The Miami University RedHawks football team caught up from last week’s 17-0 loss and scored 17 points against the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights. However, heavy-scoring quarters to end both halves allowed Rutgers to take down the RedHawks 45-17 on Sept. 6.
Miami went three and out on its opening drive, but the offense played much better compared to the season opener. The RedHawks combined for 117 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and sixth-year quarterback Dequan Finn threw 14 completions on 22 attempts for 251 yards and one interception. Finn also led the roster with 85 rushing yards on 11 attempts, including one for a touchdown.
The Scarlet Knights wasted no time when they got the ball, scoring on their first drive. Senior quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis targeted junior receiver Ian Strong for a 14-yard touchdown, and senior kicker Jai Patel’s extra point attempt put Miami down by seven.
Finn didn’t pass to redshirt junior receiver Kam Perry against Wisconsin, but the duo made up for this when Perry hauled in a catch for 62 yards on the fourth play of Miami’s next drive. With 1 yard to go, redshirt freshman running back D’Shawntae Jones took the ball home, evening the score at seven and giving Miami its first touchdown of the year.
At the start of the second quarter, the RedHawks halted Rutgers’ drive when redshirt senior linebacker Jackson Kuwatch sacked Kaliakmanis. Patel’s 39-yard attempt was good, giving the Scarlet Knights a narrow 10-7 advantage.
Despite holding Rutgers to a field goal, the RedHawks allowed the Big Ten team to widen its lead after Finn threw an interception to junior defensive back Bo Mascoe, who brought the ball the other way and sent the Scarlet Knights’ offense back out at the opposing 12-yard line. Sophomore running back Antwan Raymond punched it in shortly after, putting Miami down 17-7.
Following a Miami three-and-out, the Scarlet Knights struck again. After marching down the field, Kaliakmanis completed an 11-yard pass to sophomore receiver KJ Duff in the endzone. With one minute on the clock, Miami was able to send redshirt senior kicker Dom Dzioban out for a 40-yard field goal, but the RedHawks entered the locker room down by 14.
Looking to bring the game closer, Miami forced a Rutgers punt, and Finn threw a 69-yard pass to redshirt sophomore receiver Keith Reynolds to put the ball in opposing territory on the first play of the RedHawks’ drive. Finn later rushed in for 5 yards to bring the difference to 24-17.
However, that would be all the scoring Miami would accomplish during the game.
The Scarlet Knights responded quickly with a touchdown of their own before the end of the third quarter. Early in the fourth, Rutgers forced a punt and capitalized with another touchdown, putting Miami down by 21.
Following a Miami punt, Rutgers put the final nail in the coffin with a rushing touchdown from Raymond. When the clock flashed zeroes, the RedHawks left the stadium down 45-17 for their second loss of the year.
Miami has a bye week this weekend before welcoming the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to Yager Stadium on Sept. 20 at 12:00 p.m.
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