Miami University
University of Iowa
Miami Falls To Iowa, 44-19
9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept 8, 2001
By CHAD GRAHAM
Associated Press Writer
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Kyle McCann threw a career-high four touchdown passes and Chris Smith returned an interception for a score as Iowa beat Miami 44-19 Saturday.
Miami had stayed with Michigan into the fourth quarter a week ago but was no match for Iowa and fell to 0-2 for the first time since 1994. Iowa (2-0) held the RedHawks to 26 yards and one first down in the first half and led 44-0 midway through the third quarter.
McCann threw touchdown passes of 18 and 32 yards to Dallas Clark, 15 yards to Jeremy Allen and 52 yards to Kahlil Hill. The senior had never before thrown more than two touchdown passes in a game. He finished 13-of-16 for 201 yards with one interception.
Hill beat double coverage to catch McCann's perfectly thrown pass in full stride in the end zone as Iowa took a 14-0 lead. After Nate Kaeding's 36-yard field goal, No. 2 quarterback Brad Banks led a 17-play, 66-yard drive that stretched Iowa's lead 24-0 just before halftime.
During that drive, the Hawkeyes fooled Miami with a fake punt - punter David Bradley passing 4 yards to Siaka Massaquoi for a first down - and Banks ran three times ran for a first down before running 5 yards for a touchdown.
Jerry Montomgery's fumble recovery at the Miami 30 set up McCann's 18-yard scoring pass to Clark, and Smith returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown to make it 44-0 with 7:50 left in the third quarter.
Miami broke the shutout when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ran 80 yards for a third-quarter touchdown. He also threw touchdown passes of 56 yards to Michael Larkin and 40 yards to Jason Branch.
Roethlisberger often threw under pressure and did not complete a pass until the third quarter. He was sacked five times and intercepted twice.
Game Notes
Miami University at University of IowaSaturday, Sept. 8, 2001Kinnick Stadium - Iowa City, Iowa (Attendance 58,291)
Team Notes
? Today's game is the first game in a two-for-one series Miami stages with Iowa. The Hawkeyes will become the first Big Ten team to play at Yager Stadium and the first varsity Big Ten squad to visit Oxford when they travel to Miami on Sept. 7, 2002. The series concludes with the RedHawks playing at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 6, 2003. ? With today's crowd of 58,291, Miami has now played in front of 167,967 fans this season. ? Iowa's 17 first-quarter points were the most allowed in an opening quarter by the RedHawks since they gave up 20 last season at Marshall on Nov. 11, 2000. ? Miami picked up its first, first down of the game with 9:39 left in the second quarter. ? Miami was held scoreless in the first half. The last time the RedHawks were shut out going into the locker room was against Bowling Green on Oct. 14, 2000. ? Miami's offense woke up in the second half, amassing 362 total yards (223 passing, 139 rushing) in the game's final 30 minutes. After gaining only one first down in the first half, the RedHawks racked up 15 in the second.
Individual Notes
? FR P Mike Wafzig's first punt of the game traveled 50 yards, his first career 50-yard plus punt. ? SR RB Steve Little made his first appearance of the season, carrying the ball two times for -1 yards. ? FR QB Ben Roethlisberger scored his first career rushing touchdown in the third quarter, taking a broken play 80 yards. The run is the longest scoring play for the RedHawks since JR WR Eddie Tillitz returned a punt 82 yards at Eastern Michigan (Sept. 9, 2000) last season. ? FR WR Michael Larkin's 56-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was his first career reception. Larkin, the smallest man on Miami's roster at 5-8 and 168 pounds, finished the game with three catches for 121 yards for the first 100-yard receiving day of his career. ? SO DB Matt Pusateri had another huge game statistically, collecting a career-high nine solo tackles. He also assisted on seven stops to finish with 12.5 total tackles.
Next Week
Miami at Kent State, 6 p.m. Miami leads the all-time series with the Golden Flashes with a 39-9 mark. The RedHawks have won the last 12 meetings, dating back to a 15-13 win at Kent State in 1989. In the last six outings, Miami has outscored Kent State 283-56.
