HUNTINGTON, West Virginia (Ticker) -- Marshall started strong and finished strong.

Byron Leftwich threw two touchdown passes to Darius Watts in the first quarter and Frank Wallace ran for a pair of touchdowns in the fourth period, lifting the Thundering Herd to a 34-12 Mid-American Conference victory over Kent State.

Marshall (3-4, 2-2 MAC East) snapped a two-game losing streak, rebounding from last week's 42-0 pounding to Toledo, its worst setback since 1985 and first shutout in 151 games.

Leftwich completed 31-of-41 passes for 332 yards, while Wallace rushed for 116 yards on nine carries.

After Zach Williams' eight-yard TD pass to Shawn Shoemaker pulled Kent State (1-7, 1-4) within 14-9 with 6:11 left in the second period, J.R. Jenkins converted a 44-yard field goal with 36 seconds left to give Marshall an eight-point halftime lead.

Dave Pavich booted a 34-yard field goal to bring Kent State within 17-12 with 9:13 left in the third, but Jenkins answered with a 26-yarder 1:14 into the fourth.

Wallace reached the end zone on a three-yard run 2 1/2 minutes into the final period before clinching the victory with a 62-yard TD scamper with 1:11 to play.

Williams completed 16-of-37 passes for 162 yards for the Golden Flashes, while Chante Murphy rushed for 76 yards on 21 carries.