The RedHawks stumbled to start, but finished strong in a shellacking of Colorado State.
Miami RedHawk fans could be excused for being nervous at the halftime break of the 2024 Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
Despite dominating the game flow and forcing two turnovers, their favored team simply could not execute in the opposing redzone, going 0-of-3 for touchdowns inside Colorado State’s 20-yard line and having to settle instead for a 9-3 lead after the first 30 minutes of play.
Any doubts about the game’s competitiveness were then put to bed in the third quarter, as the RedHawks would post 20 consecutive points on their first three drives en route to a 43-17 victory over the Colorado State Rams.
The Rams were actually first to score, marching down the field all the way to the Miami three-yard line before the RedHawks forced a Jordan Noyes field goal, giving CSU a 3-0 lead after a 13-play, 65-yard effort.
After a quick Miami four-and-out, Colorado State tried to expand their lead on the ensuing drive, but Avery Morrow had the ball punched out of his hand on a first-down reception by Ambe’ Caldwell, allowing Ty Wise to recover the ball and put Miami in prime scoring position at the CSU 34-yard line.
The RedHawks would convert the turnover into a Dom Dzioban field goal from 34 yards out after Brett Gabbert misfired on two wide-open touchdown opportunities on first and third down to tie the game up at 3-3.
A few possessions later, Miami defensive end Adam Trick would nab himself a treat, leaping in front of a pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolisi with 1:08 remaining in the first quarter to gift Miami’s offense another redzone opportunity at the CSU 11-yard line. Gabbert would once again misfire on two consecutive passes, and Dzioban would clean up the extra possession with another short field goal to give the RedHawks the first lead of the game with eight seconds to go in the first quarter.
The second quarter did feature some intrigue, with Colorado State opting to go for it on fourth-and-one from the Miami five-yard line with a direct snap to running back Justin Marshall down 6-3. The Wildcat attempt was promptly stonewalled, with Silas Walters and Matt Salopek coralling Marshall for a three-yard loss on the play.
The RedHawks could do nothing with the turnover on the next drive, however, picking up two penalties on fourth down inside CSU territory to take them out of field goal range. They’d get another chance at it near the end of the quarter, however, converting on a Dzioban field goal from 24 yards out to push their lead to 9-3 just before the halftime break.
It was a crucial possession, as the RedHawks received the ball to start the third quarter and rode Kam Perry’s 57 receiving yards to help set up a Kevin Davis touchdown run from four yards out to score the first sixer for either side and put Miami up 16-3.
That’s where the fun would start, as Matt Salopek would force a fumble on another first-down reception— this time by Vince Brown II— and Silas Walters was there to pick it up. Brett Gabbert would score on a 10-yard scramble drill touchdown four plays later to expand the lead to a three-score gap at 22-3.
The Miami defense came up large once again on the next possession, as Ambe’ Caldwell came up clutch again with a tackle on Avery Morrow short of the sticks on fourth-and-four from the RedHawks five-yard line to turn the ball over on downs a second time and kill Colorado State’s most promising drive to that point. Miami’s first play from scrimmage would be a 97-yard rushing touchdown by Kevin Davis— playing in the place of the injured Keyon Mozee— to extend the scoring gap to 26 points.
The Rams responded with a flea-flicker on fourth-and-two from their own 44-yard line, as Stephon Daily would score CSU’s first touchdown of the day on a 56-yard pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolisi to put the tally at 29-10 with 3:13 remaining in the third quarter— but Kevin Davis shined again, returning the ensuing kickoff 81 yards to put CSU right back on the defensive.
Miami would log two false starts early in the drive to force long situations, and give the ball to Josh Ringer in an attempt to shorten a third-down shot, but CSU’s Ayden Hector would rip the ball out at the line of scrimmage and recover it himself. The Rams found some early success, with a 14-yard pass to Vince Brown II and a 12-yard rush from Justin Marshall putting CSU inside Miami territory at the 49.
They wouldn’t be as lucky on the next play, as Fowler-Nicolisi tossed the ball into play to evade incoming pressure and it floated away from the intended receiver, falling into the hands of linebacker Ty Wise, who would return his second forced turnover of the day 54 yards the other way to pour salt in the wound.
The game was elementary from there, with Jordan Brunson scoring two rushing touchdowns as Miami sought to eat clock while CSU capped off a late drive with a fullback diving score by Peter Montini to put the game’s final score at 43-17.
Miami running back Kevin Davis was named player of the game, with 245 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns on the afternoon, with Brett Gabbert finishing 13-of-25 passing for 185 yards and a rushing touchdown in his final game in a RedHawks uniform. Kam Perry’s 57 receiving yards to start the third quarter led Miami’s receiving corps, while Cade McDonald’s three receptions (25 yards) led the charts.
Defense was the name of the game for the RedHawks in Tuscon, with linebacker Ty Wise leading the team in total tackles (nine), interceptions (one) and fumble recoveries (one) on the day. Kobe Hilton and Coleman Toney Jr. each had a solo TFL, while Silas Walters led the team in solo tackles (five) on a six-tackle outing and had a fumble recovery.
CSU had a decent day stats-wise which was ultimately betrayed by five turnovers. Fowler-Nicolisi finished 23-of-45 for 321 yards and a passing touchdown, tossing two interceptions. Three different Rams hauled in four receptions to lead the way, with Stephon Daily hauling in the lone scoring reception to put towards a 74-yard performance. Justin Marshall (eight rushes, 84 yards) and Avery Morrow (18 rushes, 50 yards) split the rushing load.
Rams DB Jack Howell led all players with 10 total tackles, with defensive lineman Gabe Kirschke picking up eight stops— including 1.5 TFLs— to aid the CSU efforts. Fellow DL Mukendi Wa-Kalonji also had 1.5 TFLs, aiding Kirsche in a sack.
Redzone attempts and points off turnovers ultimately proved the difference, as Miami was 7-of-8 in the redzone with three field goals and four touchdowns inside CSU territory and 19 points off turnovers. The Rams went 2-of-4 in Miami territory— including two turnovers-on-down— and did not score off their lone turnover.
Miami erases the taste of a rivalry game loss in the MAC title game from their mouths with the win, and finish 9-5 (7-1 MAC) on the campaign. The bowl win secures back-to-back nine-plus win seasons for the program first time since 1974 and 1975.
They begin their 2025 season against Wisconsin on August 30th.
Colorado State finishes at 8-5 (6-1 Mountain West) on the season after narrowly missing out on the MWC title game. They’ll play in one last MWC campaign in 2025 before departing for the renewed PAC-12 in 2026.
CSU starts their farewell MWC campaign against the Washington Huskies on Aug. 30, 2025.