Recap: Miami football starts conference season 1-0 following road win over NIU

The Miami University RedHawks football team (2-3, 1-0 in conference play) opened Mid-American Conference (MAC) play with a second-half comeback against the Northern Illinois University Huskies (1-4, 0-1 in conference play).

Fans looking at the score early on would see a 14-0 Miami deficit due to insufficient offensive play. However, those same fans would see a 25-14 lead by the end of the fourth quarter after Miami kicked it into high gear.

“We’re down 14-0, we just kept going,” head coach Chuck Martin said. “Great lesson for these kids and next thing you know we scored 25 straight.”

Seventh-year quarterback Dequan Finn led both teams with 170 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He preferred redshirt sophomore receiver Cole Weaver as his target, throwing to him five times for 67 yards. Redshirt senior receiver Deion Colze caught his first touchdown as a RedHawk.

Finn led the ground attack, totaling 90 rushing yards. Redshirt senior running back Jordan Brunson filled in for sixth-year running back Kenny Tracy this week, finishing with 73 yards from 20 carries.

Miami’s offense struggled in the first quarter, and Northern Illinois capitalized off a RedHawk punt on its first offensive play. Freshman running back Lazaro Rogers broke through for a 76-yard rushing touchdown to quickly give the Huskies a one-score position.

The Huskies expanded their lead after forcing another Miami punt. Freshman quarterback Brady Davidson found redshirt junior tight-end Jake Appleget in the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown, putting Northern Illinois up 14-0 to close out the quarter.

The RedHawks drove down the field and began the second quarter at the opposing 1-yard line. Redshirt freshman running back D’Shawntae Jones punched through the Huskies’ defensive line to put Miami on the board.

A majority of the second quarter was a defensive battle. Save for a Miami field goal courtesy of redshirt senior placekicker Dom Dzioban, neither team impacted the scoreboard further. The RedHawks and the Huskies combined for four punts in the second quarter, three of which coming from the home team.

Miami kicked off to start the third quarter down 14-10, but the offense found its way on the field within five seconds after redshirt senior safety Silas Walters tipped a Davidson pass to redshirt freshman defensive back Koy Beasley.

The offense couldn’t muster a touchdown, but Dzioban’s second field goal of the day brought Miami within one point of tying the Huskies. Redshirt freshman defensive back Jermaine Agee would tip the advantage to the RedHawks for the first time all game with a blocked punt on Northern Illinois’ next drive, resulting in a safety.

The resulting drive culminated in Finn throwing his first touchdown against a MAC opponent since his days at Toledo. A 8-yard pass to redshirt senior receiver Deion Colze, his first touchdown reception of the season, brought the RedHawks up 22-14.

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After forcing three Northern Illinois punts, the RedHawks held possession from their 16-yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Later, following a trade of possessions, Miami put up three more points with a 24 yard field goal, holding off the Huskies with a final fumble recovery to seal the 25-14 conference win.

The RedHawks continue MAC play on the road next week when they visit the University of Akron Zips on Oct. 11.

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