The Kent State football team was unable to win its first game at Miami in a dozen years, falling to the RedHawks (6-4, 5-1) 34-7.

The Flashes began the game with the strong start they have been looking for all season by forcing a fumble, and then cashing in three plays later to go up 7-0, claiming their first lead of the season.

However, it was all Miami from there, as the RedHawks scored the game’s final 34 points.

The Flashes’ defense appeared to create more points in the second half when freshman safety Clinton Robinson picked up a fumble forced by graduate student linebacker Khalib Johns and ran it back for a touchdown.

An inadvertent whistle by the referees resulted in the touchdown being taken off the board, though the fumble recovery still counted – KSU could not convert and left the seven points off the board.

Junior quarterback Tommy Ulatowski was back in action for the Flashes, going 10-for-21 for 82 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his return from a week-long injury where he missed last game.

On the ground, Kent State was unable to keep early momentum going, as it finished with 96 yards on 39 attempts, averaging 2.46 yards per carry. 

Redshirt senior running back Ky Thomas was the team’s leading rusher with 58 yards on 15 carries.

The defense was unable to hold Miami to under 400 yards, allowing 477, extending the streak of giving up at least 400 yards to 11 games. 

Fifth-year senior running back Keyon Mozee rushed for 196 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, averaging 10.32 yards per rush against the KSU defense.

Next up for Kent State is the rivalry game against the Akron Zips (2-8, 1-5) Tuesday at Dix Stadium with kickoff at 7 p.m. 

Demetri Manousos is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].