KENT, Ohio – Kent State scored a pair of defensive touchdowns in building a 21-point first quarter lead, rolling to a 28-6 regular season finale victory against Ohio on Friday.

Luke Wollet returned a Beau Blankenship fumble 50 yards for the game’s first score less than two minutes in and C.J. Malauulu returned a Tyler Tettleton interception 33 yards for a score at the 5:59 mark in the first quarter.

In between, Trayion Durham scored on a 15-yard run as the Golden Flashes (11-1, 8-0 Mid-American Conference) used its big early lead to take an easy victory.

In addition to the two turnovers for touchdowns, Kent State’s defense forced eight sacks against an Ohio offensive line that had three starters – Eric Herman, Vince Carlotta and Ryan McGrath – go out for the game in the first half.

Offensively, Kent State did enough, getting 97 rushing yards on 16 carries from Durham and 53 yards on 13 carries from Dri Archer.

Blankenship carried 29 times for 145 yards, giving him 1,500 on the year to break Kalvin McRae’s school single-season record of 1,434.

Tettleton was 21 of 37 for 232 yards, completing to Donte Foster 11 times for 100 yards.

Matt Weller made a 33-yard field goal late in the first quarter and hit a 41-yarder with 15 seconds left in the first half, making it 21-6. They were two of several instances where the Bobcats had promising drives stall.

Five times in the first half and once in the second half Ohio (8-4, 4-4 MAC) reached at least its own 40-yard line before punting or committing a turnover. The Bobcats also turned the ball over on downs two times after reaching the red zone in the fourth quarter.

Blankenship was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 from the Kent State 12-yard line and after the Golden Flashes’ final sack pushed the Bobcats back to the 22-yard line on their next possession, Tettleton’s fourth-down scramble came up well short of a first down.

Spencer Keith threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Eric Adeyemi on a third-and-13 play with 11:44 remaining for the second half’s only points. The Golden Flashes took advantage of a shot field, having taken over at midfield after a short punt into a strong wind.

Adeyemi also helped set up Kent State’s only other offensive touchdown, making a 44-yard reception to the Ohio 16-yard line. Two players later, Durham scored from 15 yards out.

Keith was just 9 of 20 passing for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Adeyemi had three catches for 74 yards.

Kent State committed two turnovers. Keith was picked off by Jelani Woseley on a deflection late in the first half and an Archer fumble was recovered by Ian Wells early in the second half, with both stopping promising Golden Flashes drives.

In addition to the offensive line injuries, Ohio had wide receiver Chase Cocrhan go out early in the third quarter.

The Golden Flashes already have won more games than ever before and are headed to the MAC Championship Game against Northern Illinois. After losing four of their last five games, the Bobcats will await their bowl fate, which likely will be announced Dec. 2.