Kent State extended its losing streak today to three games after losing to Bowling Green 31-20. In a game that mirrored the Akron and Miami game, the Flashes struggled to keep drives alive, committed 10 penalties for 89 yards and failed to convert on crucial third and fourth downs in the redzone. So, what do the Flashes need to do?

“Cut down on penalties,” said sophomore Eugene Jarvis. ” We did a great job with (not committing) turnovers. We can move ball on any defense, we showed all that the last couple games, all season actually.”

The passing game struggled for the second week in row, as junior quarterback Julian Edelman didn’t complete his first pass until the third quarter. Edelman turned it around in the second half, throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to Rashad Tukes with 5:34 remaining in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with 128 yards on 8-13 passing.

It will be the last statistics Edelman will have in 2007 after breaking his right wrist in the fourth quarter. Kent State coach Doug Martin said the California native has been playing with a torn PCL since the Kentucky game and now the broken arm will force him to miss the rest of the season.

“Tough times come to all teams and to all people in all walks of life,” Martin said. “This is a character check.”

Martin was unsure of who will start next week against Central Michigan.

Despite the injuries and passing mishaps, Kent State continued to run the ball well, as Jarvis ran for 171 yards on 33 carries. Edelman also had success running the ball, with 110 yards and a touchdown.

Jarvis become the first running back for the Flashes to rush for more than 1,000 yards since Astron Whatley did it in 1996 and the last player to gain 1,000 yards on the ground since Joshua Cribbs ran for 1,057 yards in 2002. Jarvis leads the nation with 1,103 yards on the season.

However, it was Bowling Green who played like the Mid-American Conference’s leading rushing team. The Falcons entered the game averaging 76 yards rushing a game, worst in the MAC, while Kent State’s defense had the top-rushing defense.

It didn’t matter. Bowling Green freshman running back Willie Geter ran for more than 200 yards, the first Falcon running back to accomplish that since 2004. Geter finished with 209 yards rushing and one touchdown.

“They really changed their offense from what they’ve done the last couple games,” said Martin.

The defense may have suffered its worst loss when junior Cedrick Maxwell was ejected from the game after throwing several punches during a Bowling Green score in the redzone. Maxwell is considered one of the best-run stoppers on the team and is the second leading tackler on the defense with 54. After his ejection, Geter ran for 158 yards in the second-half.

“It was real big,” senior Jack Williams said. “He plays the run well and that kind of hurt of in the long run, throughout the course of the game.”

Maxwell’s status is unclear for Central Michigan.

Kent State must now salvage the season after losing its third MAC East game of the season. Martin said the Flashes must still finish strong.

“We just got to go back to work and play these last four games as hard as we can play them.”