Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman, right, dives to the end zone ahead of Iowa State defender Jesse Smith. Kent State beat the Cyclones, 23-14, Thursday in Ames, Iowa.

Ames, Iowa ? Julian Edelman threw for 161 yards and a touchdown to lead Kent State to a 23-14 victory over Iowa State Thursday night in the debut of new Cyclones coach Gene Chizik.

Eugene Jarvis added 113 yards rushing for Kent State (1-0), which beat a team from a BCS conference for the first time since 1987 when they downed Kansas University, then a Big Eight team. And the Golden Flashes of the Mid-American Conference did it despite committing three turnovers in the red zone. Iowa State (0-1), out of the Big 12, couldn’t take advantage, and Kent State seized control with two scores late in the third quarter.

Jarvis capped an 12-play, 56-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to give the Golden Flashes a 16-14 lead. Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer then made a critical error on the next series, forcing a throw into coverage. Brian Lainhart took an interception back to the Iowa State 8, and Edelman’s three-yard plunge put Kent State ahead by nine.

Edelman also rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries.

Kent State gave the Cyclones a sliver of hope late in the fourth, as Rico Murray drilled Zac Sandvig after he had called for a fair catch. The penalty put Iowa State at the Kent State 29, but Bret Culberson’s 47-yard field goal try bounced off the uprights.

The news wasn’t all bad for Iowa State. Junior college transfer J.J. Bass rushed for 133 yards on 22 carries, solidifying his hold on the starting tailback job.