Kent State went into Yager Stadium in Oxford and beat Miami 54-21 to win its first Mid-American Conference game since a Sept. 29, 2007, win at Ohio.

The Flashes (2-6, 1-3 MAC) also won their first game over a Football Bowl Subdivision team since that Ohio game, as their other win came over Delaware State.

“We played like we were capable of playing,” Kent State coach Doug Martin said. “I told the players after the game (that) one game does not change your image. This is meaningless unless our guys are willing to keep going.”

Miami helped out the Flashes on multiple occasions, turning the ball over six times, with two interceptions and four fumbles.

Sophomore safety Brian Lainhart had his team-leading fifth interception of the season in the game and led the team in tackles with 10.

“The thing about Brian (is) he prepares better than anybody at the safety position,” junior running back Eugene Jarvis said. “He’s always in the film room.”

Senior quarterback Julian Edelman led the team in rushing with 163 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Edelman averaged 9.9 yards per carry and threw for one touchdown, to sophomore wide receiver Leneric Muldrow.

Edelman said the offensive performance against Miami was more consistent with his and the coaching staff’s hopes before the season.

“We always wanted to be a 30-point team,” Edelman said. “(The) defense was just giving us turnovers and giving us great field position. That’s how we got all those points.”

Jarvis rushed for 105 yards and four touchdowns in his second game back from a lingering ankle injury.

Jarvis rushed for 74 yards by the end of the second quarter and a tied a Kent State single-game record when he scored his fourth rushing touchdown in the first half.

The Flashes scored more than 50 points for the first time since 2004, when they beat Eastern Michigan. The RedHawks had not given up more than 50 points since a 1987 loss to the University of Miami.

Contact sports reporter Thomas Gallick at [email protected].