Miami capitalizes on Bowling Green’s slow offense, heads back to Detroit for third time in six seasons.
In a highly-anticipated Black Friday matchup, the Miami RedHawks (8-4, 7-1 MAC) took advantage of a Bowling Green Falcons (7-5, 6-2 MAC) team who just couldn’t break through when it counted to clinch back-to-back MAC Championship berth by a final score of 28-12.
The Falcons started the game off with a bang, as CJ Brown would intercept Brett Gabbert on an endzone shot to stifle Miami’s first drive, but they were unable to convert on the turnover, giving the ball right back on a muffed punt. The RedHawks made BG pay for their mistake on the next play, as Gabbert would find Cade McDonald for the opening touchdown from 30 yards out to put the score at 7-0.
BGSU’s offense would punt on three-straight drives, but the defense came up large on two possessions in a row, with Jordan Oladokun intercepting another Gabbert endzone shot to keep the game within a possession, while Patrick Day and Anthony Hawking combined to produce a safety to put the score at 7-2 early in the second quarter.
The defensive stops got some momentum going, as the Falcons would end their next drive with a 41-yard field goal by Zach Long to make the score 7-5. Now under threat, Miami would march right down the field, converting three-straight first downs before a Gabbert pass intended for Javon Tracy would bounce off the receiver’s hands and right into the hands of waiting teammate Reggie Virgil, who was in stride on his own route for a 20-yard touchdown to place the score at 14-5 Miami— what would ultimately be the halftime tally.
Miami would punt to start the third half after BGSU forced a three-and-out, but bad luck struck once again, as Connor Bazelak tossed an underthrown ball right into the mitts of linebacker Ty Wise to give Miami excellent field position at the BGSU 30— his first interception since Sept, 30th vs. Old Dominion.
Both teams would trade five punts (three from Miami, two from Bowling Green) to end the quarter.
Bowling Green scored first in the fourth quarter with a touchdown run from Jaison Patterson after a long, quarter-spanning drive lasting over six minutes of game clock, shortening the gap to 14-12 after the PAT from Long. Miami would respond quickly, with a 72-yard touchdown pass from Gabbert to Javon Tracy on the second play of the new drive to re-take the lead at 21-12 over BGSU— and the momentum.
Bowling Green would not score the rest of the game, while Miami would add a touchdown run from Keyon Mozee to make it 28-12 after the Dzioban PAT in the waning minutes to secure Miami a spot in Detroit for the second-straight season.
Miami’s defense was the star of the game. The RedHawks limited the Falcons to 51 rushing yards, and kept the Bowling Green offense quiet. Keyon Mozee finished with 108 yards and one touchdown. He gave Miami a 1,000 yard rusher in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2002-03.
Bowling Green’s defense ended up winning the turnover battle with two interceptions, but complimentary football was not to be had, with only three points scored off the safety punt drive. While the Falcon defense gave them chances to take the lead, the offense could not capitalize. Finishing with 261 total yards, this was the lowest yardage produced by the Falcons since the Northern Illinois game on October 12th.
Play of the Game
The play of the game goes to Javon Tracy. Gabbert found Tracy in stride to put the nail in the coffin.
JAVON TRACY TO THE HOUSE! @MiamiOHFootball | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/zpINTFMBDD
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 29, 2024
Up Next
Miami meets Ohio for the MAC Championship on December 7th, at Noon ET on ESPN. A valid cable subscription is required for viewing.
Bowling Green will wait for their bowl game assignment.