The Miami University RedHawks football team (5-4, 4-1 in conference play) suffered its first Mid-American Conference (MAC) loss of the season to the rival Ohio University Bobcats (6-3, 4-1 in conference play). The 24-20 defeat snaps Miami’s five-game winning streak.
The quarterbacks from both teams played nearly an even game. Ohio graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro threw for 201 yards and one touchdown, seven more yards but one fewer touchdown than seventh-year quarterback Dequan Finn. The two matched each other with one interception as well.
Statistically, the RedHawks and the Bobcats stayed even with each other. However, one crucial mistake, a pick by Finn late in the fourth quarter, sealed Miami’s defeat.
The first quarter began with four drives ending in punts and was highlighted by a touchdown-saving interception by redshirt junior linebacker Eli Coppess. The second quarter featured the first points of the contest, with each squad putting a field goal on the board in the last two minutes of the half.
After their first drive in the second half resulted in a punt, the RedHawks forced their second turnover of the game with a strip fumble caused and recovered by redshirt senior linebacker Corban Hondru. It was the highlight of a strong day for Hondru, who finished the game with a team-leading 17 tackles.
Miami was able to capitalize on the turnover with a 46-yard field goal from redshirt senior kicker Dom Dzioban to take a 6-3 lead.
Ohio responded on the very next drive, going on an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a 22-yard touchdown for redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura. That gave the Bobcats their first lead of the game at 10-6 with just over four minutes to go in the third quarter.
Miami responded with an 11-play, 60-yard drive that featured a critical pass interference penalty on Ohio graduate student defensive back Tank Pearson and a fourth-down conversion by redshirt freshman running back D’Shawntae Jones. The drive ended with a 4-yard touchdown to redshirt freshman receiver Braylon Isom with 13:29 left in the game. The go-ahead touchdown was Isom’s first touchdown of his career.
“They took away the first read, Isom did exactly what he was supposed to do,” Miami head coach Chuck Martin said. “He ran a go route, then he wrapped it, and [Finn] bought some time and found him.”
The Bobcats took the momentum right back on the ensuing kickoff. Bangura faked a reversal pitch to sophomore running back Duncan Brune and returned the kickoff 97 yards for the touchdown. The touchdown was Bangura’s first kickoff return attempt and touchdown in his career, and it was the first kickoff return for an Ohio touchdown this season.
Miami kept fighting, though, and the pendulum swung back in the RedHawks’ direction with a 65-yard drive that ended with a 27-yard touchdown to redshirt junior receiver Kam Perry on fourth-and-9. That touchdown catch was Perry’s fourth of the season and gave Miami a 20-17 lead with 9:29 left.
“[Perry] ran a really good double move and beat the safety,” Martin said. “[Finn] threw the ball, and our protection was really good – it looked like practice.”
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With Ohio looking to take back the lead, Miami got a major stop on defense when redshirt senior defensive back Eli Blakey forced a Navarro throwaway on third-and-7. The RedHawks got the ball back with just over seven minutes left with a chance to potentially ice the game with another score. Instead, Miami went three-and-out and had to punt it away.
Ohio kept the ball on the ground with Bangura and through the air with redshirt senior tight end Jake Bruno. On a third-and-4from their own 46-yard line, the Bobcats were called for a critical holding to make it a 3rd and 14.
Miami suffered a crucial penalty of its own on the ensuing play, with redshirt junior defensive lineman Adam Trick getting called for a 15-yard facemask penalty on what would be a third-down sack. With new life and the ball in Miami territory, Navarro rolled to his left and found redshirt junior receiver Rodney Harris II for a 49-yard touchdown.
The touchdown gave Ohio a 24-20 lead with 2:15 left to go.
With their backs against the wall, the RedHawks had to go 81-yards down the field to clinch a victory. On the first play of the drive, Finn rolled to his left and found Isom for a leaping grab in between two Bobcat defenders for a 27-yard completion. One play later, Finn was looking for redshirt freshman running back Josh Ringer on the right side, but junior safety Jalen Thomeson jumped the route and intercepted the pass.
After a couple of kneel downs, Ohio clinched a 24-21 victory.
The loss puts Miami at 4-1 in MAC play; it also creates a four-way tie at the top of the conference standings between Miami, Ohio, the University of Buffalo and Western Michigan University.
“This one would have put us in great shape, but this is our life at 4-1,” Martin said. “There’s a lot of teams 4-1 in our league.”
The RedHawks will next be in action on Wednesday, Nov. 5 against the University of Toledo Rockets.
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