KENT, Ohio ? The Ohio football team could not corral Joshua Cribbs and the Kent State offense Saturday afternoon as the Bobcats dropped a 42-16 decision in Mid-American Conference play at Dix Stadium.

Cribbs proved to be a threat on the ground and through the air, rushing for 223 yards and a pair of scores while throwing for 150 yards on 18 completions and one touchdown.

?We knew he was a good quarterback coming in,? said Ohio head coach Brian Knorr. ?He really took us out of our blitz game and did a great job. The wind was really a factor today and his ability to make plays and run the football was obviously the difference.?

Sophomore quarterback Austen Everson (Brentwood, Tenn.) made his first start of the season for Ohio (3-6 overall, 1-5 MAC), completing four passes for 121 yards and one score.

Ohio did strike first but it would be its lone lead of the ballgame. After the Bobcat defense forced a Kent tate (2-6, 1-4 MAC) punt to begin the game, Everson and the Ohio offense went to work. Everson connected with freshman running back Kalvin McRae (Decatur, Ga.) for a 33-yard gain to move into Kent State territory, setting up an eventual 25-yard field goal attempt for freshman kicker Brooks Rossman (Seal Beach, Calif.). Rossman split the uprights and the Bobcats took an early 3-0 advantage.

Just more than three minutes later, though, the Golden Flashes returned the favor. Cribbs drove the offense 60 yards, culminating in a 35-yard play-action touchdown pass to wide receiver Najah Pruden. The point-after attempt was good as the home team took its first lead of the afternoon, 7-3.

On the first play of Ohio?s next possession, the Kent State defense took its turn. Everson?s screen pass intended for Justin Roush (Pomeroy) slipped through Roush?s fingers and into the hands of Golden Flash linebacker Eric Mahl. One play later, the Kent State offense took advantage of great field position as running back David Alston punched it in from eight yards out. The P.A.T. was good, putting the Golden Flashes on top 14-3 late in the first quarter.

Early in the second frame, the Bobcat offense clawed back. The Bobcats once again used a MacRae screen pass to plunge into Kent State territory, then Everson put an exclamation point on the nine-play, 64-yard effort with an option keeper over the left side and into the end zone. Rossman?s point-after attempt was good, bringing the Bobcats to within four.

Kent State used a steady dose of the run and a 33-yard pass on its next drive to get the touchdown back. After a Cribbs pass put the Golden Flashes inside the Ohio five, Rasheed McClaude punched it in from a yard out over the left tackle as Kent State went ahead 21-10 with 9:47 left on the clock.

The Bobcats regained possession late in the second quarter but again the Kent State defense made the big play. On the first play of the drive, Everson?s pass intended for Scott Mayle (Phillippi, W.Va.) was picked off by Jon Sessler, giving the Golden Flashes the football in Bobcat territory.

Five plays later, Alston rushed for his second touchdown of the afternoon. The P.A.T. was good as Kent State stayed on top, 28-10, into the locker room.

Cribbs finished the half having completed all 10 of his pass attempts for 99 total yards and a touchdown while also racking up 102 yards on the ground.

The Bobcats opened up the second half with the football but turned it over on downs, giving possession back to Cribbs and the Kent State offense. On the third play of the drive, Cribbs called his own number, went over the right tackle and scampered 58 yards into the end zone for the score. With 9:23 left in the second quarter, the Golden Flashes led 35-10.

Just more than a minute into Ohio?s next drive, the Bobcats inched closer. Everson threw to Roush, who broke a tackle and scurried 49 yards to the end zone for the Ohio touchdown and his first in a Bobcat uniform. The point-after try, however, was unsuccessful, leaving the Bobcats down, 35-16.

Late in the fourth quarter, Kent State tacked on another score. Cribbs finished off a ten-play drive with a nine-yard carry into the end zone for his second score of the contest. With 4:16 left in the game, Kent State led 42-16. That margin would last through the final gun.

Rob Stover (Galena) led the Ohio defense with 12 tackles on the afternoon while Matt Muncy (Miamisburg) recorded nine stops.

McRae collected 52 yards on nine carries while racking up 50 receiving yards on four catches.

?I was impressed with Kalvin, being a freshman and not starting today, he didn?t hang his head,? Knorr said. ?He came out and competed and made some plays for us.?

The Bobcats stay on the road next week. Ohio will head south to face off with MAC foe Central Florida. The Bobcats and Golden Knights will tangle at 4 p.m. at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.