CHARLESTON SOUTHERN at MIAMI Postgame Notes
9/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
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With his third completion of the game--11 yards to tight end JAKE O'CONNELL-- Miami quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh moved past former teammate Mike Kokal into eighth place on the RedHawks' all-time passing yardage list. Raudabaugh completed 19 of his 30 passes for 305 yards, giving him 3,461 yards for his career. He completed passes to nine different receivers in the first half, passing for 190 yards. He had an additional 115 passing yards in the second half. It was Raudabaugh's 13th consecutive start over the last two seasons.
Miami's Ben Bennett started in place of the injured Jordan Gafford at free safety, and Nate Williams started in place of Bob Gulley. It was each player's first-ever starting assignment for the RedHawks. Bennett had a 78-yard interception return in the fourth quarter that resulted in a go-ahead RedHawk TD and totaled four tackles.
Miami's defensive unit yielded 257 passing yards vs. Charleston Southern, including 135 yards in just the first half. The RedHawks came into the game tied for seventh, nationally, allowing only 97 yards per game.
Miami's defense recorded seven tackles for loss today, boosting its total to 24 TFLs for the season. Last week, the RedHawks ranked 11th in the NCAA statistics in that category. Over its last seven contests (games 10-through-13 in 2007 and the first three this season), Miami's defensive unit has 59 TFLs.
Miami punter JAKE RICHARDSON kicked two times for 104 yards (42, 62) vs. CSU, an average of 52 yards per punt. For the season, Richardson's statistics now show him with an average of 51.6 yards per punt (14 for 723).
Jamal Rogers of Miami returned three kickoffs for 60 yards. He now has 1,281 career kickoff return yards, fifth-best on the RedHawks' all-time list.
Miami's NATE PARSEGHIAN hit a 22-yard field goal in the second quarter, his fifth consecutive successful placement of 2008. He missed a 36-yarder just before halftime to snap his streak.
Joining Miami's season-long tri-captains--ROBBIE WILSON, Joey Hudson and DAVE DIFRANCO--for today's coin flip was game-captain Steve Sutter.
Trailing 7-0 at the end of the first quarter today, Miami continues to struggle in the first quarter this season. Through the first three games of 2008, the RedHawks have been outscored by a score of 34-3 in the first quarter.
Thomas Merriweather scored three touchdowns vs. CSU, a four-yard run at 12:02 of the second quarter, a one-yard run at 14:09 of the third quarter, and a one-yard run at xxx of the fourth quarter. Merriweather's previous personal-best was a two-TD effort last season vs. Buffalo.
MITCH ANDERSON caught the first pass of his career in the second quarter, a 17-yard grab.
Miami `s defense held Charleston Southern to 27 net rushing yards in the first half, including only five yards in the second quarter.
Miami has trailed at halftime in each of its first three games by a cumulative score of 50-23, but has outscored its opponents by a 34-27 count in the second half.
Miami's two defensive interceptions vs. CSU matched last year's two-interception effort vs. Akron. Defensive end Joe Coniglio recorded the first interception of his career in the third quarter, returning it 19 yards to the one-yard line. Ben Bennett also intercepted his first career pass in the fourth quarter, returning it 73 yards. Miami scored touchdowns following each interception.
Miami's Eugene Harris had a 44-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. CSU in the third quarter, the first of his career. Harris had a 56-yard return vs. Ball State in the 2007 season opener, but did not score a touchdown. .
