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Broncos buck 'Hawks

Miami University redshirt senior quarterback Zac Dysert completed 20 of 27 passes for 176 yards Saturday against Boise State University.
Miami University redshirt senior quarterback Zac Dysert completed 20 of 27 passes for 176 yards Saturday against Boise State University.

Tom Downey, Senior Staff Writer

Miami University redshirt senior quarterback Zac Dysert completed 20 of 27 passes for 176 yards Saturday against Boise State University. (Cody Finney | The Arbiter)

The Miami University football team (1-2) lost 39-12 to Boise State University as the RedHawk defense struggled to stop Boise's offense.

"Boise is a great team," sophomore running back Spencer Treadwell said. "Certainly we missed out on a few opportunities, but Boise is a heck of a team."

The 'Hawks limited the Broncos to only 15 points in the first half, but the Broncos came alive in the third quarter, scoring 21 points. The Broncos finished with 599 total yards, with 304 coming through the air and 295 on the ground.

"Right now we're just going to go look at the film and go from there," senior linebacker Pat Hinkel said. "They have a great team and they played a great game. We were hanging with them, but in the second half we just broke down with our fundamentals."

By comparison, the RedHawks only mustered up 227 offensive yards: 178 yards through the air and 49 yards on the ground.

The Broncos were an impressive eight for 11 on third down and had 23 first downs. Miami only moved the chains nine times.

Boise State redshirt senior running back D.J. Harper had an incredible game against the Red and White, scoring the Broncos' first four touchdowns. He ran for three touchdowns and 162 yards on only 16 carries. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown pass.

"He's a great player, he ran hard and they have a great offensive line," Hinkel said of Harper. "At the same time, we need to tackle better."

Bronco junior quarterback Joe Southwick picked apart the RedHawks' defense, completing 24 of 31 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns.

Pat Hinkel was once again a bright spot for the Red and White, pulling down an interception in the end zone and recovering a fumble.

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"I was just playing the coverage that was given, got my read and dropped back and he tried to force it," Hinkel said.

Spencer Treadwell only had 17 rushing yards on six carries, but he accounted for the RedHawks' only touchdown thanks to a halfback pass. Treadwell found senior wide receiver Andy Cruse for the two-yard touchdown. It was the first time since 2004 that the RedHawks threw a non-quarterback touchdown pass.

"I was excited about [the play call]," Treadwell said. "I haven't thrown a pass since all the way back in high school, sophomore year."

Junior wide receiver Nick Harwell did not make the trip to Boise due to a leg injury, so Cruse and sophomore wide out David Frazier were counted on to pick up the slack. Cruse finished with six grabs for 42 yards and the score, while Frazier caught three balls for 63 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Dawan Scott also chipped in with four catches for 23 yards.

True freshman tailback Jamire Westbrook led the 'Hawks ground attack with 28 yards on eight carries.

Redshirt senior quarterback Zac Dysert went 20-27 for 176 yards and no touchdowns.

The RedHawks have struggled in the past with the kicking game, but true freshman Kaleb Patterson seems to be the answer. Patterson was 2-2, with both field goals longer than 40 yards. He has not missed since his first field goal attempt against Ohio State University in Miami's season opener.

The Red and White return home for homecoming weekend to take on the University of Massachusetts Minutemen Saturday in the team's Mid-American Conference opener.