Kent State warms up for title game

Kent State quarterback Spencer Keith (Pulaski Academy) completed 9 of 20 passes for 170 yards and 1 touchdown and threw 1 interception in the No. 23 Golden Flashes’ 28-6 victory over Ohio on Friday in Kent, Ohio.

Kent State quarterback Spencer Keith (Pulaski Academy) completed 9 of 20 passes for 170 yards and 1 touchdown and threw 1 interception in the No. 23 Golden Flashes’ 28-6 victory over Ohio on Friday in Kent, Ohio.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

— C.J. Malauulu returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown - 12 seconds after another Kent State touchdown - and the No. 23 Golden Flashes completed an undefeated season in the Mid-American Conference with their 10th consecutive victory, 28-6 over Ohio on Friday.

The regular-season finale was a tuneup for Kent State (11-1, 8-0), which will meet Northern Illinois in next week’s MAC Championship Game. The victory allowed the Golden Flashes to continue the best season in the program’s 90-year history. They are ranked for the first time since 1972, the last time they appeared in a bowl game.

Trayion Durham rushed for 97 yards and scored on a 15-yard run in the first quarter to put Kent State ahead 14-0.

On Ohio’s next play, Malauulu picked off Tyler Tettleton and scored.

The Bobcats (8-4, 4-4) lost four of their last five after cracking the Associated Press Top 25.

In other MAC games, Akeem Daniels scored a career-best four touchdowns and Northern Illinois (11-1, 8-0) ended its regular season with its 11th consecutive victory, 49-7 against Eastern Michigan (2-10, 1-7) on a cold and snowy day in Ypsilanti, Mich. ... Jahwan Edwards rushed for three touchdowns as Ball State (9-3, 6-2) defeated Miami (Ohio) (4-8, 3-5) 31-24 in Oxford, Ohio.... Matt Schilz threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Bowling Green (8-4, 6-2) defeated Buffalo (4-8, 3-5) 21-7 in Columbus, Ohio. ... Zurlon Tipton ran for 185 yards and 4 touchdowns on 25 carries as Central Michigan (6-6, 4-4) routed Massachusetts (1-11, 1-7) 42-21 in Foxboro, Mass.

PACIFIC-12 Cougars win in OT

PULLMAN, Wash. - Andrew Furney kicked a 27-yard field goal on Washington State’s first possession of overtime, and the Cougars overcame an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun rival Washington 31-28 in the Apple Cup on Friday, snapping an eight-game losing streak.

Washington quarterback Keith Price threw an interception on the first play of overtime that defensive lineman Kalafitoni Pole nearly returned for a game-ending touchdown, but he was caught at the 5.

The Cougars (3-9, 1-8 Pacific-12) took possession and, after picking up a first down, Furney kicked a 27-yard field goal, leading to a crush of crimson and gray fans storming and celebrating at midfield.

Washington (7-5, 5-4) had a chance to win on the final play of regulation, but Travis Coons’ 35-yard field-goal attempt at the same end of the stadium was wide right.

In another Pacific-12 game, Reggie Dunn responded to Marques Mosley’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with one of his own 13 seconds later, and visiting Utah (5-7, 3-6) used five takeaways to outlast Colorado (1-11, 1-8) 42-35.

Sports, Pages 27 on 11/24/2012