FOOTBALL: Live Blog, Kent State has 19-14 lead over Marshall at end of 3Q

By David Carducci

Director of New Media

A potentially critical turnover for Kent State arrived just inside the four-minute mark when Raekwon James lost the ball at the end of a 17-yard slant throw from Colin Reardon. Marshall recovered the ball at midfield with the hope of cutting into the Flashes’ 19-14 lead.

Demetrius Monday made sure that wouldn’t happen with a brilliant recovery and pass breakup to force a three-and-out.

The fumble by James came as Kent State’s passing game was starting to find some life. The Flashes had taken a 19-7 lead on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Reardon to Ernest Calhoun. The score was set up by a 36-yard throw from Reardon to Dixon. On that first hookup with Dixon, Reardon used play action, then waited patiently for Dixon to clear the zone before lofting the ball to the freshman on a seam throw.

Unfortunately for KSU, Deandre Reeves answered quickly for Marshall with a 93-yard kickoff return.

The Flashes are 0-for-2 on two-point conversions. Hopefully that won’t come back to haunt the Flashes.

KSU is starting to gash Marshall a bit in the running game. Offensive line is opening some holes while Durham (18 carries for 67 yards) and Washington (9 carries, 52 yards) are finishing runs and dealing the bigger hits in collisions with Herd linebackers and defensive backs.

Washington had a key third-down run to move the chains just before the start of the fourth quarter, avoiding flipping the filed back to Marshall after starting a drive at the KSU 5.