Miami University rallied behind a 57-yard punt return from Eugene Harris, and with under two minutes to go in the game, gave the ball to running back Brandon Murphy who went six yards into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night, knocking off Ball State 14-13 in the season opener.
"It was a tremendous football game," Head Coach Shane Montgomery said. "They (have) a very good football team and they were a very good one at the end of the year."
After having several attempts in the red zone to take the lead late in the game, quarterback Mike Kokal threw an interception, his second of the game, and it looked like all was lost for the RedHawks.
"Mainly we just had to stay positive," Murphy said. "Our defense played great all game. The defense made a stop and we had a chance to stay in the game."
The RedHawk defense held strong and forced a punt from Ball State, setting up the game-winning touchdown.
"We needed to win this game early in the season and get some confidence," Montgomery said. "We didn't do that last season."
In what was suppose to be an offensive game with two of the best air attacks in the Mid-American Conference, the game saw just 10 points scored in the first half, and just 17 more in the second.
A healthy Murphy proved early on that he was 100 percent and ready to roll, breaking off a 59-yard run early in the first quarter putting the RedHawks in the red zone.
However, place-kicker Trevor Cook could not convert a short field goal, and Miami got zero points off the big run-the first of several failed red zone visits for the RedHawks.
Ball State struck first with a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead.
Miami was unable to put up points in the first quarter, as the passing attack led by Kokal wasn't firing on all cylinders.
Luckily for the RedHawks, the defense led by Jerrid Gaines and Clayton Mullins held Ball State off the scoreboard, keeping the 'Hawks in the game.
Miami marched down the field during its second possession of the second quarter and for the first time Murphy found the end zone with a 21-yard touchdown run, giving Miami a 7-3 lead going into halftime.
For Murphy it was his first touchdown since being riddled with injuries last season.
"It felt great," he said. "To be able to get in the end zone, it's something I hadn't done in a long long time."
Coming out in the second half, the Miami offense was unable to carry over the momentum from the second quarter into the third.
With Miami searching for its offense, Ball State struck back, and with 11:22 left in the fourth quarter, Cardinal quarterback Nate Davis floated a 23-yard touchdown pass to the corner of the end zone to Dante Love, putting Ball State up 13-7.
After Kokal threw his second interception of the game in the end zone it seemed as if last year's late game woes had followed Miami into the 2007-08 season.
However, the RedHawks would get one more chance after Harris returned a Cardinal punt 57 yards and Murphy finished it off with a 6-yard run to tie the game up, with the extra point putting Miami ahead for good, 14-13-with just 14 seconds left in the game.
"I knew it was a must score, the game was winding down and do whatever I had to do to get in the end zone," Murphy said.
Although Kokal couldn't get things going, Murphy's 123 yards and two touchdowns kept Miami in the game and ultimately earned them the victory.
While Miami will savor the victory, they will be back on the practice field preparing for the next game.
"We got to get back to the drawing board and improve on both sides of the ball," Murphy said. "We gotta have a great week of practice and be prepared for the next game."
The RedHawks will travel north and take on the Minnesota Gophers Sept. 8 before coming home for their first game at Yager against Cincinnati Sept. 15, in the Battle for the Victory Bell game.
