The Miami University RedHawks (2-3) opened Mid-American Conference (MAC) play against the Bowling Green State University Falcons (1-4) on Oct. 3 at Yager Stadium.
Senior quarterback Caleb Heavner got his first career start for the RedHawks following David McComb’s season-ending injury.
“There was a lot of positives,” said head coach Chuck Martin. “I thought he competed his tail off. I thought he made plays. I thought he handled everything good all day.”
Neither offense was able to get going in the first quarter. Bowling Green accumulated 66 total yards, holding Miami to 47.
The RedHawks reached the red zone in their first drive of the second quarter thanks to a Bowling Green defensive holding. Heavner threw a pass to junior wide receiver Damarion Witten, who then lateralled the ball to freshman wide receiver Scoop Smith for a gain of 10.
Junior kicker Kellan McLaughlin converted a 24-yard field goal for the first points of the game, and put Miami on top 3-0 with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Bowling Green answered quickly to Miami’s field goal. On first-and-10 from the team’s own 36-yard line, junior Falcon quarterback Jay Kastantin threw a strike up the seam to sophomore wide receiver Nakai Amachree for a 64-yard touchdown. The Falcons took the lead 7-3 with just under seven minutes left in the half.
The Falcons got the ball back, drove down the field and kicked a 38-yard field goal to extend the lead 10-3 with one minute and six seconds remaining in the half.
On a third-and-11, Heavner was able to scramble for a gain of 17 and a first down at the Miami 48-yard line.
Heavner completed a pass to Witten for a gain of 25 yards to get Miami to the Falcons’ 23-yard line with five seconds left. McLaughlin kicked a 41-yard field goal to end the first half and make the score 10-6 Falcons.
Bowling Green opened the second half with the ball at its own 25-yard line, but a punt gave the ball back to Miami at its own 9-yard line with under 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Heavner threw a strike to senior wide receiver Maleek Huggins right at the sticks on third-and-11, and he was able to run for a gain of 17. After the RedHawks drive was thwarted due to multiple penalties, the special teams unit pinned the Falcons’ at their own 4-yard line.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
Kastantin narrowly escaped a safety on third down, which led to a punt. Junior wide receiver Lynel Billups-Williams set the RedHawks up well with a punt return to the Bowling Green 20-yard line.
McLaughlin booted a 40-yard field goal to make it 10-9 Bowling Green with under two minutes in the third quarter.
On a third-and-13, Kastantin leaked out to his right and threw a pass caught in the endzone by sophomore tight end Eli Jacon-Duffy for a Falcons touchdown. The score gave Bowling Green a 17-9 lead with a little over 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
On Miami’s 40-yard line, Heavner completed a pass short right to Billups-Williams who was able to run for a gain of 37 yards. Later in the drive, Heavner ran out to his left and found Billups-Williams wide open in the endzone for a RedHawks touchdown.
“I just thought in my head, how can I make a play?” Billups-Williams said. “How can I make a change to this game, and that’s what I did.”
Miami decided to go for the 2-point conversion and Heavner converted a pass to sophomore defensive tackle Brach Rice to tie the game up 17-17.
The RedHawks forced Bowling Green to settle and attempt a 52-yard field goal on the next drive, which was missed right.The RedHawks took over at their own 34 with just over four minutes in the game.
Miami made a few chunk plays but was forced to take a field goal. McLaughlin drilled a 28-yard attempt for his fourth field goal of the day.
Bowling Green got the ball back with one minute and 47 seconds remaining, and was able to work its way down the field. Kastantin completed five passes to get the Falcons into the red zone with 27 seconds on the clock.
Bowling Green scored a touchdown with seven seconds remaining to take the lead 24-20. Heavner was then sacked and time ran out.
“Credit to them, we weren’t a better football team than them today,” Martin said. “But we should win that game, and we didn’t get it done.”
Miami will face the University of Massachusetts Minutemen on the road on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
Read More
Miami Men's basketball schedule review
By Jake O'Bruba | 15 hours agoThe Miami University men’s basketball schedule has officially been released. Coming off an undefeated regular season last year, the RedHawks look to replicate the success of a magical 2025-26 season.
The most radical thing college can do is change your mind
By Vedika Kaushal | 17 hours ago"I am not leaving every discussion with a completely different set of beliefs. Instead, I am becoming more aware of why I hold the views I do, especially when someone gives me a reason to question them."
The residents just might be evil
By August Humphrey | 17 hours agoIf there’s one type of entertainment I’ll sit down and watch almost every day, much to my parents’ dismay, it would be horror, action-horror or something along those lines. So imagine my delight when I found out the new “Resident Evil” movie would be playing in a theater near me.