On a sunny afternoon in Tucson, Arizona, the Miami University RedHawks football team (7-7) took the field against the California State University, Fresno Bulldogs (9-4) in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl.
Despite winning last year at the same bowl game, the RedHawks dropped today’s matchup 3-18 after failing to score for three quarters straight.
Snoop Dogg opened the game by bringing out a variety of performers before kicking off the Arizona Bowl with the coin toss. The first quarter was largely a stalemate; however, the RedHawks were able to lead a nine-play, 45-yard drive, in which redshirt senior kicker Dom Dzioban converted a 33-yard field goal.
Miami couldn’t add any more points to its total for the rest of the afternoon.
To start the second quarter, Fresno State senior quarterback E.J. Warner led an 82-yard drive capped off by a 28-yard field goal from senior kicker Dylan Lynch. With the game tied 3-3, the RedHawks would have had yet another unsuccessful possession; however chaos ensued on the punt, as a bad snap and then a controversially-blocked punt would set up the Bulldogs on the Miami 10-yard line.
Fresno State’s offense stalled out, only gaining 5 yards. Lynch converted another field goal, this time from 23 yards away. The RedHawks led a promising drive to put the ball in field goal range with a minute and 30 seconds left, but a fumble on the 25-yard line squandered the field position.
The Bulldogs optimized efficiency, moving the ball 70 yards in a minute and nine seconds. They once again called on Lynch to put his third kick of the game through the uprights with a 25-yard chip shot.
Miami headed into the locker room looking at a six-point deficit. During the intermission, Snoop Dogg led both marching bands in a rendition of some of his most popular hits, including “Young, Wild & Free” and “The Next Episode.”
To start the second half, the RedHawk offense quickly relinquished possession. Fresno State pounced on the opportunity as senior receiver Josiah Freeman had an explosive 51-yard reception. With the ball in scoring position, the Bulldogs kicker could not score a 28-yard field goal.
Following a scoreless third quarter, the Bulldogs were in possession to start the fourth. Finishing off a 70-yard drive, Warner found wide open tight end Richie Anderson III. The sophomore caught his first touchdown of the season to give Fresno State a commanding 15-3 lead.
With a little more than five minutes to go, the Bulldogs, once again in possession, drove the ball 44 yards, where Lynch would close out the scoring with yet another field goal from 37 yards. The RedHawks would attempt to mount a late game drive; however, the Fresno State defense continued to stop the Miami offense.
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The RedHawks lost the game with a final score of 18-3-18; however, there was a bright spot for Miami – Snoop Dogg did field a touchback for the RedHawks in the end zone.
Although the final score controlled the mood of the locker room, in their final game, redshirt seniors Silas Walters and Eli Blakey played well defensively, accounting for 12 and 13 tackles, respectively. Their leadership throughout the season played a significant role in the RedHawks’ success.
In the post game press conference, an emotional head coach Chuck Martin expressed his gratitude for the hard work the players put out on the field.
“I’m very proud of this group, but in a lot of ways I’m frustrated that I felt like I could get even more out of these kids than I did,” Martin said.
As the season disappears in the rearview mirror, the uncertainty of the transfer portal looms in the near future These next few months will be pivotal for the continued success of RedHawk football, and under the steady hand of Martin, there are many reasons to be excited for the season ahead.
Photos by Sarah Frosch
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