Kent, Ohio – Kent State’s defense dominated Ohio and led the Golden Flashes to a 28-6 victory Friday at Dix Stadium that keeps the Bobcats from advancing to the Mid-American Championship game for the second straight year.

With the loss, in which Ohio (8-4, 6-2 MAC) managed only 183 yards and Boo Jackson turned over the ball four times, Miami wins the outright East Division championship and a place opposite Northern Illinois in the title game next Friday in Detroit.

The Golden Flashes (5-7, 4-4 MAC) dominated line play to beat the Bobcats for the second straight year, sending coach Doug Martin out with a victory in his final game.

Kent State’s defense set the tone early with a touchdown off of a Jackson fumble. Cobrani Mixon got to Jackson, and Luke Batton recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 5:05 remaining in the first quarter.

Spencer Keith added a one-yard touchdown run for the Golden Flashes in the second quarter to make it 14-0, taking advantage of a short field at the Ohio 27-yard line after punter Paul Hershey failed for the first time this season to convert on a fake punt attempt.

Ohio finally got on the board with a 51-yard Matt Weller field goal with 2:19 left before halftime, and Weller added another field goal, this time from only 21 yards out early in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 14-6. The field goal was set up by a 34-yard Travis Carrie punt return to the Kent State 19-yard line.

A Jackson interception, on a play where he tried to get off a pass as he was being hit, led to the Golden Flashes’ third touchdown. The pick by Dan Harmtan gave Kent State possession at the Ohio 37-yard line and led to Eugene Jarvis’ 26-yard touchdown run with 11:53 remaining in the game.

The Bobcats failed again on a fake punt on their next possession, as Jordan Thompson came up a yard shy on fourth-and-two after taking a direct snap.

Jackson fumbled again after Ohio got the ball back, giving Kent State the ball at the Ohio 16-yard line, leading to an Andre Flowers 10-yard touchdown run.

In windy conditions, Jackson was 14 of 26 for 133 yards and was sacked five times. Phil Bates had 31 yards rushing on six carries, but the Bobcats managed only 50 yards on the ground on 37 attempts.

Jarvis rushed for 106 yards on 21 carries, while Keith completed 11 of 19 passes for 100 yards for the Golden Flashes, who finished with 240 yards of offense.

The Bobcats now will await word on a bowl game.