard rushing games, tying an academy record.

The keys to the success of the Army offense were two-fold: one, the play of Steelman, who completed 9-of-10 passes for a season best 149 yards, and two, going 9-for-17 on third down conversions.

‘When we have such a threat in running the ball, anybody can make the big play. The play action pass is going to open up for us. The blocking came up big.” Steelman said.

The KSU defense, which was number one in the entire Football Bowl Subdivision, allowing the fewest rushing and total yards, has given up 73 points, 330 rushing yards, and 847 total yards over the past two games.

“We knew that they start strong,” senior defensive back Brian Lainhart  said. “It took us a while to get adjusted to it, but when we settled down we just could not get any turnovers. We just did not do that today”

Army added to its lead on its second possession.  Again gaining excellent post-punt possession at the 37 yard line, Army used seven plays - all on the ground-  to make the score 14-0, with Steelman finishing the drive with a quarterback sneak from two-yards out.

As the first quarter became the second, Kent State and its tri-quarterback offense started to move the ball. After the second Army touchdown, they put together an eight-play 80-yard drive with senior running back Eugene Jarvis capping the drive going up the middle from 19 yards out to make the score 14-7.

Jarvis, who was granted a sixth-year of eligibility last winter by the NCAA after suffering a kidney injury last season against Boston College, saw his first action since the season opener against Murray State, leaving with a groin injury. He led the team in rushing with 71 yards on 10 carries and the touchdown.

After forcing the Cadets into a three-and-out, the Golden Flashes again moved the ball going from their own 18 to the Army 28, where the drive stalled. On a fourth down and five from the Army 30, placekicker Freddy Cortez came on to attempt a 47 yard field goal. The snap went to holder Lendric Muldrow,who gained four yards, coming up short of the first down and KSU turned the ball over on downs.

From then on, Army took complete control of the game.

Starting from their 26, the Black Knights  engineered a seven-play drive, again highlighted by the passing of Steelman, who had two completions in the drive totaling 59 yards,. The biggest was a 41-yarder to wide receiver Davyd Brooks. Senior slotback Patrick Mealy, ended the drive with a two-yard end around play into the Kent State end zone to make the score 21-7.

On KSU’s next offensive play after the kickoff, Keith, whose passes on the day looked like a baseball pitcher’s knuckleball, threw one deep and was intercepted. Free safety Donovan Travis returned the ball 50 yards to the KSU 22. It was Keith’s final play of the game as Martin went to Morgan and Battles for the remainder of the contest

From there it took the Black Knights just four plays to make the score 28-7, with Steelman scoring his second touchdown of the game, this one from three yards away.

At the start of the third quarter, KSU looked to get back into the game as it held Army to a three-and-out. Freshman Luke Wollet returned the boot 36 yards to the Cadets 29. From there, the offense needed just three plays to score a touchdown, with junior running back Jacquise Terry going into the end zone from three yards out to make the score 28-14.

Any hopes of a Kent State come-from-behind victory were squelched on Army’s next possession as Steelman moved the offense 82 yards in just nine plays. The biggest play was another Steelman pass to Brooks, this one covering 39 yards to move the ball to the KSU five. On the next play, freshman running back Raymond Maples ran around the right side and just got the ball inside the pylon for his second career touchdown and a 35-14 academy advantage.

Kent State did not quit and scored a touchdown on the following possession, moving the ball 77 yards in eight plays. Morgan scrambled out of the pocket on a second down from the Cadets two, founding junior tight end Justin Thompson in the back of the end zone to make the score 35-21. That would be as close as the Flashes would get.

In the final minute of the third quarter, on the first play after an Army punt, Morgan overthrew his intended receiver and the ball fell right into the hands of senior cornerback Richard King. His return, along with a personal four penalty on Kent State, put Army at the KSU 17 to start the fourth quarter.

It took Steelman and the offense five plays to score a sixth and final touchdown of the afternoon as sophomore Brian Cobbs went around the right side from three yards out  to make the score 42-28.

Kent State scored on its next possession, with Morgan hitting wide receiver Tyshon Goode from 72 yards out, splitting the Cadets secondary down the middle for the longest play from scrimmage for the Flashes this season. Army, however, countered with a 47-yard field goal by junior Alex Carlton to make the final 45-28.

Statistically, the two teams combined for 792 total yards, with Kent State having 410 of those - the third time this season the offense has had more than 400 total yards. Morgan, in his first extensive playing time since the start of the 2009 season, completed  five-of-nine passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, his first since 2007. Goode had seven catches for 155 yards and a score - the second-best day as a receiver.

After the game, Martin took time to thank Army for coming to play at Dix Stadium. “An honor having them here playing a game on our campus.” he said. “They represent everything great about our country and college football.”   

Army finishes the season with two big neutral site games. Next up is Notre Dame in the first college football game in the new Yankee Stadium . The Cadets, as usual, close the year against Navy in Philadelphia  (Lincoln Financial Field).

Kent State returns to MAC play next Saturday at Western Michigan.  A Friday finale follows as KSU hosts MAC East co-leader Ohio.

GAME BALLS:
OFFENSE: TRENT STEELMAN-ARMY…The sophomore from Bowling Green, Kentucky was 9-of-10 passing for a season-best 149 yards. Many of his completions turned into ‘big plays’ for an Army offense that gained 382 yards on the afternoon.

DEFENSE: DORIAN WOOD-KENT STATE…The senior linebacker from Austell, Georgia led the defensive 11 with a season high 14 tackles (seven solo). He and sophomore linebacker Luke Batton filled the breach with senior Cobrani Mixon missing the game with a shoulder injury

SPECIAL TEAMS: ALEX CARLTON-ARMY…The junior from Wilmington, Delaware connected on all six of his extra point attempts in the game (a career high), and added a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The line drive that went through the up-rights was his 30th lifetime (third on Army’s all-time list).

NOTES:  This was just the second lifetime meeting between the two teams, with Army winning both tilts (The previous was 2006 at West Point, 17-14 OT )…They will meet again in 2012 at West Point….KSU is 1-8 lifetime against the service academies (0-2 at Dix Stadium, the lone win coming in 1976 vs. Air Force at Cleveland Stadium)…Army is 21-13 lifetime against the Mid-American Conference…The 45 points by Army was a season high and the most overall since 2006 (62 vs. Virginia Military). It was also the most against an FBS opponent since 2004 vs. Cincinnati…KSU is 9-28 in November since 1998…The six touchdowns allowed were the most since 2008 at Louisiana Lafayette…The 45 points allowed were the most at Dix Stadium since 2002 (48 vs. Akron)…Donovan Travis-ARMY his interception was the tenth of his career, tied for second on-the all-time list…Georgio Morgan-KSU his touchdown pass to Justin Thompson was his first since October,2007 vs Central Michigan (33-yarder to Shawn Bayes)…Eugene Jarvis-KSU his 71 yards rushing was the most since November, 2008 against Buffalo (150 yards on 22 carries) and his first touchdown since the 2009 season opener against Coastal Carolina…Army’s Bowl options are either the Military Bowl in Washington D.C. or the Armed Forces Bowl in Dallas against a team from Conference USA…At the end of the game, both teams stood in front of the Army Band while the Army Alma Mater played.