Miami dominates the 100th Battle of the Bricks in a strong team win.
The Miami RedHawks (3-4, 2-1 MAC) put on a brilliant display of complementary football in the second and third quarters, spearheaded by a dominant defense to hand the Bobcats (4-3, 2-1 MAC) their first loss in league play this year.
The game was close on the scoreboard in the first quarter, but ultimately Miami took control in the second, building a 16-point halftime lead.
The first quarter was primarily a defensive battle. The game began with punts traded until Miami gained some traction on its second drive.
The RedHawks moved 62 yards on eight plays deep into Ohio territory with the key play a 32-yard pass from Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert to wideout Cade McDonald. Deep in Ohio’s territory, the Bobcats dialed up a few pressures which, along with cornerback Roman Parodie’s play to disrupt a throw into the end zone, stopped the drive at the Ohio 12. Miami’s Dom Dzioban hit the 28-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
Miami’s defense was the catalyst in the first half for the RedHawks, forcing four consecutive three-and-outs to start the game. Ohio only mustered 29 yards of total offense in the first 22 minutes and the Bobcats got their initial first down of the game with 7:30 to go in the second quarter.
Like last week’s win over Eastern Michigan, key to Miami’s second quarter success against the Bobbies was short fields for its offense courtesy of a strong RedHawks defense.
On the first touchdown, Miami extended the lead to 10-0 on an eight-play, 58-yard drive capped by a 16-yard strike from Gabbert to Reggie Virgil beating a cornerback blitz— a play set up in part by a late hit personal foul by Ohio on third-and-11 the prior play.
Ohio’s response was initially promising, as they went on an 11-play drive, but it was cut short on a great play by the RedHawks’ defense. Moving the ball down the field, the Bobcats got a break when an errant pass bounced off a Miami defender and was corralled alertly by Ohio’s center Parker Titsworth to continue the drive. The reprieve was short-lived however, as three plays, later Miami’s defensive back Raion Strader made a great break on a pass by Ohio’s Parker Navarro, returning the interception 33 yards to the Ohio 43-yard line.
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Miami’s offense converted the short field into a touchdown in just six plays, this time capped on an eight-yard Gabbert pass to Javon Tracy on a corner route.
Ohio’s offense responded at the start of the third on their opening drive with a gutsy 15-play, 75-yard drive. Key on the drive were bread-and-butter runs by Navarro like a QB draw and also a third and long pass from Navarro to wideout Rodney Harris II to move the chains. Bobcats star back Anthony Tyus III capped the drive on the second of two consecutive hard runs inside Miami’s five.
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Ohio went for two to try to narrow the deficit to a one-score game, but the play failed and the ‘Cats trailed 16-6.
Continuing on the complimentary play theme, Miami did a great job of flipping the field to help out their defense with great starting field position late in the third quarter. The RedHawks started a drive at their 21-yard line and converted a few first downs to move the ball near midfield. Then punter Alec Bevelhimer uncorked a 49-yard bomb which Ohio fielded at their own six to start the next series. The RedHawk defense forced another punt after Ohio gained 16 yards and the RedHawk’s offense was back in business at its own 42-yard line.
The first play of the ensuing drive was the backbreaker for the Bobbies as RedHawk running back Mozee Keyon ripped through the middle of Ohio’s defense for a 58-yard rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 23-7.
All chances for a Bobcats victory went up in smoke on the next two series when Miami’s linebacker Matt Salopek picked off a Navarro pass which Gabbert turned into a touchdown on a 28-yard pass to wideout Cade McDonald on the first play of the drive.
Ohio scored twice late in the fourth led by backup quarterback Nick Poulos to close out the scoring.
NOTES:
- The win is head coach Chuck Martin’s 59th in program history, tying him with Randy Walker for most in program history.
- Miami is putting the league on notice with dominant wins the past few weeks against two of the MACs contenders in Ohio and Eastern Michigan, winning by a combined margin of 68-34.
- Miami’s stars showed up big today. Quarterback Brett Gabbert managed the action well with 178 yards passing and three touchdowns. Linebacker Matt Salopek, a converted safety, had ten tackles and an interception. Salopek, arguably one of the great RedHawks of all-time, needs 42 tackles to reach 500 career tackles.
- Ohio defensive backs had a handful of great moments, led by CB Roman Parodie. The Bobcats DB made three plays to disrupt passes including two in the end zone to prevent scores. Parodie was also impactful on a pitch to the outside where he held the corner to snuff out a Miami run. Late in the third on third-and-eight, Miami looked like they had a run that might get the first down, but safety Dustin Johnson seemed shot out of a cannon as he closed the distance in a hurry to make the stop and force a punt.
- Ohio Safety Adonis Williams Jr. returned for his first action since a week one injury, finishing with four tackles. Bobcat running back Nolan McCormack scored on his first carry of the season, a one-yard run.
- A rivalry is often physical and both sides had their shots. Miami DB Raion Strader blew up a tight end on an out route who outweighs Strader by 75 pounds. Ohio defensive end Kaci Seegers did the same to a RedHawk running back on a big hit in the fourth quarter.
- Likely would not have made a difference in this game but the ‘Cats have to be somewhat concerned with two turnovers today. On the season, that brings the total to 14 total turnovers this year in seven games while having 13 turnovers in 13 games in 2023. Ohio had 23 takeaways in 2023 and have five total this season.
The Bobcats head back to Athens for some home cooking next week when they host Buffalo at a time and channel to be determined. Miami hosts a feisty— but bitterly wounded— Central Michigan Chippewas squad 2:00 PM ET on ESPN+.