Recap: Miami football punches in third conference win over Eastern Michigan

The Miami University RedHawks football team (4-3, 3-0 in conference play) won against the Eastern Michigan University Eagles (2-6, 1-3 in conference play) to improve to a 4-3 overall winning record. The RedHawks won 44-30 at Yager Stadium for a third in-conference win.

“[I] love the way we came out: We talked about starting fast,” head coach Chuck Martin said. “We haven't started very fast in the last couple weeks, obviously, and we did get it, starting 21-7.”

Miami struck in the first quarter on a 1-yard Jordan Brunson rushing touchdown. The RedHawk defense held the Eagles to zero first downs and only 13 yards gained to start the game off.

In the second quarter, a hopeful Miami touchdown was called back for a facemask, but redshirt freshman running back Josh Ringer and the offense rebounded with a 3-yard touchdown reception to cap off an 11 minute, 66-yard drive.

The Eagles answered back quickly as graduate student quarterback Noah Kim led a 75-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 51-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Harold Mack Jr. in his first career reception.

Up one score, the RedHawks utilized play action to drive down the field. Redshirt senior tight end Brian Shane ended the drive with a 20-yard touchdown reception, giving Miami a 21-7 lead.

With less than five minutes left in the half, the Eagles and RedHawks traded turnovers, giving Eastern Michigan the ball with under two minutes to go.

Photo by Alex Arehart | The Miami Student
Redshirt senior tight end Brian Shane takes off towards the endzone against Eastern Michigan at Yager Stadium on Oct. 18

The Eastern Michigan offense started their drive slowly, but another 51-yard deep pass to Harold Mack Jr. put the Eagles in the red zone again. Mack went on to score a 12-yard touchdown to end the half 21-14 in favor of Miami.

After a Miami punt to start the second half, Kim threw an interception to redshirt senior defensive back Eli Blakey to give the RedHawks a possession. Brunson blew through the Eagle’s secondary for a 38-yard run. Seventh year quarterback Dequan Finn capped off the drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown on his first read-option keeper of the game.

A short Eastern Michigan three-and-out gave the RedHawks the ball in the redzone to end the third quarter. Finn ran in another touchdown to complement a 55-yard drive.

Down 35-14, the Eagles went three and out inside their own 10 yard line, resulting in an attempted punt. A bad snap sent the ball rolling out of the back of the end zone for a safety, giving the RedHawks the ball with a 23-point lead.

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After a lackluster Miami possession, the Eagles regained possession marching downfield for a 74-yard scoring drive. Graduate student receiver Nick Deavereaux’s 19-yard touchdown reception and a successful two-point conversion brought the score to 37-22 in favor of the RedHawks.

Redshirt freshman running back D’Shawntae Jones was Miami’s featured back on the next drive, breaking out a 46-yard run and 2-yard touchdown on the 72-yard scoring drive.

Eastern Michigan finished with an 82-yard drive with another Deavereaux touchdown, but it was too little too late as the RedHawks comfortably won 44-30. The suffocating Miami offense dominated the time of possession battle taking over 42 minutes off the clock.

Finn’s talent was on full display as he accounted for 217 total yards and four touchdowns on the day. Brunson showed the strength of the Miami run game with 122 of the team’s 295 yards on the ground.

On the other side of the ball, redshirt senior linebacker Corban Hondru accounted for seven tackles and a critical interception as the RedHawks’ defense neutralized the Eagles’ running game, allowing only 60 total yards all game.

The RedHawks will face Western Michigan University (4-3, 3-0 in conference play) at home again next Saturday, Oct. 25.

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