Sept. 27, 2003

Final Stats?|? Notes?|? Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami RedHawks (3-1, 0-0 MAC) captured their third straight Victory Bell win over the Cincinnati Bearcats (3-1, 0-0 C-USA), 42-37, in front of a sellout crowd at Yager Stadium.

Ben Roethlisberger became the first quarterback in school history to pass for 300 yards in three straight games, passing for 377 yards and two touchdowns. Roethlisberger, who entered the game ranked eighth on the Mid-American Conference's all-time career passing list with 7,276 yards, completed 31-of-49 passes. He threw for 330 yards and two TDs in last week's 41-21 win.

Miami opened a 42-17 lead on Cal Murray's three-yard TD run with 13:27 remaining before Cincinnati scored three times in the final eight minutes.

The Bearcats made it 42-30 when Daven Holly returned a missed field goal 78 yards for a touchdown with 4:04 left and closed to 42-37 on George Murray's five-yard TD scamper with 1:51 to go. The turning point at the end came with 40 seconds remaining when UC's Thaddeus Lewis fumbled a Mike Wafzig punt at the UC eight-yard line and Ryan Sprague recovered it. Miami's Roethlisberger took two knees and the RedHawks clinched their 58th Victory Bell win.

Mike Smith scored on TD runs of seven and one yards, helping Miami built a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Cincinnati scored the next 17 points, closing to 28-17 on Gino Guidugli's five-yard TD strike to Richard Hall with 15 seconds left in the half.

Guidugli completed 17-of-39 passes for 226 yards and two scores, while Hall rushed for 161 yards on and a TD on 25 carries.