Aug. 31, 2002

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Miami University vs. University of North Carolina
Kenan Memorial Stadium/Chapel Hill, N.C.
August 31, 2002

Individual Notes

• Senior defensive back Ryan Sprague's first-quarter interception was the second of his career.
  
  
• Junior running back Luke Clemens, who finished with 59 yards on the ground, put the RedHawks on the board with his second career rushing touchdown, a one-yard plunge, with 7:40 remaining in the first quarter. His 15-yard endzone dash in the fourth quarter marked his first career multiple touchdown game.
  
  
• Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger punted the ball twice for an average of 51.0 yards per punt. His 59-yard punt in the first quarter was Miami's longest punt in more than a year. Last season's longest punt was a 55-yard effort by Mike Wafzig.
  
  
• Senior Matt Edwards, the lone RedHawk starter to play in Miami's 1998 defeat of the Tarheels, recovered a first-half fumble deep in North Carolina territory.
  
  
• Roethlisberger, who threw a three-yard scoring strike to fellow sophomore Michael Larkin in the first quarter, has now thrown at least one touchdown pass in 12-of-13 career starts. The TD reception marked the sixth time the pair has combined for a passing touchdown.
  
  
• Senior defensive back Milt Bowen made his fifth career interception in the third quarter when he made a diving interception of a Darian Durant pass on the UNC 20-yard line, which set up a Cal Murray touchdown run.
  
  
• Junior running back Cal Murray finished the game with 101 yards rushing on 23 carries, marking his third career 100-yard game.
  

Team Notes

• Miami won its second consecutive game at Kenan Stadium, after winning 13-10 in 1998, and closed the Tarheels' series advantage to 4-3.
  
  
• Miami's 27-21 win ended a three-game losing streak that extended to the last three games of the 2001 season and moved the RedHawks to an even 7-7-1 all-time versus teams from the ACC.
  
  
• Miami forced a total of nine UNC turnovers, including six fumbles and three interceptions, during the contest, the highest total since it forced eight turnovers versus Kent State in 1992. The six fumble recoveries were one short of tying a Mid-American Conference record that was last achieved in 1989 by Western Michigan. Miami forced six fumbles during the entire 2001 season.
  
  
• Miami is 6-1 over its past seven season-openers, including two wins at North Carolina and wins at Northwestern and Vanderbilt.
  
  
• The win, coupled with Northern Illinois' defeat of Wake Forest on Thursday night, moved the Mid-American Conference to 2-0 versus the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.
  
  
• After rushing for just 38 yards on 22 carries in the first half, Miami reeled off 64 yards rushing on 19 carries in the third quarter and finished the game with 175 yards on the ground.