KENT: A college football game that good should not have ended the way it did. Not on a missed kick, one young man leaving a field-goal attempt to tie wide to the right.

The annual Wagon Wheel game between Kent State and the University of Akron on Saturday had too much going for it for a mistake like that to end things.

And, boy, did this three-point, double-overtime win by UA have a lot going for it.

UA scored to go ahead three with 1:23 left.

Kent State came back to tie when Julian Edelman continued his amazing game by converting a fourth-and-9 play with a winding-road, 34-yard run to set up a last-play field goal to tie.

UA blocked the kick, but it somehow trickled over the goal post.

Both teams came up with huge third-down plays to set up field goals in two overtime periods. UA made its two; Kent State missed one.

That miss gave UA a 30-27 win.

''I gave myself a game ball for the five heart attacks I had,'' Zips coach J.D. Brookhart said.

Brookhart said his team was fortunate to win, and he was right. Because Kent State did plenty to win.

Edelman totaled 270 yards (113 rushing, 157 passing, with two touchdown throws).

KSU ran for 256 yards and ran 89 plays to UA's 68.

The Flashes also had the ball 10 minutes more than the Zips.

The defense even came up with three first-half interceptions (that led to 14 points) and four consecutive forced three-and-outs in the second half.

''Statistically, we dominated that football game in every phase,'' Kent State coach Doug Martin said.

And Kent State did all that without standout running back Eugene Jarvis and linebacker Derek Burrell.

Anyone who speculates that this loss might affect Martin's job status does not deal in reality. The Golden Flashes had a good plan, played hard and played well.

They just didn't win — after getting to the 6-yard line in the second overtime.

Which does not mean Martin did not do a good job getting his team ready. He did, and anyone who watched would have to agree.

Kent State's problem was three mistakes that in the end cost it a win.

In the fourth quarter, Phil Garner tried to field a punt on the run near his bench and could not hang on. UA recovered at the Kent State 42 with 4:24 to go, and six plays later on fourth-and-11, Deryn Bowser reached around a Kent State defender to make a circus catch in the end zone.

It was originally ruled incomplete, but the replay gave the Zips a touchdown.

Even that had drama.

The replay official did not seem inclined to review the play until given extra time by Brookhart, who called timeout just before Kent State was about to start the next play.

Martin lamented what the officials saw after the timeout that they didn't see prior. Brookhart made a smart move using the timeout, especially because it worked.

It looked like a touchdown live, and on review, the touchdown was awarded. It appeared the officials got the call right.

KSU's other mistakes? Missed field goals. Nate Reed missed two: one from 27 yards early in the fourth quarter, the other from 23 yards in overtime.

For a kicker to miss that way on the final play is almost cruel. It's the life of a kicker, yes, but this game deserved to end on a good run, a big interception, a touchdown pass. Not a mistake.

UA celebrated, and Kent State's players looked devastated. Holder Andy Hildreth knelt on the ground. Edelman crouched at the 20-yard-line, head down.

Afterward, Martin conceded that the three mistakes cost his team, then made a veiled reference to something that might have happened on the field when he said his team ''showed class after the game, which can't be said about everybody.''

Asked whether something had happened, Martin said he was done talking about the matter.

If some celebratory taunting did take place (emphasis on ''if''), it was unfortunate. It's good to celebrate a win, but not overly sportsmanlike to taunt a mistake that leads to a loss.

Some observers on the field said they didn't see anything, and Martin's lack of elaboration did not clear anything up.

In fact, UA quarterback Chris Jacquemain went to Edelman at game's end, as did Brookhart. And defensive back Bryan Williams consoled Hildreth and greeted several Kent State players while the celebration for the Wagon Wheel took place.

This game had much to like, and one team had to win.

UA fought and overcame a lot to get the victory.

UA deserved credit, but Kent State deserved a better ending.