Miami Football Closes Out Season Versus MAC Rival Ohio
11/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 20, 2006
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MIAMI CLOSES OUT REGULAR SEASON AGAINST MAC EAST CHAMPS: Coming off a hard-fought 9-7 win over Bowling Green last Wednesday, in which it overcame nasty conditions, Miami University's football team (2-9; 2-5 MAC) closes out the 2006 season Friday when it hosts Mid-American Conference East Division Champion Ohio University (8-3; 6-1 MAC) in a game that is all about pride for both teams. The RedHawks, boasting a promising young team that has shown steady improvement, look to build momentum for the offseason, while the Bobcats are looking to reverse their fortunes against a Miami team that has won the last six meetings between the teams.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS: Riding a six-game winning streak, Ohio clinched its first MAC East Division Championship last Thursday when it downed Akron, 17-7. Coached by second-year mentor Frank Solich, the Bobcats stand at 8-3 overall and 6-1 in the MAC, with their only league loss coming at Bowling Green, 21-9, on Sept. 30. Ohio, which has not won a league title since 1968, faces MAC West Champion Central Michigan on Thursday, Nov. 30 in both teams' first MAC Championship game appearance. The Bobcats lead the MAC in scoring defense and have held their last four opponents to 10 points or less.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES: Miami and Ohio meet for the 83rd time Friday in a series that began with a 5-0 win by the Red and White in 1908. Long-time rivals, who happen to be the first two public institutions founded in Ohio, the RedHawks and Bobcats have collided in every season since 1945. Miami leads the series, 51-29-2, and has been dominant since 1990, winning 14 of the teams' last 16 meetings. The RedHawks own a current six-game winning streak over the Bobcats and have not lost to the Green and White since 1999. The Bobcats have not won in Yager Stadium since 1993 and trail the series 30-10-2 when playing in Oxford.
THE LAST HURRAH: Friday's game marks the final collegiate appearance for 11 Miami seniors, who will be honored during pregame. Over the course of the past four seasons, the group has helped Miami to a 30-19 overall record and at least a share of three MAC East Division titles. Included in the group are wide receiver Ryan Busing, safety Joey Card, wide receiver R.J. Corbin, center Steve Kosky, longsnapper Dave McClain, running back Jimmy Murray, wide receiver Ryne Robinson, fullback Matt Vogele, wide receiver Josh Williams, cornerback Frank Wiwo and linebacker Dontae Wright.
HOME AT LAST: After playing six of its last eight games on the road, Miami's football team finishes the 2006 season in the friendly confines of Yager Stadium, where it has 70-39-4 record since the stadium was completed in 1983. The RedHawks have struggled at home this season, posting an 0-4 mark, though the last three losses have come by a combined eight points. Miami is attempting to avoid its first winless home campaign since 1988.
FINISHING STRONG: Miami, which has won its last three regular-season finales, has a history of finishing the season with an exclamation point. The RedHawks have won 13 of their last 15 regular-season finales and have lost just once on Senior Day since 1989.
ON THE TUBE: Friday's game will be carried nationally on ESPNU, marking the fifth nationally-televised contest for the RedHawks this season. Doug Bell will handle the play-by-play call while Charles Arbuckle provides color analysis. Friday marks Miami's 19th appearance on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or ABC since the 2003 season.
A FINE LINE: There has indeed been a fine line between winning and losing for Miami's football program since the start of MAC play. The RedHawks have lost their five MAC games by a combined total of just 22 points or 4.4 points per game. Among those losses were a two-point loss to Kent State and three-point losses to Northern Illinois, Ball State and Western Michigan. The RedHawks have owned second-half leads in four of their five league losses.
A LONG TIME COMING: When Miami tallied a go-ahead 28-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter of last week's 9-7 victory over Bowling Green, it marked the first time the Red and White won a game in which it trailed after three quarters since 2000. Entering the night, Miami had lost 23 consecutive games in which it trailed after three.
OHIO'S DEFENSE: The Bobcats have earned their first MAC East Division title behind a defense that is giving up just 15.5 points per game and leads the league in scoring defense ... Ohio is third in the MAC in both rushing defense (130.3) and total defense (290.1) and has held its last four opponents to 10 points or less ... the Bobcats also have been tough against the pass, allowing only 159.8 yards per game through the air and ranking fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense (97.33) ... the Bobcats have totaled 53 pass break-ups and 10 interceptions ... leading the charge is the linebacking tandem of seniors Tyler Russ and Matt Muncy, who have totaled 78 and 71 stops, respectively.
NINE IS ENOUGH: Miami's nine points in its 9-7 win over Bowling Green last Wednesday marked its lowest scoring total in a victory since 1981, when it downed Cincinnati 7-3. Since joining the MAC in 1948, the Red and White has won 18 games when scoring less than 10 points, but it had been 283 games since the last time the RedHawks had last accomplished the feat. The game was marred by gusting winds, rain, cold temperatures and poor field conditions.
HE CATCHES TOO: Though known early in his career as one of the nation's top punt returners, senior Ryne Robinson has cemented his reputation this season as one of the nation's top receivers. Robinson, who is the first receiver in Miami history to record consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, is the nation's active career leader in receiving yardage (3,606) and ranks among the MAC's all-time top four in both receiving yards and receptions (250). He is saving some of his best for last, totaling 19 receptions for 266 yards over the past two games and climbing to the top of the heap nationally in receptions per game (7.55).
OHIO'S OFFENSE: Powered by a solid running game, Ohio's offense has been efficient in scoring, averaging 20.5 points per game, despite ranking 107th nationally in total offense (271.6 ypg) ... junior running back Kalvin McRae, ranks 32nd nationally and fifth in the MAC in rushing yards per game (87.2) to pace the nation's 45th-ranked rushing attack (148.1 ypg) ... senior quarterback Austen Everson is passing for 106.1 yards per game, throwing six touchdowns and seven interceptions, but also is rushing for 34.4 yards per game ... McRae also leads the Bobcats in receiving, totaling 27 receptions on the year.
TOUGH YARDS: While field position has put it in some difficult spots in terms of scoring defense, Miami's defense has performed well in terms of yardage. The RedHawks have actually held four of their last five opponents under 325.0 yards and have allowed just one opponent on the year to post at least 400 yards of offense. The 322.2 yards of total offense per game allowed by the RedHawks is Miami's lowest average since 1998.
JOEY ON THE SPOT: Sophomore middle linebacker Joey Hudson totaled a career-high 16 tackles last Wednesday at Bowling Green, topping 15 tackles for the second straight week and moving into Miami's team lead with 87 tackles. He is the first Miami player to record back-to-back games with 15 tackles since Matt Pusateri (2001-04) achieved the feat over the first two games of 2001.
OHIO'S SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior Matt Lasher handles both the punting and place kicking responsibilities for Ohio, averaging 39.4 yards per punt and converting 10-of-15 field goals on the year ... true freshman Chris Garrett has been an electrifying return man for the Bobcats, averaging a league-high 17.3 yards per return on 19 punt returns, including an 88-yard punt return touchdown versus Western Michigan ... the Bobcats feature two of the nation's top coverage units, allowing 4.27 yards per punt return to rank ninth nationally and 14.97 yards per kick return to rank second nationally.
HERE'S TO YOU, MR. ROBINSON: Miami's most lethal special teams weapon is senior punt returner Ryne Robinson, who has forced numerous Miami opponents to alter their punting strategies. Robinson, who has averaged an impressive 14.1 yards per punt return for his career is the nation's active career leader in both punt return yardage (1,677 yards) and punt return touchdowns (7). Though his opportunities have been reduced as opponents have learned to punt away from him, he is within 85 yards of surpassing former Texas Tech standout Wes Welker's NCAA record for career punt return yards.
ROBINSON'S LAST RUN: Senior punt returner Ryne Robinson enters Friday's game with one last shot at two NCAA records. Robinson needs 85 punt return yards to break the NCAA's record for career punt return yardage and one punt return touchdown to tie the NCAA record for punt return TDs. The senior has had few opportunities to return punts this season but faces an Ohio team which has allowed him 263 yards and three touchdowns on nine career returns (29.2 ypr).
