Recap: Miami football drops to 0-3 following loss in home opener against UNLV

The Miami University RedHawks football team (0-3) lost its third-straight game in the home opener against the University of Las Vegas Nevada (UNLV) Rebels. The visiting team outscored the RedHawks 41-38 on Sept. 20 at Yager Stadium.

Miami held a 14-point lead at two separate points, but errors on both sides of the ball allowed the Rebels to even the score and eventually take a last-minute field goal to decide the game.

Head coach Chuck Martin said the RedHawks excelled in certain areas, but overall the team made too many mistakes to win against the now 4-0 Rebels.

“We got what we deserved,” Martin said. “We made too many critical errors today. That’s our loss. It’s frustrating because we have been a good team at home … We had a chance to beat a really good football team. We did enough things to do it, and then we did enough bad things that negated our good things.”

The RedHawks totaled 396 yards on offense compared to the Rebels’ 513. In the second half, Miami held both a 24-10 and a 38-24 advantage in the third quarter, but despite holding the lead for nearly the entire game, a UNLV field goal with under 30 seconds in the fourth quarter decided the final outcome.

Redshirt senior linebacker Corban Hondru caught his first interception of the season on UNLV’s first drive after forcing a Miami punt. Sixth-year quarterback Dequan Finn threw his first touchdown pass of the season to sixth-year running back Kenny Tracy.

Finn would later throw his second touchdown pass, this time to redshirt sophomore receiver Keith Reynolds, to bring Miami up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. Sophomore kicker Ramon Villela put up the Rebels’ first points with a field goal, and UNLV closed the gap further after senior defensive back Aamaris Brown intercepted Finn and returned the ball to the house.

Finn took a hit on the play and limped off the field. Redshirt senior quarterback Henry Hesson took his place behind center for Miami’s next drive. A 41-yard throw to redshirt senior receiver Kam Perry put the RedHawks in opposing territory, and Hesson completed the drive with a 22-yard throw to Tracy for seven more points.

Redshirt senior kicker Dom Dzioban nailed a 40-yard field goal attempt to close out the first half, putting the RedHawks up 24-10.

On the Rebels’ first drive of the third quarter, junior running back Jai’Den Thomas took off for a 32-yard gain to the Miami 16-yard line. Thomas punched in for a touchdown three plays later to bring the game back within one score.

A Miami punt saw Thomas take off for another 29 yards into opposing territory. Junior quarterback Anthony Colandrea later found senior receiver Jaden Bradley for a 4-yard endzone pass, tying the game up at 24 each.

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Reynolds swung the game back in Miami’s favor with a 100-yard kickoff return, the second one in program history. The RedHawks inflicted further pain when redshirt junior defensive lineman Adam Trick deflected a Colandrea pass into the hands of Hondru, who brought the ball to the endzone and put Miami up 38-24.

Despite regaining their 14-point advantage, the RedHawks were unable to add any more points to the scoreboard. Meanwhile, UNLV got to work evening the score and eventually taking its first lead of the day.

The Rebels’ next drive pushed the game into the fourth quarter. Colandrea found redshirt sophomore receiver Taeshaun Lyons for a 9-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 38-31.

Another Miami punt led to a 31-yard rush from Thomas. Keyvone Lee moved the chains further with an 18-yard rush nearly to the 1. The RedHawks kept the Rebels outside the endzone twice, but Lee finished the job and evened the score 38-38 with less than seven minutes on the clock.

With the ball in their hands, the RedHawks started to move down the field, eventually reaching the opposing redzone. However, a fumble by Tracy returned the ball to UNLV with less than three minutes to go.

The Rebels’ final offensive drive forced Miami to burn two timeouts. Villela nailed a 23-yard field goal attempt to give UNLV its first lead of the game, one that the RedHawks were unable to overcome.

With 15 seconds on the clock, the RedHawks got into opposing territory and sent Dzioban out for a game-tying attempt. However, a botched snap forced Dzioban to scramble, and the Rebels finished the game with their 41-38 lead.

Miami drops to 0-3. The RedHawks stay at Yager for next weekend’s matchup against the Lindenwood University Lions. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 27.

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