Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
Indiana State University
Miami Shuts Out Indiana St. 49-0 In Season Opener
8/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 28, 2004
OXFORD, Ohio (AP) - Josh Betts passed for three touchdowns and ran for a score to lead Miami to a 49-0 rout of Division I-AA Indiana State on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Betts, making his first start as the replacement for first-round NFL draft choice Ben Roethlisberger, led the RedHawks to six touchdowns in the seven possessions he played. He completed 17 of 27 passes to help Miami win its 14th straight game, the longest streak in Division I-A.
The game started 49 minutes late because of lightning that flashed near Yager Stadium. After kickoff, the RedHawks wasted little time overwhelming the Sycamores.
Miami scored on its first five possessions, including Betts' scoring passes of 16 yards to Luke Clemens and 30 yards to Michael Larkin. Betts also scored on a 1-yard sneak.
Ryne Robinson returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown and had two other punt returns for scores - a 67-yarder in the second quarter and an 82-yarder in the fourth - called back by penalties.
Miami turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions after Mike Kokal replaced Betts at quarterback. Twice the RedHawks were moving in for scores but fumbled at the Indiana State 8 and 20 yard lines.
Clemens was Miami's leading rusher with 69 yards on nine carries. Martin Nance caught six passes for 75 yards. Betts also threw a 5-yard TD pass to Larkin to close the scoring.
Sidney Montford led Indiana State with 39 yards rushing on 16 attempts. Jake Schiff was 12-of-21 for 104 yards an interception.
Miami totaled 454 yards of offense to 204 for Indiana State. The RedHawks averaged 43 points and 501 yards a game last season, when Roethlisberger led Miami to a 13-1 record and a win in the GMAC Bowl.
Miami will have a tough time extending its winning streak to 15. The RedHawks play at No. 8 Michigan next Saturday.
Team Notes
- Series Note: This is the first Division I-AA opponent since Miami faced William & Mary in 1982. Miami's record versus Indiana State is 1-0.
- This was the sixth consecutive game Miami has scored at least 40 points.
- This was the first shutout for Miami since October 19, 2002 at Buffalo.
- The nation's longest active Division I-A winning streak extended to 14 games, which is a new Miami record for a winning streak.
Individual Notes
- On his first four series as a starting quarterback at Miami University, Josh Betts guided the RedHawks on scoring drives of 85, 63, 30 and 65 yards. Betts was a combined 12-for-15 with 184 yards passing. He had two touchdown passes, including one on the opening drive of the season to Luke Clemens for 16 yards and one to Michael Larkin for 30 yards, as well as one rushing touchdown of his own. Overall, Betts went 17-of-27 for 214 yards passing with three touchdown passes.
- Ryne Robinson took his third punt return of the night 70-yards for a touchdown. It was his fourth career punt return for a touchdown, passing Eddie Tillitz (2000-02). It was the first punt return for a touchdown against Indiana State since 2001.
- Michael Larkin caught his 25th and 26th career touchdown passes, extending his own school record for touchdown receptions and tied for eighth on the all-time touchdown list with Mark Hunter (1976-79). This was the third time in the last four games he has had a multi-touchdown game.
- Michael Larkin's four catches gave him 147 for his career, extending his own school record for receptions.
- Steve Burke intercepted his first career pass, which led to Miami's fourth touchdown.
- Mike Smith had a two-yard rushing touchdown, tying him for tenth on the all-time list with 21 rushing touchdowns with Jay Peterson (1980-83).
- Martin Nance caught six passes, giving him 108 for his career and putting him eighth on Miami's all-time list.
- Mike Kokal made his first career appearance as Miami's quarterback and went 7 for 10 with 78 yards passing.
