Recap: Miami football comes up short against the Northwestern Wildcats in season opener

The Miami University RedHawks opened their 2024 football season against the Northwestern University Wildcats of the Big Ten. The RedHawks, coming off an electric 2023 season and returning sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert, were hopeful for this matchup. They kept their expectations realistic, but the RedHawks went into this game confident in their performance.

The lakeside stadium welcomed Miami at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 31. Over the four quarters, the RedHawks kept the game close, but mistakes in the second half prevented them from a late-game comeback, ultimately losing 13-6.

After the opening kickoff, Miami’s defense took the field. Quarterback Mike Wright threw his first pass as a Wildcat for a 20-yard gain to graduate-student receiver Bryce Kirtz on the opening play. The Wildcats continued their drive to the opposing 44-yard line, but Miami stopped the drive at fourth-and-10 and forced a punt.

Sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert took his first snap since last October, passing the ball to redshirt senior Cade McDonald for a 5-yard gain. Gabbert passed again to senior running back Kevin Davis for another 7 yards.

The Wildcats got Miami to third down after an incompletion from Gabbert to redshirt-sophomore receiver Javon Tracy. On third-and-six Northwestern forced Gabbert to pass on his back foot out of bounds. An intentional grounding call pushed the RedHawks back another 8 yards.

On the punt, senior Alec Bevelhimer hit the ball on the side of his foot, giving Northwestern good field position at Miami’s 48-yard line.

Wright rushed for 20 yards to start the Wildcats’ drive. However, a mishandled snap allowed Miami’s defensive line to tackle Frank Corey IV for a 6-yard loss. On third-and-16, redshirt first-year Caleb Komolafe rushed for 6 yards, giving redshirt-junior kicker Jack Olsen a 45-yard attempt. Olsen’s kick was good, giving Northwestern a 3-0 lead halfway through the first quarter.

On the RedHawks’ next drive, Gabbert found McDonald deep right for a 23-yard completion to the opposing 38-yard line. After timeouts from both teams, Gabbert was blitzed on third-and-nine and forced to get rid of the ball. Redshirt-junior kicker Dom Dzioban made his first collegiate field goal on a 43-yard attempt to tie the game 3-3.

Northwestern began its next drive with a 5-yard penalty from a false start. An impressive diving catch by Covey in double coverage brought the Wildcats to third-and-one at their own 32-yard line to end the first quarter.

A botched snap at the start of the second quarter allowed redshirt-senior Brian Ugwu to recover the ball. The RedHawks’ drive was short-lived, as a sack on Gabbert forced Dzioban to attempt a 51-yard field goal. Dzioban’s kick was short of the post, giving Northwestern the ball at their own 32-yard line.

Both teams traded possessions, and the Wildcats started a four-minute drive from their 40-yard line. They passed and rushed for short gains, ultimately reaching Miami’s 10-yard line.

A 9-yard rush by running-back Cam Porter brought the Wildcats within 1 yard of a touchdown. However, a fumble by Wright allowed sixth-year linebacker Matt Salopek to get a fumble recovery and prevent the Wildcats from taking the lead.

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Miami found success in the running game after redshirt-junior Jordan Brunsen found an opening for a 15-yard rush. With two minutes left in the first half, the RedHawks got to the midpoint and kneeled to end the half with the score still 3-3.

The RedHawks took the second half kickoff. An incomplete deep pass to junior receiver Reggie Virgil found them at third-and-four. Another incompletion to Virgil forced Miami to punt.

The Wildcats fought their way to the opposing 38-yard line. They got a third-down conversion after a pass to graduate-student tight end Thomas Gordon advanced them 25 yards. On the very next snap, Wright rushed up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown. Olsen’s PAT attempt was successful, putting Northwestern up 10-3.

Davis received the kickoff for Miami, but he was stopped at the 15-yard line. Gabbert passed for 36 yards on this drive, but the RedHawks were forced to punt at the opposing 46-yard line.

Bevelhimer’s punt put Northwestern at their 3-yard line. Back-to-back passes to Kirtz put the Wildcats 52 yards down the field. A 9-yard pass to redshirt-junior receiver Calvin Johnson II put them at the opposing 29-yard line to finish the third quarter.

Two incompletions from Wright brought up fourth down. Olsen’s 38-yard field goal attempt was good, increasing their lead to 13-3.

The RedHawks’ next possession found them at the 50-yard line. However, a pass from Gabbert intended for Tracy went through his hand and was intercepted by redshirt-sophomore Evan Smith. The Wildcats went four-and-out on their drive and punted to the opposing 30-yard line with 11 minutes left in the game.

Miami’s offensive luck changed on the following drive. The RedHawks advanced to the Northwestern 29-yard line after an improbable 6-yard pass from Gabbert under pressure to redshirt-senior tight end Jack Coldiron. A roughing the passer flag on that play pushed them to the 14-yard line.

Dzioban attempted a 26-yard field goal after Miami failed to convert on third down. His kick brought the RedHawks within one score of tying the Wildcats.

The Wildcats fought down to the opposing 27-yard line and set Olsen up for a 45-yard field goal. Olsen’s kick, however, went wide left, giving the RedHawks the ball back down 13-6 with just under three minutes left in the game.

Gabbert completed an 11-yard pass to redshirt-senior receiver Andre Johnson on third-and-six to keep the drive going at the two-minute warning. Another first down came from a 10-yard pass to Virgil.

The comeback came up short after Gabbert threw his second interception of the game on a pass intended for Virgil. Instead, redshirt-sophomore Robert Fitzgerald gave possession back to the Wildcats with 57 seconds left.

Miami used one of its remaining three timeouts with 53 seconds left on the clock. Northwestern sealed the game with a 16-yard rush from Wright to give the Wildcats a fresh set of downs. Wright kneeled to end the game with a RedHawk loss 13-6.

Gabbert finished his season debut with 227 yards and two interceptions. McDonald had eight receptions for 105 yards.

Miami’s defense kept it in the game with two fumble recoveries from Ugwu and Salopek. However, mistakes on offense prevented the RedHawks from capitalizing on those opportunities.

The RedHawks have two weeks before their next game, the 128th iteration of the Battle for the Victory Bell against the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Miami welcomes Cincinnati to Oxford after the Bearcats beat the Towson University Tigers 38-24.

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu